Education offers the exciting prospect of making a difference. It’s important both for individual success and society’s continuing development. With the changes now taking place to widen participation and strengthen teaching and learning at all levels, education is more than ever a dynamic, challenging and rewarding sector to be involved in.
Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or perhaps looking to move into an education-related role, our undergraduate and postgraduate courses and qualifications offer a flexible way of gaining career credentials that help to establish you as a leader in your field. You can choose a stand-alone course for continuing professional development purposes, or combine courses to study for a certificate, diploma or masters degree.
Degrees
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Childhood and Youth Studies
This degree is for those who work or intend to work with children and young people, or for those with more general interests in the interdisciplinary field of childhood and youth studies. -
Early Years
Gain the specialist knowledge you need to work with children aged 0-7 in early years and education settings with this degree. -
Mathematics and its Learning
This degree combines the study of mathematics with the theory of the learning and teaching of mathematics. You will get a grounding in pure and applied mathematics, in statistics, and in the teaching and learning of mathematics. -
Secondary Education in Physics
Equips you to become a teacher of science in secondary schools, with a breadth of scientific knowledge, and specialising in teaching physics. -
Top-up BA Early Years
Top-up your sector-endorsed foundation degree in early years to this degree, with or without honours, gaining the specialist knowledge to work with children aged 0-7. -
Youth Work
This degree enables students to qualify as a professional youth worker and is for practitioners working with young people (13-19) in informal educational settings. -
Open degree
The BA/BSc Open Degree is a qualification that gives you a huge choice in terms of subjects and modules that you study to make up your degree.
Foundation Degrees
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Early Years
If you’re an experienced practitioner working with children from birth to seven years old in an early years setting, this degree will further your knowledge and skills. -
Primary Teaching and Learning
This foundation degree develops the professional knowledge and skills required by teaching assistants and classroom assistants supporting children’s learning in primary schools. -
Working with Young People
This degree develops the skills and knowledge of those working with, and leading work with, young people (13–19) to support their informal education.
Diplomas of Higher Education
Diplomas
Certificates
Courses in Professional Development in Education
See the list of all our individual courses in Professional Development in Education.
Postgraduate options
If you already have a degree, you may want to see postgraduate courses and qualifications in Education.
Spotlight on Professional Development in Education
'E111 - a great course'
`My daughter has a hearing impairment and I wanted to support her in school. I volunteered part time and did Supporting learning in primary schools (E111). Tutor support was fantastic; the units are manageable; the assessment is set out clearly. A great course with a great course team constantly looking for feedback. I’d recommend it to any volunteers. I had little experience, but passed with a great score. If I can do it anyone can.’ (Julia Brunskill, 2007)
E214: Equality, participation and inclusion: Learning from each other
The issues of equality and participation are complex. How do we ensure that all children have the education and services they need? This module is for anyone interested in issues of access for children and young people in diverse social and educational contexts. It supports you in engaging with differing perspectives on equality, participation and inclusion, and in developing your own perspectives. It asks what constitutes good participatory and inclusive practice and offers plenty of examples for you to explore.
“How absolutely brilliant the whole of E214 is” Mark Vaughan OBE. D.Univ – Founder of the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education and critical reader for E214.
Subjects at the OU
Undergraduate subjects
Your questions
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