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Primary Education and Teaching Studies BA (Hons)
Study level: Undergraduate
Prepare for your future in primary education
Course features
Course option
Year of entry
Location
CU London (Dagenham, London)
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 years full-time
UCAS codes
X320
Start date
September 2027
We constantly refresh our courses to ensure you learn the latest industry technology and skills. We are currently renewing the course content for this year of entry and expect to share the final details by August 2026. Please check back to see the latest module content and assessments.
Course overview
Primary education can shape how children learn, grow and understand the world around them. This course explores the knowledge, creativity and practical awareness needed to support young learners.
You’ll study how children develop, communicate and learn across the primary curriculum, from English, maths and science to the arts, humanities, PE and PSHE. You’ll also explore the wider factors that influence learning, including wellbeing, safeguarding, inclusion, social mobility, adaptive teaching and education policy.
This course connects theory, research and practice to help you benefit from evidence-informed teaching, reflect on classroom scenarios and complete a placement2 experience, which helps you apply your learning in real education settings, with full details provided in the modules section.
Why you should study this course
- Prepare for education-related pathways
Build knowledge and practical awareness that can support future routes into primary education, school support, early years, family support, education services or postgraduate teacher training. - Connect theory with practice
Complete placement2 experience in an education setting, helping you relate your studies to real classroom and learning environments. - Build primary curriculum knowledge
Explore how children learn across core and foundation subjects, including English, maths, science, art, music, humanities, PE and PSHE. - Understand children’s learning and development
Study child development, language, communication, wellbeing, inclusion and adaptive teaching and learn about how different approaches can support children’s progress. - Use research to inform practice
Explore evidence-informed teaching, education policy and classroom scenarios, and understand how research can support teaching decisions. - Develop professional skills
Build skills in communication, reflection, research, teamwork, planning, presenting and problem-solving for education-related settings. - Study one module at a time
Focus on one 30-credit module over a six-week block with no end-of-year exams. This approach uses practical, exam-free assessments to help you build your knowledge step by step with regular feedback.
Before starting my course, I was concerned about balancing my studies with being a parent. However, CU was incredibly accommodating and understanding of my needs. Thanks to their support, I’m now ready to take the next step in my journey to become a full-time teacher. None of this would have been possible without the help of CU London.
Taame Smith, Primary Education and Teaching Studies BA (Hons) graduate, quoted October 2024 (seen left in picture)
What you'll study
We regularly review our course content to keep it relevant and current for our students. Consequently, we may update modules to reflect the latest industry standards.
How you'll learn
Teaching and learning methods may include:
- lectures: gain expert insights and a structured overview of key concepts and current research
- seminars: engage in discussion and debate, deepening understanding and critical thinking
- tutorials: receive personalised guidance to solve complex problems and consolidate learning
- presentations: develop communication skills and the ability to convey technical ideas
- group projects: build teamwork and collaboration skills while tackling real-world challenges
- workshops: apply knowledge hands-on, enhancing practical skills and problem-solving abilities
- online learning: access flexible resources for self-paced study and reinforcement of key concepts.
- Placement: connect your studies with real classroom and learning practice through volunteering in an education setting.
Teaching contact hours
As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours and guided and independent study.
Teaching hours
Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average, you will have between 10 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.
You will also complete 80 hours of volunteering in a school, primary or early years setting as part of the compulsory Year 1 placement module. This placement must take place outside standard teaching contact hours.
Guided and independent study
Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.
Online learning
As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.
Assessment
Assessment methods vary by module and may include:
- practical class and project performance
- written reports
- micro-teach sessions
- portfolios
- reflective journals
- recorded podcast interviews
- tutor placement visits2
- tutorial tasks
- presentations
- research proposals
- time-constrained assessment
- research projects.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements:
Fees and funding
| Student | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | 2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £9,790 per year |
Not available |
| EU | 2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £9,790 per year with EU Support Bursary** 2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £15,500 per year without EU Support Bursary** |
Not available |
| International | 2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £15,500 per year |
Not available |
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2028/29 will pay £1,575 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,900 if they are paying international fees.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Fees and Funding page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the table above for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI), a UK measure of inflation that tracks changes in the cost of living.
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement or study abroad year, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2028/29. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above RPI.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) you may be charged the tuition fees in force at the time you take that additional period of study, and/or in line with any legislative changes that apply at that time.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad) which may include costs of travel, accommodation, equipment or uniform required for the placement and any visa-related costs.
*Irish student fees
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
**EU Support Bursary
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
Facilities
Our Dagenham campus is in the stylishly renovated Civic Centre, offering a unique mix of classic architecture and modern learning spaces. You can study in our high-tech library, use the open-access IT suites, or find a quiet spot in one of the many breakout areas designed for group work.
When you need a break, the on-site café is the perfect place to grab a snack and socialise with friends. The campus is just a short walk from local shops and transport links, making it easy to balance your studies with your life outside of university.
You’ll use facilities through timetabled teaching, practical activities and relevant independent study. Access may vary by module, activity, capacity, supervision or safety requirements. Access may change or be limited where the University needs to follow public authority guidance, decisions or orders.
Careers and opportunities
If you want to support children, families, schools and communities, this course can help you build a foundation for education-related roles or further study. You’ll graduate with knowledge of children’s learning, primary education and classroom practice, which can support pathways in schools, education services, family support, community settings or postgraduate teacher training.
This course does not award Qualified Teacher Status. If you want to become a qualified teacher, you will need to complete an approved teacher training route, such as a PGCE or other recognised pathway, after graduation.
You may choose to explore roles or pathways such as:
- postgraduate teacher training, such as a PGCE
- teaching assistant
- unqualified teacher
- learning mentor
- SEN support worker
- education support worker
- family support worker
- community support worker
- education officer
- attendance officer
- widening participation officer
- pastoral support worker
- further study in education, child development or related subjects.
These are examples of possible career paths. Some roles may require further training, professional qualifications, accreditation or experience.
We know that many teachers struggle when they enter the classroom because they have gaps in their subject knowledge and wanted to do something about this, to improve teacher retention. Covering everything from art and music, to P.E, science and maths, this course provides the opportunity for students to encounter the knowledge which they need to become strong candidates for the workforce.
Amy Matthews (Associate Head of School), quoted 2025
How to apply
UK students
International students
Disclaimers
