Education and Astrophysics

Education and Astrophysics - BSc (Hons)

Discover more about our universe by exploring the skies and gain the theoretical understanding and practical application of education with its influence on individuals and society by studying for an Education and Astrophysics BSc. This will equip you with advanced critical thinking, mathematical and problem solving skills and the ability to critically analyse and communicate effectively. It will build valuable skills enabling you to move into a variety of careers or to pursue further study.

Year of entry

2023 - for 2024 entry see here - for 2023 entry see here

Course type

Combined Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

School of Chemical and Physical Sciences Social, Political and Global Studies

UCAS code

FX53

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

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Why study Education and Astrophysics at Keele University?

Professional accreditation pathway available

Global Top 300 for Education (Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings, 2023)

Access to Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories (CSL)

Discover diverse cultures through an international year at a partner university across the globe

Course overview

Studying our combined honours Education and Astrophysics BSc, gives you the scope to analyse two interesting subject areas.

Education explores the nature of learning as well as core elements including policy, teaching and practice. You will actively engage with discussions around topics such as psychological, sociological and cultural influences in education, and consider how these may evolve in the future. You will also explore explore key issues and challenges associated with teaching and learning at different levels, such as primary and secondary.

The programme aims to develop your critical thinking skills and awareness of how this sector operates. You will become familiar with the communication between students and teachers as well as the collaboration between professionals in the workplace - exploring the ways in which teaching is delivered and considering classroom behaviour amongst students.

You will critically evaluate what education means to individuals and consider important scenarios around the roles and responsibilities of teachers. You will explore how children learn and analyse contemporary assessment methods. You will consider key factors such as age, the support a student may receive in a range of educational settings, as well as the influence of technology that plays a crucial role in their learning.

The Astrophysics part of the degree will see you apply physics to understand how the universe works and possibly investigate questions such as 'is there an Earth-like planet around another star?' 'Is there a black hole at the centre of every galaxy?' And 'why is the expansion of the Universe accelerating?'. These are questions that astrophysics helps you discover the answer to.

Astrophysics will give you the quantitative and analytic skills needed for analysing data and solving problems and is underpinned by a core physics curriculum as set out by the Institute of Physics. This includes the fundamentals of classical and quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, thermodynamics, solid state, atomic and nuclear physics, together with the mathematics that is used to describe them. We have our own observatory here at Keele that students on this combined honours programme can get involved with on a volunteer basis with the potential to learn some astronomical techniques.

As you progress, you will build on your existing knowledge in familiar core areas of astrophysics including mechanics, special relativity, nature of matter, gravitation, electricity, oscillations and waves and learn the basics of stellar structure and stellar astrophysics. Later in your degree you will study electromagnetism at a deeper level, and have the option of studying topics such as cosmology, binary stellar systems and exoplanets, black holes and gravitational waves.

Work Placement Opportunities in the School of Social, Political and Global Studies

In the School of Social, Political and Global Studies, you may have the opportunity to apply for a placement module to develop your knowledge and skills in professional environments. This may include opportunities to experience teaching and learning in Primary, Secondary and Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools. During this experience, you would observe and assist with classroom activities and develop your practical and professional skills in the company of professionals and learners in different age and development stages. We have a wide range of contacts with local schools in the area where you can gain this valuable hands-on experience in the education sector.

Please note: There are limited spaces on this module.

Work Placement Year

On this course, you will have the opportunity to opt for a Work Placement Year in the School of Social, Political and Global Studies between Year 2 and 3. This will allow you to apply your knowledge and practical skills in a workplace environment enabling you to build key skills in communication, teamwork and project management. You will be able to demonstrate your abilities and creative thinking, working with fellow professionals as well as independently.

You will be supported by staff in your preparation to apply for a work placement that suits your interests and career prospects. This opportunity will allow you to develop both personally and professionally during your studies which will assist you in your employment after university.

Please note: The work placement year is not available for Astrophysics.

International Year

In between years two and three of your studies you may choose to spend a year studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enables you to experience different cultures and to establish international networks. It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Student Support

We offer a multi layered student support structure to help you meet your academic and personal needs. This includes regular tutorials, a dedicated academic mentor and the guidance of Keele's dedicated Student Experience and Support team. Our open-door policy enables you to engage with us directly, meaning you can seek support, gain feedback or discuss any matters related to your course.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies here at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to astrophysics or education is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the area and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Next Steps

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Related Courses

Accreditation and professional recognition

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Physics, unless you specialise in Education in your final year, in which case there is no accreditation available.

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Learn a language Placement year International year Study abroad GCP Elective Pathways Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer. If you are looking for the 2023 schemes please see here.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement BBC
A Level Physics or Maths at grade B or above. If Maths is presented without A Level Physics, please contact our admissions team

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Language or English Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DMM
You must have taken sufficient Physics and Mathematics units, please contact us for advice

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate

29 points to include Higher Level Physics at 6 or above or Higher Level Maths at 6 or above plus Higher Level Physics at 4 or above.

