Study Education & Teaching at university: All you need to know

Education & Teaching is a broad family of degrees concerned with how people learn and how education shapes a person’s life as well as society at large. Degrees in the field can be quite varied, from sports education via education management to educational neuroscience. Eager to learn more? Then read on for everything you need to know:

What is “Education & Teaching” as a degree subject?

Education is a broad discipline looking at how people learn in different stages of their lives. Its focus can vary a lot according to your interest: Are you interested in understanding how to educate teenagers? Are you more into lifelong learning? Do you want to understand how education policy works? Do you want to teach little children? These aspirations will all take you to different degrees.

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You could end up studying subjects such as Psychology, Child Development, Neuroscience, Economics of Education, Education Technology - and research methods.

If you want to become a teacher, you will often also need to take modules, or an entire degree, in your specific subject - for example maths or foreign languages.

Sometimes, people take it for granted that an education graduate will automatically want to teach. This is not correct: An Education degree can be a great foundation to becoming a teacher, but does not always include the formal teacher training you would need to be a teacher. Instead, an Education degree can open many other doors for you as well.

Where can you study Education & Teaching?

Many universities all over Europe offer Education & Teaching degree programmes completely in English. Depending on whether you plan to work as a teacher later on, you may also be able to choose modules in relevant subjects and receive teacher training.

Universities that offer Bachelors in Education & Teaching:

• University of Dundee, United Kingdom
• University of Eastern Finland
• University of New York in Prague, Czech Republic

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Universities that offer Masters in Education & Teaching:

• University of Derby, United Kingdom
• University of Helsinki, Finland
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium
• Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

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What do you learn in a Bachelor’s degree?

In Education & Teaching, the typical subjects you study can vary according to the specialism that you choose. However, you can most often expect to be studying:

• Educational Psychology, the branch of psychology which studies how people acquire and retain information
• Research methods in education, including some statistical analysis;
• Pedagogy
• Learning differences and special education needs
• plus in some Bachelor’s, and especially those preparing for teacher training, practical work experience

The curricula will vary depending on what type of Bachelor’s degree in Education you will enrol in.

Some programmes have a focus on Psychology – in those courses you can expect modules such as:

• Developmental Psychology
• Research Methods
• Psychology of learning

Other Bachelors have a focus on a specific education phase (e.g. primary or secondary) – in those you can expect a focus on:

• Psychology, focusing on the phase of education you have chosen
• Child development
• Language development

Other courses instead focus on specific subjects you may be interested in teaching, so you can expect a focus on the pedagogy of those subjects; for example science pedagogy or foreign language pedagogy.

Other examples of subjects you may find in a Bachelor’s degree:

• Philosophy of education
• Cognitive psychology
• Inclusive education
• Sociology of education
• Curriculum design and assessment
• Distance education and e-learning
• Educational technology (“EdTech”)

You can choose to do a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc). The course content may be similar, but often a BSc will involve more research work and the dissertation could be an original research study that you will conduct.

What do you learn in a Master’s degree?

There is a wide variety of Master’s programmes in Education & Teaching, each with their own unique characteristics. You can broadly divide them into 5 categories:

1. Masters of Education with a broad focus, usually on policy and practice. Typical subjects will include:

• Philosophy of education
• Critical perspectives on teaching and learning
• Education policy and reform
• Issues in education
• Comparative education

2. Masters of Teaching, usually for those who studied a different subject at Bachelor’s level, of for those who want to deepen their knowledge of education practice before becoming teachers. Typical subjects will include:

• Pedagogy of the subjects chosen
• Educational psychology
• Research methods
• Curriculum design and assessment
• Potentially also a work experience module, undertaken in a school

3. Masters with a focus on Psychology or Neuroscience, for example educational neuroscience or educational psychology. Subjects will include:

• Developmental psychology – or neuroscience
• Genetics of development
• Language development
• Individual differences and social psychology
• Research methods

4. Masters for teachers aspiring to become a Special Education Needs expert. Typical subjects will include:

• Special Education Needs policy and practice
• Research methods
• Psychology for special needs
• Optional modules focusing on specific aspects such as autism or reading and spelling difficulties

5. Masters in Educational Management, for those who aspire to a leadership position in an educational institution. Modules will include:

• Philosophy of education
• Economics of education
• Education policy
• Training and communication

And then there are interdisciplinary Master’s degrees that combine Education with e.g. Economics, Technology or other subjects.

A very popular option, especially for those with a full-time job, is to apply for an online Master’s degree and pursue it while working. You will have to develop some serious time management skills: An online Masters will require the same amount of work as an on-campus degree course.

What is a Master of Education (MEd)?

A Master of Education, or MEd degree, is a postgraduate qualification that some universities offer as an alternative to an MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of Science) in Education.

An MEd degree is not substantially different; however, while an MA degree will generally be more suited to students interested in research, policy or teaching, an MEd is for students who definitely are interested in education practice. It is more of a professionalising degree for educators.
What do I need to know about doing a PhD in education?

Most universities that offer Master’s degrees in Education & Teaching also offer doctoral programmes. If you are interested in research and want to advance knowledge in the field of education, and possibly become an academic, then a PhD is the right choice for you. If doing a PhD is your aspiration, you will need to choose your Master’s carefully, as usually the research field you focus on in your Master’s degree will be the same as the one you will work on during your PhD - although this is not always the case.

If - in contrast to a research-heavy PhD - you are more interested in the practical aspects of education and want to deepen your knowledge to advance your career into a leadership role, an EdD - Doctor of Education - might be the better alternative.

