Skip Navigation

Secondary Religious Education with QTS BA (Hons)

UCAS code: XV62

Explore everything from Eastern Dharma to The Bible in the Modern World as you learn to excel at teaching RE. Visit religious communities, experience life working in schools and gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status.

Overview

Course length: 3 years full-time
Start dates: September 2024
September 2025
Location: Edge Hill University
Example offers: BCC-BBC (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria
Subject(s): Education and TeachingReligion and Philosophy
Faculty: Education
Department: Secondary and Further Education
Religious Education students participate in a field trip.

What does it mean to be a great teacher? Study with us and we’ll think about the values that underpin the profession, develop your knowledge of the major world faiths, and learn the craft and pedagogy of teaching.

We’ll look at religion as a modern, living phenomenon. You’ll visit centres representing all six major world faiths and study their beliefs, practices, and texts. As you progress through the course, you’ll reflect on these in greater depth, gaining expert knowledge in the subject.

Our experienced tutors at Edge Hill, and the expert teachers in your practice placement schools, will support you to become an outstanding RE teacher. You’ll learn creative teaching techniques, and develop your own imaginative ways to communicate impartial and considered views on religion.

Successful completion of the programme leads to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Ofsted outstanding provider

Course features

  • Ofsted outstanding provider for initial teacher education

  • International students can apply

  • Professional accreditation

  • Professional practice placements

What you'll study

We’ll start the course with introductions to the study of the main world religions, as well as modules where you’ll develop your professional and academic skills. You’ll start to understand the educational values for schools and learners and gain an understanding of contemporary education. In your first practice placement you’ll take part in lessons, taking on more responsibility as you progress through the year.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
Abrahamic Traditions
Eastern Dharma
Introductory Curriculum (Secondary Religious Education)
Introduction to the Study of Religion

Year 2 is about building on the knowledge you’ve developed. You’ll start to think more critically, taking a deeper look into Judaism, as well as more specialist topics like the Bible and its influence – considering its presence in film, TV, music, and the media. Your second practice placement will involve planning your teaching and making sure students progress.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
Developmental Curriculum (Secondary Religious Education)
Judaism
Religion, Belief and Reason
The Bible in the Modern World

By Year 3, you’ll study religions including Islam and Buddhism in greater depth. In your final practice placement, you’ll spend more time in school and take on additional responsibility. You’ll deliver lessons and extracurricular activities, and take part in school events. You’ll also conduct your own research project, bringing together your knowledge to look at the possibilities for education.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
British Buddhism
Consolidation Curriculum (Secondary Religious Education)
Issues in Contemporary Islam
Religion in the 21st Century

How you'll study

Learning takes place in the University and in schools. Much of your time at university will be in a classroom setting where there is lots of group work and discussion to increase your knowledge and skills. You will be supported by your course tutors and undertake visits to places of worship and to schools which exemplify good teaching practice.

Guest speakers from the world of education and religion will feature in the course delivery and you will be required to study independently and read widely to support the lectures and seminars you attend.

You will spend a significant amount of time on placement in schools where you will put your training into practice. During this time you will assist in running classes, observing outstanding teachers and working alongside mentors and other colleagues to further your professional development.

Your teaching timetable will increase as your training progresses and you become more confident in the classroom. You will work with pupils from various areas, backgrounds and abilities. This will provide experience in areas such as classroom management and the ability to teach individuals and groups at a range of levels.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

How you'll be assessed

You will be assessed through a carefully sequenced curriculum which encompasses your subject knowledge, your pedagogical knowledge, and your classroom-based experience. Assessment methods will include written assignments and portfolios both during your time at university and when you are on your Professional Practice. Your professional development will be mapped against our carefully sequenced ITE curriculum so that, at the end of your training, you can be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards and be recommended for for the award of QTS*.

There are no formal written examinations as part of the current assessment methods on this programme.

Who will be teaching you

The Faculty of Education has been at the forefront of teacher education for 135 years and today enjoys the enviable position of being one of the country’s leading providers of education, training and research for the children’s workforce.

You will be taught by a range of highly qualified and experienced tutors who are committed to supporting you throughout the programme and providing you with the opportunities to succeed. Tutors are enthusiastic about their subjects and will model good practice. This will enable you to develop your own teaching skill and style.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Typical offer 104-112 UCAS Tariff points. GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics at Grade C or Grade 4 or above (or equivalent) will also be required.

Please note, for the purposes of initial teacher training, level 2 literacy and numeracy qualifications are not considered as equivalent to GCSE Grade C or Grade 4 in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics.

An interview forms part of the selection process.

If you accept a formal offer from Edge Hill University you will be required to meet the Department for Education’s standards for physical and mental fitness to teach and clearance to work with children. Further information, including a Declaration of Health questionnaire and details of how to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure will be sent to you after you have firmly accepted an offer.

You could apply for direct entry at Level 5 if you can evidence appropriate prior learning in accordance with Edge Hill University’s Academic Regulations.

Example offers

Qualification Requirement
A Level BCC-BBC.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB) We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. Subject-specific requirements at Higher Level (HL) Grade 5 may apply.
Access to Higher Education Diploma 45 credits at Level 3, for example 9 credits at Distinction and 36 credits at Merit or 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

How to apply

Apply full-time

Apply online through UCAS

Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.

International

Apply as an international student

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Did you know?

If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.

Discover our accommodation

Facilities

Exterior photograph of the Faculty of Education BuildingHoused in a state-of-the-art £9million building, the Faculty of Education enjoys a stunning setting from both its lakeside and piazza buildings.

Facilities in the lakeside building include a 300-seat lecture theatre, five well-equipped ICT suites, and 18 teaching rooms complete with the latest technology. The lakeside building is also home to a popular vegan and vegetarian cafe where students can meet to socialise and discuss their studies.

The nearby piazza building offers modern facilities including a lecture theatre and a number of seminar rooms.

Where you'll study

Faculty of Education

Finance

Tuition fees

UK Full-Time

£9,250

a year

International

£16,500

a year

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.

Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

As there’s a national shortage of religious education teachers you’ll find lots of job opportunities across the UK. Our students have found there to be international opportunities too.

With your confidence, skills, and practical experience from working in schools and other settings, you’ll be able to excel as a teacher and bring excellent subject knowledge to your first teaching position.

We’ll help you gain your first teaching post. And we offer further study options if you want to gain more qualifications later in your career.

This degree is accredited by the Department for Education. Successful completion of the course will enable you to gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Course changes

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Track changes to this course

Discover Uni: Full-Time Study

Download our course leaflet