Education

The Education Tripos is a rigorous and rewarding interdisciplinary degree that ranges from the psychology of learning to the transformative power of literature and the arts.

Course details

Number of students per year
10-12
Minimum offer level
A*AA at A-level; 41-42 points with 776 at Higher Level for the IB.
Useful subjects
A social science subject (e.g. Psychology, Sociology, Economics) and/or humanities subject (e.g. English Literature, History, Languages)

At Homerton

The historical connection between Homerton and Education remains strong – as is the geographical connection: the College is next door to the Faculty! Homerton has the largest number of students for the Education Tripos, and we have considerable depth of support for the course. We co-sponsor the Cambridge/Homerton Research and Teaching Centre for Children’s Literature – where some of the world’s leading experts in the field are based. Our library resources in these areas are second to none.

We have three Directors of Study in Education, as well as a long list of Fellows, Bye-Fellows and Emeritus Fellows associated with the Faculty and other specialist areas of teaching.

Our Directors of Study have research interests in the History of Education; women’s education; environmental education; post-colonial and international literatures; poetry and performance; children’s literature; devised and applied theatres. Students particularly benefit from their close involvement in the teaching and management of the undergraduate course.

College teaching is provided in the form of one-to-one and small group supervisions. Supervisors are drawn, where required, from across the University for their expertise and experience but the College is able to provide much of the tuition support

Hear from our students:

"With the largest Education cohort at Homerton, you could always find someone to study with. Being literally “next door” to the Faculty, attending in-person sessions cannot be more convenient. I enjoy engaging with topics ranging from philosophies of education to children’s development. Discussion-based lectures and supervisions allow us to absorb voices from top academics and peers, and with extracurricular workshops and seminars throughout the year, you will never get bored!" -Jiayue Jiang

At Cambridge

Education is the study of human development and transformation in all its forms and contexts: from the individual mind to the social and political processes taking place within communities, institutions and global networks to the cultural encounters that shape ideas, beliefs and imaginations. Our course allows you to explore these themes across academic disciplines, or develop specialist knowledge in areas such as psychology, international development, or literature and theatre. Creativity, contemporary research and global dimensions are key to this critical understanding and the programme has a particular focus on nurturing independent, reflexive inquiry through the development of critical research skills.

More detailed information about the Tripos is available on the Faculty website.

What We Look For

We are looking for students who have the academic ability and potential to succeed on the course, as well as the necessary interest in and motivation for the subject.

In order to explore the Education course in more detail we would recommend reading the faculty pages in more detail. 

How To Apply

We welcome applicants with a range of subject combinations, however we would like to see at least one essay-based subject taken to A level (or equivalent) standard.

Admissions Assessment: There is no admissions assessment requirement for Education.

Written Work: Applicants are required to submit two pieces of written work prior to interview. This should be in essay format (not science coursework or a timed exam) and can be extracted from an EPQ.

You can also explore your chosen subject through the Homerton Resources page.

Career

Our course provides excellent preparation for a wide range of Masters and doctoral research programmes, both at Cambridge – each track has close links to related MPhil programmes within the Faculty – and elsewhere.

The career options for graduates are extremely varied and they find employment in a wide range of occupations in the UK and abroad. As well as further study, our students have gone into research, educational psychology and neuroscience, publishing, and the Civil Service. Others now work in government policy and administration, the media, theatre, heritage and museum education, dramatherapy, HR, business and consultancy, charities and NGOs, and international development.

Alternatively, for those intending to teach, the course provides a foundation from which to proceed to initial teacher training courses in Primary Education and in English and Drama Secondary teaching.

Testimonials