BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs & Disability Studies Bachelor's degree at Liverpool Hope University
BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs & Disability Studies at LHU covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
About this course
Special Educational Needs & Disability Studies Home Staff Student Special Educational Needs & Disability Studies BA (Hons) UCAS Code: X11C | Duration: 3 years | Full Time | Hope Park UCAS Campus Code: L46 Work placement opportunities | International students can apply | Study Abroad opportunities Overview Curriculum En From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs & Disability Studies is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at LHU, based in Liverpool Hope. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Sociology graduates from this provider, 87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 40% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sociology & Social Sciences, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 87% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year One 4 modules
- Understanding Disability: Activism, Rights and InclusionCore
Module details
Enables you to develop an understanding of the relationship between disability and society, and the different ways it has been understood over time. Includes a brief overview of early historical representations of disability but focuses most significantly on the emergence of categorisation and institutions in the nineteenth century. You will explore disability in early years, youth, adulthood, later life, and old age. Examines issues such as stigma and prejudice and considers the work of disabil
- Re-thinking Special Education: Culture, Identity and SocietyCore
Module details
Focuses on how disability is represented in culture. Examines how social attitudes towards disability can be challenged or reinforced through media representations. You will develop an understanding of the relationship between disability and social practices that shape the everyday experiences of disabled people. Themes include normalcy, language and terminology, charity and pity. You will study contemporary understandings of intersectionality, considering the relationship between class, race, g
- Being HumanCore
- Education and SocietyCore
Year Two 4 modules
- Social Theory of DisabilityCore
Module details
Underpinned by the social model of disability. You will develop an understanding of its significance in both theory and practice in relation to special educational needs & disability studies. You will engage with recent and relevant research that demonstrates the application of the social model as a conceptual and practical tool for change.
- Exploring Diversity, Disability and EducationCore
Module details
You will engage with research offering alternative readings of impairment, including work on neurodiversity, dyslexia and lexism, as well as sensory, bodily, and cognitive diversity. You will be encouraged to develop independent research to support your choice for a focused study within special educational needs & disability studies.
- Exploring Professional Values and AttitudesCore
Module details
The relationship between embodied and professional knowledge forms a core part of this section. The ethics of professional practice are explored with reference to a range of educational contexts, professional roles, and practice-based research. You will enhance your knowledge and awareness of issues relating to ethics of practice while gaining insights into potential future employment opportunities.
- Researching DisabilityCore
Module details
Engages with the ethical, philosophical, and practical dimensions of researching disability. You will examine the importance of lived and embodied experience as well as methods and approaches for emancipatory and participatory forms of research in special educational needs & disability studies.
Year Three 4 modules
- Theories of DisabilityCore
Module details
You will study contemporary work in special educational needs & disability studies. This includes critical disability theory, ableism/disablism, neo-liberal ableism, knowledge and power, disability and surveillance, race and ableism, the Tripartite model, appreciation and affirmation, and crip theory.
- Inclusive PracticeCore
Module details
You will explore a range of ideas that connect theory with inclusive practice. Key areas include cultural inclusion, inclusion and inclusive education, inclusive and exclusive policy, transformability, Universal Design, and Universal Design for Learning.
- Disability and EthicsCore
Module details
Provides important insights into the relationship between disability and ethics. Topics include disability ethics and technology, the ethics of intervention such as medical intervention, and the ethics of choice.
- Dissertation PhaseCore
Module details
You will identify an aspect of study related to special educational needs & disability studies and develop a piece of independent research into your chosen area.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course combines the study of special educational needs, disability and social policy to examine inequality, rights and support systems. You'll usually begin with foundations in sociology and social problems, exploring how societies understand and respond to disability and educational disadvantage. Year 2 moves into social theory and applied study in areas such as social policy, gender and identity, and research methods. By Year 3, you'll pursue specialist options in topics such as criminology, migration or social work routes, undertake research-led seminars on contemporary debates, and complete your own dissertation project. Throughout, you'll develop research skills in qualitative and quantitative analysis alongside critical understanding of policy and practice in education and disability support.
Who it's for
This course suits graduates interested in understanding disability, inclusion, and educational support systems. You'll study how policy, practice, and theory shape experiences for disabled people and those with additional needs. The programme combines academic study with applied learning, preparing you for roles where specialist knowledge in this field matters. Most entrants hold A-levels or equivalent; typical UCAS tariff among accepted students is 128–143 points.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is delivered full-time over 3 years at Liverpool Hope University, a University located in Liverpool. Instruction is in English. The course (UCAS code X11C) is offered at the Hope Park campus. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the qualification is nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. Work placement and study abroad opportunities are available, and international students may apply.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Year in industry. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 90% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code X11C). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at LHU →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Sociology & Social Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £23,000 | £21,000 – £28,000 | 35 |
| 3 years after | £20,000 | £15,500 – £24,500 | 110 |
| 5 years after | £23,000 | £19,000 – £28,000 | 110 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sociology & social sciences · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Sociology & Social Sciences nationally
National figures for Sociology & Social Sciences graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Sociology & Social Sciences courses at the same study level.
Compared with 751 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Welfare and housing associate professionalsSOC 2020 322 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,937
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 115; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Sociology & Social Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Sociology & Social Sciences graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Local authorities
- Charities & NGOs
- Research organisations
- Government & universities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sociology & Social Sciences graduates.
Sociology AdjunctCommonwealth Of VirginiaSociology ECT - High-Achieving Secondary School in BrightonMarchant RecruitmentHead of Psychology and SociologyTeacherActiveIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £23,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 93.3% · in work or study 87% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Liverpool Hope University
Social sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Liverpool Hope - Hope Park
360 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Sociology & Social Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to LHU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by LHU; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check LHU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with LHU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at LHU
Sociology & Social Sciences at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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