The best universities for Education & Teaching degrees

University rankings can be helpful when you are deciding which universities to apply to. Every year, the Shanghai Ranking lists the best universities worldwide in the field of Education. Most recently, these are the best universities for Education in a selection of European countries:

• Best in the Netherlands: Utrecht University (8th worldwide)
• Best in Belgium: Ghent University (22nd)
• Best in the United Kingdom: University College London (UCL) (23rd)
• Best in Finland: University of Jyväskylä (40th); University of Helsinki (76th-100th)
• Best in Germany: University of Munich (LMU) (76th-100th)

If I study Education, do I have to become a teacher?

If you graduate from an Education & Teaching degree, you don’t necessarily have to become a teacher. Beyond expertise in your area the degree will also give you a range of transferable skills that can be used in other professions. The world is your oyster!

However, keep in mind that if you do want to become a teacher, requirements will change according to the country where you want to teach, and also the types of schools at which you want to teach. Formal teacher training will be required in addition to your degree, unless your degree already has a training component.

Most university degrees are recognized across the EU, and so are some professional qualifications, but if you plan to move across Europe to teach it is wise to check if your qualifications are automatically recognized. You can contact ENIC-NARIC for this.

Also, keep in mind that additional courses may be needed if you choose to teach in an international school teaching a specific curriculum (such as the International Baccalaureate).

Jobs & Careers with a degree in Education & Teaching

A degree in Education will give you a wide choice of careers. To a large extent, the options you will have depend on the kind of programme you picked as well as the experience you are getting during your studies.

Work experience while you study

Having some work experience under your belt before you graduate is always a good idea.

• While you study, look out for opportunities to work as a teaching assistant: It will give you great insight into the day-to-day job of a teacher.
• Also, a popular option is to do private tutoring for middle or high school students in your subjects of choice. You will be flexible to manage your workload and you will gain experience with what makes a good lesson.
• Another option is to become a conversation tutor for your first language, both for middle and high school students and the general public. Look for websites and apps that pair up native speakers with language students. If you enjoy teaching your native language, consider doing a professionalising course for teaching your language to foreigners. (For example, English speakers can do the CELTA or DELTA, Italian speakers can undertake the D.ITAL.S, French speakers the DAEFLE, etc.) It will give you a base of second language pedagogy and credibility as a teacher.

A note: Employers like schools will generally require a background criminal check before you start working with minors.

Typical roles and job titles

The typical roles can vary according to what type of degree you complete. This is a general overview of the jobs you could aspire to do:

• Teacher: according to your specialisation, you could be an early years, primary school, secondary school or further education teacher
• Specialist teacher: for example, Special Education Needs teacher
• Special Education Needs coordinator
• Education consultant
• Education advisor
• Teaching assistant
• Headteacher/principal
• Education researcher

Typical employers

This is an overview of the typical employers you will be working with after your degree(s):

• Schools and colleges
• Nurseries
• Government departments
• Universities
• Social services
• EdTech companies

Is Education & Teaching the right subject for me?

It goes without saying that if you want to become a teacher or an educator, this is the right degree for you. It’s also the right field for you if you are interested in how people learn, how they retain information, or how education can shape society - on a more abstract level. Education & Teaching encompasses a broad family of degrees that there are options for various types of people and desired careers.

However, if you are more interested in Arts, Natural Sciences or something else - without necessarily wanting to teach that subject to a class of students - then an Education degree is not your best choice. You might be better off pursuing your passion in a typical, non-teaching-related degree course.

Top reasons to get a degree in Education & Teaching:

1. You can make a real impact: Education improves people’s lives. Teachers and school leaders literally change thousands of lives in their profession! But also imagine what you could do as an education researcher, an advisor, or a policy analyst, to improve the education system for everyone.
2. It is an exciting field: Education & Teaching degrees are for idealists, for those who want to change the world.
3. You get a broad education yourself: Becoming a teacher means learning a lot yourself. You can study anything from neuroscience to sports. And you can change direction later: You started as a special education needs specialist and now you want to manage a school? You can go back to university while you work.
4. You will have an important profession: Despite what some say, teachers will not be replaced by computers any time soon. Teachers have a fundamental role in society and that is really not expected to change!
5. You can travel: Qualified educators are in high demand everywhere. And especially if you can work and teach in English, you will have numerous opportunities at international schools and institutions around the globe!

Other subjects you can study:

Education & Teaching is a big family of degrees that offer a wide variety of choices. However, if you are not entirely convinced this is for you, these are other subjects you can study with similar characteristics:

• Social Work: Another profession making a huge impact on the community is that of social worker. If you enjoy working with people, including young people, but not in an educational setting, this may be for you.
• Psychology: If you are interested in investigating how people think, behave and feel, a Psychology degree might be the right pick. It’s another broad family of degrees, so you can specialise in a field that truly interests you – for example social psychology or clinical psychology.
• Neuroscience: This is for you if you are fascinated by how the brain works and want to learn more. Just as psychology, there are many specialisations that you can pursue.
• Any subject you’re thinking you’d want to teach: If you are not sure yet you want to become an educator, but you are so passionate about a subject – let’s say Biology or Physics – that you can’t stop talking about it, then a degree in that subject is a good idea. Some programmes offer a combination of “subject + teacher training”. Or you can always do a Master’s of teaching or a formal teacher training after your Bachelor’s.

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358 Education & Teaching Programmes in Europe