Education

What will I gain from my subject?

The skills and experience developed during your degree in Education, Childhood Studies or Education and International Development will provide an excellent foundation for a range of careers working with children and young people across sectors that include education, health, social care, charities, policy making and non-governmental organisations.  The skills you will have developed will also translate well in to many other graduate roles which appreciate your ability to evidence skills in research, critical awareness, interpersonal abilities, fluent and confident communication and reporting.

What can I do with my subject?

Graduates with a degree in education pursue a range of careers including administrative posts within educational institutions and local education authorities, educational journalism, charity work, student counselling and welfare.  Those interested in secondary teaching (studying 50% of their teaching subject) proceed to undertake a PGCE.  If education is your major subject within your joint honours degree, then you will only be eligible for the primary PGCE.  A number of education graduates seek to further specialise (sometimes as a profession requirement) by opting for further postgraduate study across a range of areas. 

Graduates with a degree in Childhood Studies have the ideal basis for careers in the field of teaching and education (including SEN), social care, nursing, speech therapy, social work, child welfare, play therapy, the leisure industry, child law and childhood research. A number of graduates choose to undertake further study opting to pursue a Primary PGCE or Masters.

Those graduating from a degree in education and international development will have benefitted from a community and social development focus with a global perspective.  This will allow you to pursue careers in charitable organisations, non-governmental organisations at home or abroad, educational policy making bodies or in an advisory role.

Have a look at the following sectors to gain a better understanding of the graduate roles open to you and the possible work experience and/or further study requirements you may need to take in to consideration:

Where do I start looking for work experience and graduate jobs?

There are many ways to get relevant experience of working with children. You could try local youth and sports clubs, Brownies and Scouts groups, summer play schemes, summer camps and Sunday schools. Private tutoring or mentoring is also a possibility, particularly if you have a useful skill. If you wish to go into social work, some experience of working with the local community will be helpful.

If you are considering a career in teaching or social work you need to evidence as much experience as possible as competition is fierce for course places. Classroom experience can be gained by arranging visits to schools to observe and talk to teachers.

Useful resources:

UK

Overseas

Professional bodies and associations

These organisations promote the interests of people working in particular professions. Some have listings of employers who are members of the association and may advertise jobs while others may be a useful source of information when researching employers for applications or considering a speculative application.

What do Aber graduates do?

You will find below some examples of jobs that our Education/Childhood studies graduates have gone into, along with a list of employers employing these graduates.

Examples of jobs entered by Aberystwyth education graduates and postgraduates:

  • Activities Officer
  • Administrator
  • Artist 
  • Autism Support Worker
  • Basic Skills Tutor
  • Business Support Assistant
  • Development Officer
  • Family Support Worker
  • Head of Department  
  • House Assistant (Art Gallery)
  • Lecturer
  • Merchandising Assistant
  • Play Leader
  • Project Development Officer
  • Public Information Officer
  • Research Assistant
  • Researcher
  • Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
  • Supply Teacher 
  • Tutor
  • Various Secondary School Teachers
  • Various Primary School Teachers
  • Warehouse Manager
  • Writer and Researcher

Examples of employers that Aberystwyth education graduates and postgraduates have gone to work for:

  • Aberystwyth University
  • Capita Education Resourcing
  • Communities First
  • Gateway Academy
  • HSBC
  • Local Education Authority
  • Mencap
  • National Assembly for Wales
  • Self-employed
  • Tates Ltd
  • Tesco Head Office
  • Torre Abbey
  • Various County Councils
  • Various HE Establishments
  • Various Primary Schools
  • Various Secondary Schools