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction, to include sufficient Maths/Physics units, please contact us for advice.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Preparation programmes for international students

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Next Steps

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Additional information

A Level requirements

A Level requirement BBC
A Level Physics or Maths at grade B or above. If Maths is presented without A Level Physics, please contact our admissions team

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Language or English Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DMM
You must have taken sufficient Physics and Mathematics units, please contact us for advice

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate

29 points to include Higher Level Physics at 6 or above or Higher Level Maths at 6 or above plus Higher Level Physics at 4 or above.

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction, to include sufficient Maths/Physics units, please contact us for advice.

English Language Requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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"As a Fraud Analyst, I use the skills I developed as an astrophysics undergraduate to identify and solve complex problems"

David, Astrophysics with Business Management

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"The course gave me a real insight into the education sector as a whole"

Rachel, Education

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Your future career

95% of our students are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2019/20)

You will gain a portfolio of skills on our Education and Astrophysics BSc, providing you with key transferable skills in areas such as problem solving, numeracy, computation and communication skills. These competencies are highly valued by employers and you may choose to pursue a career in:

Science
Engineering
Physicist
Academic research
Astronomy
Teaching
Social Work
Youth Work
Politics
Journalism
Business

Many also further their knowledge by undertaking further study at Master's or PhD level.

If you are considering a career in Secondary School teaching, you will be required to take at least 40% of your degree in the subject you would like to teach. Studying an Education Combined Honours programme is a great option to prepare you for your career and meets this requirement.

Alternatively, if you are interested in Primary School teaching, the Education Single Honours programme provides the opportunity for you to prepare for training to teach in the Primary Sector.

Keele Careers and Employability Team

Our Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offer a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability. From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

Next Steps

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Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching in Education

Education provides an array of diverse teaching styles to ensure you have a strong understanding of the subject area. Our aim is to equip you with the the necessary skills to assist you throughout your studies, in preparation for your career. You will develop key analytical and presentation skills as well as the ability to engage with important discussions with academics and peers. This will help you to construct and form strong arguments.

You will be taught through various methods including:

Lectures
Tutorials
Workshops
Seminars
Web-based learning

These teaching methods will enhance your experience, allowing you to share your knowledge and expertise.

Assessments in Education

You will engage with various assessment methods which may include:

Essays
Reports
Presentations
Reviews/analysis
Portfolio

Teaching in Astrophysics

The student voice is at the heart of our teaching and we regularly seek student feedback on our programmes and make improvements through meetings with student representatives and by asking students to provide anonymous feedback on module content. In addition to our variety of teaching methods, great emphasis is placed on teaching in smaller groups and collaborative working. This is supported by a diverse mixture of digital learning materials that are available on our Keele Learning Environment (KLE) and the assistance of PhD student demonstrators during practical sessions.

Our teaching focuses on problem solving. This occurs in problem classes where practice problems are solved with staff and postgraduate research students, acting as graduate teaching assistants are available to help; in laboratory teaching where practical and computational problems are addressed; and in directed work for assessment.

Methods of teaching include:

Lectures
Tutorials
Laboratory classes
Computational laboratory classes
Exercise/problem-solving classes
Individual progress interviews
Problem sheet assignments
Group and individual projects
Directed reading and independent study
Literature research tasks
Use of e-learning/the Keele Learning Environment (KLE)

Assessments in Astrophysics

The wide variety of assessment methods used on this programme at Keele reflects the broad range of knowledge and skills that are developed as you progress through the degree programme. Teaching staff pay particular attention to specifying clear assessment criteria and providing timely, regular and constructive feedback that helps to clarify things you did not understand and helps you to improve your performance.

Methods of assessment include:

End of module examinations
Assessed problem sheets
Laboratory and project reports
Observation of laboratory skills and laboratory notebooks
Oral and/or poster presentations
In-class exercises and tests
Group oral presentations and reports
Engagement with problem classes
Dissertation
Mini-projects

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Central Science Laboratories

Develop your practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course Content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

Your Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Astrophysics and Education degree. For example, the Foundations of Physics module will introduce you to the mathematical skills needed to solve problems in physics at level 3 while studying fundamental equations and concepts in classical physics. In addition, the Foundations of Social Sciences 1 module introduces you to the ‘backbone’ of social sciences, the concept of social inclusion, the factors that lead to exclusion and the impact this may have on individuals, families and communities. All of the modules you take will prove useful in your degree and professional career. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course Structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester One Modules

FYO-00185	Practical and Academic Skills in Science	15 credits
FYO-00215	Foundations of Mathematical Methods	15 credits
FYO-00205	Foundations of Physics	15 credits
FYO-00263	Foundations in Social Sciences 1	15 credits

Semester Two Modules

FYO-00209	Advancing Physics	15 credits
FYO-00231	Advancing Mathematical Methods	15 credits
FYO-00269	Advancing Social Sciences	30 credits

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to Apply

Students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Astrophysics with Foundation Year (UCAS code: F513) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will then be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct Entry Students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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