Education

Studying Education at Cambridge is a fantastic experience for anyone interested in how and why people learn. Here you have the chance to study current educational debates in one of the oldest seats of learning in the country.

And when all this learning about learning gets too much for you, your specialist subject provides an alternative focus on something which you are (hopefully!) equally passionate about. However, if the thought of teaching in a school makes you run frantically in the opposite direction, don’t panic! Not everyone doing this course wants to teach, and many um and ah all the way through before deciding on completely different career paths. The course is flexible enough to allow you to increasingly focus on education or your specialist subject as you progress through your degree, so there are plenty of chances to change your mind.

“ Whether you loved school, hated it, or still wonder what it was about, you can investigate the questions for yourself. ”

The undergraduate courses focus on four main areas: Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy and History. Each of these subjects you apply to an educational context, so you could be studying the psychology of child development in one lecture and the philosophy behind the National Curriculum in the next. While all this jumping around can get a little confusing, the faculty makes an effort to ensure that each discipline makes sense in itself, and in time you work out how the four are interdependent.
All this takes place in the shiny new Education Faculty building, which is situated on Hills Road. The well-stocked, bright library boasts ‘lily-pads’ on which to work and some very friendly librarians. And if you need to mull things over or just talk to your subject friends, the faculty has an excellent café and some bright orange comfy chairs in which to do so. We don’t study educational environments for nothing! Education Studies is now at accepted at the majority of Colleges across Cambridge, so although its history is tied to that of Homerton, both the faculty and the College are actively diversifying their intake.

Best thing? The wide range of study topics available

So don’t be put off by the fact that the faculty doesn’t appear on any maps of the city centre – I assure you it is just off the bottom corner and can easily be reached by bike or bus! Whether you are someone who loved school, hated it, or is still wondering what it was all about, you will find lots of open-minded, enthusiastic people here who are keen to help you investigate these questions for yourself. Along the way you can gain an insight into some fascinating aspects of education that you may never have thought of as you sat chewing your own pencil all those years ago.

Worst thing? Balancing your Education and specialist subject work

Key facts…

Students per year

110

Male : Female ratio

15:85

Length of course

3 years

Quite Interesting fact

Education Studies is the only subject in Cambridge that can be studied as a joint honours.

Ask a student…