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Established in 1896, the School of Education at the University of Birmingham is today one of the largest research-led schools of education in the UK, consistently ranked in the world’s top 100 and the UK’s top 15 best.
Here, over 100 academic staff guide and inspire more than 2,500 students in its various departments and research centres.
“I chose to study at the University of Birmingham because of its renowned world-class education, research, and facilities,” says BSc (Hons) Psychology in Education student Cheuk Ho. “When deciding which university to attend, I prioritised factors such as my learning experience, research excellence, and the potential career support available; the University of Birmingham checked all the boxes.”
Such career-readiness is typical among the graduates of the school’s various programmes. Grounded in research, theory, and practice, these programmes ensure students develop the skills they need to prepare for a global career in education. Job placements, internships, and funded study-abroad opportunities further enhance their competence and confidence to work in multiple countries. For example. past students have travelled to Chile to teach at an international school on a fully-funded Turing Grant.
The School of Education is consistently ranked in the world’s top 100 and the UK’s top 15. Source: University of Birmingham
Experiential and engaging bachelor’s and master’s programmes
At the undergraduate level, the school offers the BSc (Hons) Psychology in Education, BA (Hons) Education and Sociology, and BA (Hons) Education – the latter is the highlight programme that encapsulates education as a whole in terms of human, cultural, economic, and social development.
This three-year programme is designed for students who aspire to work in education, teaching children and young people in a variety of fields. During the second year, you are required to attend a compulsory vocational placement within the UK or overseas. This mandatory course will provide valuable practical experience which you will need when entering the professional field.
You can volunteer as a teaching assistant in schools, shadow an education professional, work on an educational research project; lead educational activities, or give a helping hand at an outdoor education centre. There are so many ways for you to complete your placement – all of which give you the crucial experiential learning you need.
At the postgraduate level, the school offers a variety of master’s programmes for those seeking to advance or pivot their careers. One of them is the MA Education where you will not only develop your skills as an educator but also offer solutions to real-world educational problems to better the industry.
“The MA Education programme offers diverse choices of modules, and the content covered has consolidated my knowledge and understanding of theories as well as the latest educational issues and debates,” says MA Education student Wai Ho. “I am also pleased to have all sorts of academic, career and well-being support throughout the course.”
If you are inclined to teach in language education, the MSc TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is perfect for you. This programme connects language teaching with broader educational principles – two elements that are essential to leading a classroom with confidence. Spanning three semesters in 12 months, most courses are done practically where you will be supported by a faculty who bring the latest developments in language education directly into your curriculum.
“Having knowledgeable and motivating teaching faculty with MSc TESOL skills and experience is beneficial for my academic studies,” says Hailin Zhang, MSc TESOL student. “As a Chinese student, I made an effort to take opportunities to interact with a diverse community of students and teachers to improve my entire educational experience and acquire a worldwide perspective on teaching and learning languages.”
For those who want to make a difference in the lives of children, young people, and adults with learning disabilities, the school’s MA Inclusion is a versatile choice. There are five pathways designed to develop your understanding of specific inclusive practice: Autism Children, Autism Adults, Special Educational Needs, Severe Learning Disabilities/Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, and Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.
The city of Birmingham is a welcoming and diverse home away from home for international students. Source: University of Birmingham
The new and improved MA Educational Leadership and Management will enhance your ability to lead improvement and bring change to an educational environment by using research and evidence which develops and challenges current school practices. You will have the opportunity to engage with leading academics and local school teachers as they share their experiences and knowledge. You will also be part of a community that commits to reviewing and improving school practices.
Multicultural, welcoming, and supportive city and campus
The university is located in Birmingham, the second-largest city in the UK. Known for its vibrant mix of cultures, the city celebrates diversity and creativity with thriving international communities coming together to share their way of life.
International students will immediately feel at home here. Various events like Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Eid celebrations, take place all year round in the city’s diverse neighbourhoods. Since the city is strategically linked to key landmarks, getting around is easy by bus or train, in addition to the Birmingham Airport located just a few kilometres away from the university.
“As a Vietnamese, I am thrilled to be in Birmingham which has the biggest Vietnamese community in the UK, and I love to learn about different cultures through food, especially India, as Birmingham is known to have the best Indian food in the UK,” MA Education (Leadership) graduate Trong Nguyen says. “I travel everywhere by bus or train, and I save a lot on commuting expenses and live right near campus in a neighbourhood with great speciality supermarkets.”
The campus and its community are just as welcoming to international students. From language support to visa advice, there is a range of services tailored to their needs. The Academic Skills Centre, The Birmingham International Academy, The Personal Academic Tutor and many other Student Services provide academic support. Various clubs, societies, and events keep the campus’s social calendar full of events celebrating cultures from all over the world.
With so many things to do and people to meet, it’s easy to understand why many find it hard to leave as graduates. But thanks to the University’s Global Alumni network, they’ll always be connected to their friends and reminded of the great times they had as students of the University of Birmingham.
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