Primary

Primary teaching is one of the most consequential professional roles in any society. Primary teachers are often the first professional educators children encounter, and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they help develop in those early years have lasting effects on how children approach learning, form relationships, and understand themselves. A primary education degree prepares you for the complex, demanding, and deeply rewarding work of teaching across all subjects with children from the age of four to eleven, developing the pedagogical knowledge, subject expertise, and professional judgement the role requires.

At Stranmillis University College, this four-year, full-time BEd is a programme designed to develop you as an educational professional and reflective practitioner. You will study education theory, policy, and practice through Education Studies and Curriculum Studies, which provide the academic foundation for understanding how schools work and how children learn and develop. You will also choose a specialist curriculum area from the Northern Ireland curriculum, developing deep subject knowledge and leadership capability in that area as the programme progresses.

In years three and four, you study the leadership of your specialism in depth and engage with more advanced curriculum theory and practice. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, providing substantial classroom experience across the degree. The typical entry tariff is 152 UCAS points.

Graduates of primary education programmes go on to teach in primary schools across Northern Ireland, the UK, and internationally. The professional degree provides the qualification needed to seek employment in maintained schools, integrated schools, and independent settings. Many graduates develop specialist expertise in literacy, numeracy, STEM, the arts, or special educational needs as their careers progress.

Leadership roles, including deputy and principal positions, are natural long-term destinations for experienced practitioners. Postgraduate study in education provides a route for those interested in research or further professional development.