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The Education Studies Tripos
The Faculty of Education BA programme is a joint honours degrees combining the study of education with another subject chosen from biological sciences, classics, English, English with drama, geography, history, modern languages, music, physical sciences and religious studies.
The degree prepares graduates to enter a wide range of careers relating to education, including administration in both local and national government; arts and museum education; educational journalism; educational activities within the community (including drama and music); educational careers within the media and politics. The emphasis throughout the course on understanding contemporary issues in society means that the Education Tripos can lead to careers in a range of other areas such as human resources and other forms of management.
For those who decide to enter the teaching profession, the degree provides an excellent preparation for going on to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, either at Cambridge or at another university. PGCE programmes available in the Faculty of Education cover the following age ranges: Early Years (ages 3-8), Primary (ages 5-11), Key Stage 2/3 (ages 7-14) and Secondary (ages 11-18). The Faculty of Education also offers the opportunity for further academic study at postgraduate level on full or part-time Masters courses, or by entry to the PhD programme.
Applicants for either course can apply for admission to Churchill. Admission arrangements and requirements for courses in Education are the same as for other tripos subjects, i.e. acceptance is by one of the Colleges admitting for undergraduate degrees or affiliated degrees or as a mature student. The standard entry requirements are available here. Do come to one of our Open Days or contact us (admissions@chu.cam.ac.uk) directly to find out about studying Education in Churchill.
A great advantage of Churchill is that students are in residence for the whole of their three years on the single College site. The campus has all the sporting and accommodation facilities on a peaceful site in large grounds a few minutes cycle ride from the city centre and at the heart of the new West Cambridge building plans. Another advantage is that you will be studying with a wide mix of students studying your main subject at both undergraduate and post-graduate level as well as post-graduate students in Education. All the students studying Education meet regularly on a social basis in Churchill as well as for formal supervisions and lectures University wide. If you have a passion for understanding how the Education System came to be as it is and to speculate where it is going then you will have plenty of students (not studying Education) with whom to discuss the latest Government sound bites.
You will be interviewed by myself, Brenda Jennison, and the Director of Studies in your main subject. Before you come for your interview look up the main subject sections of this web site and see what they might like you to have done or read before arriving here. As you probably will not have studied Education formally at school then talk to your teachers about what the current issues in Education are and have a look at the Education press to find out what is being written about Education today.
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
Many students have come to Churchill to study for a PGCE and found it easy to fit into the lively student atmosphere. As members of the Middle Common Room (MCR) they can choose to spend social time with post-graduate students of all subjects or use the central facilities used by all members of the College. Churchill is sensitive to the demands of teaching practice and is very sympathetic about accommodation issues when a teaching placement is out of Cambridge.
The student view of Education at Churchill College
Jordan Vibert and Sara Brankin at a celebration lunch with their Director of Studies
when their final piece of PGCE coursework had been submitted.
They had this to say:
"For undergraduates the social life is great. Accommodation is very good and not expensive as rooms come in different price brackets. It is a cheerful, friendly place and if you can survive in Churchill you will survive in any classroom as there is always a lot going on at once."
Churchill is a vibrant community at both undergraduate and graduate levels with many free social events. Have you got a degree and no criminal record? … good … then you can teach! Teaching is a creative and challenging profession. Where else can I dress up 11-year old boys as slave girls to perform in Spartacus?!
Career prospects for all who study Education are good whether you choose to teach, run a Local Education Authority, work in Educational Publishing or other forms of the media, use the qualification 'as a degree' for other graduate jobs, or even to continue with a higher degree.
Looking forward to hearing from you.