Education at Cambridge

Education is one of our most powerful means for change and growth in the modern world. On our course, you follow one of three tracks, studying Education alongside your chosen field of interest, which will include the opportunity to study in other Faculties relevant to your chosen track.

• The Education, Psychology and Learning track focuses on education from a psychological perspective; exploring human development and education in a variety of social and cultural environments.
• In Education, Policy and International Development you consider historical and contemporary discussions concerning these areas, and education’s role in economic and social change.
• Education, English, Drama and the Arts is the study of English literature with key issues in education – such as debates around creativity, learning and culture – while giving you the option of studying practical drama.

Facilities and resources

The Faculty of Education has excellent resources and state-of-the-art research facilities, including a psychology observation laboratory and a library that houses one of the UK’s best education collections. Active research forms the foundation of our teaching. You’re taught by academics who are at the forefront of their fields and who specialise in cutting-edge educational research.

Further study and professional qualifications

Our course provides excellent preparation for a wide range of Masters and doctoral research programmes, both at Cambridge – each track has close links to related MPhil programmes within the Faculty – and elsewhere.

Alternatively, for those intending to teach, the course provides a foundation from which to proceed to some initial teacher training courses (eg a PGCE).

Additional course costs

Year 1

• Strongly recommended: Books (available in libraries) - Estimated cost £50
• Optional – Education, English, Drama and the Arts: contribution to theatre trips - Estimated cost c£5-10 per trip

Year 3

• Optional: Dissertation travel/DBS costs (depending on topic)

Changing course

Part II of Education is also available to undergraduates who have successfully completed Part I of another course, in which case it's normally taken as a two-year course.

To be able to change course, you need the agreement of your College that any change is in your educational interests, and you must have the necessary background in the subject to which you wish to change – in some cases you may be required to undertake some catch-up work or take up the new course from the start/an earlier year. If you think you may wish to change course, we encourage you to contact a College admissions office for advice. You should also consider if/how changing course may affect any financial support arrangements.

After Cambridge

The career options for an Education graduate are extremely varied and they find employment in a wide range of occupations and fields in the UK and abroad. Many have gone into academic research, educational psychology and neuroscience, publishing, teaching and the Civil Service, along with those now working in government policy and administration, journalism and the wider media, theatre, community arts, heritage and museum education, management and HR, business and consultancy, charities and NGOs, and international development. Many graduates also pursue careers associated with their combination subject.