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Education (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion) (Top-up) BA(Hons)

Undergraduate Open Days
Undergraduate Open Days

Overview

Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have the right to educational support that values and respects them as learners, and takes account of their individual requirements. This course is aimed at those who work or volunteer in a relevant role and is designed to fit alongside this existing employment. Whether you want to progress your career in special and inclusive education contexts, mainstream schools or business and non-governmental organisations, this course could be for you.

Why Education (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Inclusion)?

  • You'll examine how policy and legislation have contributed to our understanding of children and young people with SEND. You’ll also investigate theories of development and learning, and consider how these can be used to underpin practice in supporting these learners.
  • Your place of work forms a key element of the course allowing you to put theory into practice. To ensure flexibility and access for those working within schools, colleges and other childcare settings during the week, teaching on this course typically takes place on Saturdays, approximately 8 per academic year.
  • While you're here, you'll learn from professionals with a wealth of experience in a range of educational and SEND contexts, and have the opportunity to reflect on how your learning can be applied to practice, with placements in different settings across the course.
  • Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in teaching, support work, the charitable sector, within Local Authorities, early years, further education or many other possibilities, this course will equip you with the knowledge and practical experience you need.

Key Information

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally one of the following:

  • A Higher National Diploma, Foundation Degree, or equivalent.
  • An initial teaching qualification from a recognised teacher education institution.
  • Successful completion of a Higher Education qualification with 120 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits (or equivalent).

Your qualification should be in an area related to education, for example the study of special educational needs and disabilities, children’s learning and development (including atypical development).

In addition, you must also have GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme.

You must be in employment or voluntary work in an appropriate registered setting (for a minimum of 120 hours per year) and have support from your employer.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page. If you have alternative qualifications or do not meet the IELTS requirement we also offer a range of Pre-Sessional English Programmes.

For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Start dates

22 September 2025

Duration

2 years part-time

Course Detail

Core modules:

Understanding Children's Health and Wellbeing

Through this module you will explore different aspects of the health and well being of children and young people and become equipped to evaluate the wider public health agenda, national trends and supporting legislation. You will evaluate how legislation, policy, research and health promotion models support the chosen promotion and how this may impact on children or young people’s lives.

Inclusive Approaches to Education

In the module, you will examine definitions and different understandings of inclusion and models of disability, considering a national and global context. You will explore the impact these different definitions and models have on educational policy and practice and critically analyse current approaches to inclusion in a range of settings. You will develop your understanding of approaches to inclusive planning, teaching and assessment that ensures accessibility, challenge and achievability for all pupils.

Core modules:

Researching the Major Study

This module forms the first part of a two module package (along with Major Study in Education) which constitutes the project that demonstrates the application of the skills and knowledge acquired within the course. It leads to a project plan which will be implemented in the second module. The focus is on preparatory and background activities leading to a detailed project proposal.

Major Study in Education

This module builds on the Researching the Major Study module. You will undertake a substantial piece of work (dissertation) on a relevant topic in education, which is of particular interest and relevance to your practice. Your dissertation may be literary (an in-depth study of theories, texts, themes), empirical, based on the design, development and evaluation of an enterprise or resource or a combination which has been negotiated with your tutor.

The modules will be spread over two years, part-time study.

You’ll be taught through a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and interactive workshops. You’ll also have a personal tutor who’ll be assigned to you throughout your top-up degree to support your ongoing wellbeing and ensure that you have a positive learning experience.

Assessment takes place through a variety of seminars, essays, presentations, independent research, discussions and delivering teaching/training using digital technologies.

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

  1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

  2. Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

  3. We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).

  4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Discover more about the course

Your Career

Discover the job roles our graduates are working in now.

Inspiring Graduate

Get inspired by real students and their careers.

Student Support

Discover all the support available so you can thrive.

Further Study

Learn about pursuing a Master’s or PhD at Huddersfield.

Research Excellence

See how our innovative research shapes what you'll learn.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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Education (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion) BA(Hons)

Part-time

Undergraduate

If you’re currently employed or volunteer in the children’s workforce and are passionate about working with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, our course will help you develop the professional knowledge and skills you need. You’ll develop high quality practice and underpinning knowledge to help you progress as a SEND and inclusion practitioner.

Find out more How to apply

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