Funding
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Money MattersEquity and achievement for all learners.
BA (Hons) Special and Inclusive Education prepares you to be a forward-thinking professional, with expertise in creating equitable learning pathways and opportunities for diverse learning profiles, including special and additional educational needs.
Our three-year programme has been created in collaboration with sector leaders, including CEOs of mainstream and special schools, specialist Local Authority officers, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) therapists, helping to inspire positive change in SEND practice. This course is designed to create graduates who are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all individuals.
Through a mix of academic knowledge and practical experience, you’ll learn key concepts and legislation around inclusive ...
3 years full-time
You’ll learn key concepts focusing on inclusive learning, paired with simulation-based education and immersive learning experiences, alongside the chance to earn professional qualifications in Dyslexia and Irlen's Syndrome. Throughout the course, you’ll receive personalised support and guidance from experienced academics, ensuring you are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of professional practice. In year one you’ll focus on unpacking key concepts and legal frameworks, whilst in year two you’ll develop critical skills in in becoming a 'leaderful' practitioner, utilising your decision-making skills and initiative to make sound judgements, whilst interacting with stakeholders across the sectors.
Year three will explore engaging in work-integrated learning and developing professional case studies, offering a broader understanding towards becoming an impactful and inclusive SEND professional.
You’ll start the course with a range of core modules that introduce you to concepts of inclusive learning, such as discussion of current attitudes, key theories which link to neurodiversity, alongside the legal and professional frameworks.
You’ll also have a module dedicated to helping you transition into higher and undergraduate learning expectations.
This introductory Module will unpack key concepts around inclusive and equitable learning. Through coverage of alternative development pathways from childhood to adulthood, you will examine and challenge current attitudes on removing barriers to learning, fostering a thought-modality of diversity – both neuro and physical - rather than ‘disability’ and/or disadvantage.
This Personal Tutoring Module will support you with your transition into HE and undergraduate study expectations, based around MMU’s Careers and Employability offer. The Module will also encourage you to participate in appropriate career-enhancing experiential learning and other professional opportunities within the MMU partnership and/or Local Authorities. Practical professional knowledge will also be included such as professional SEND and related bodies, DfE guidance, funding frameworks, the role of the Local Authority.
In this Module, we will explore the educational and political history of SEND, leading up to present-day legal and professional frameworks. Reflecting the SEND Code of Practice, you will take account of learner entitlement from 025 years, from Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) to Profound (PMLD) and/or Complex Difficulties. You will understand SEND’s close connections to Safeguarding, a critical feature of the Module.
This Module will familiarise you with key learning theories, current critical thinking on learning development stages and how delay or interruption to these may be indicative of neurodiversity. The Module will foster an asset mindset of ‘atypical’ learning development, rather than ‘disability’, enabling you to distinguish between cognitive delays and barriers to learning. You will build skills in early identification of neurodiversity, as outlined in the DfE SEND Plan: Right Time, Right Place, Right Support (March 2023).
You’ll have the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge learnt in class to real-world settings. In year two and year three we anticipate that you'll have five-week block placements – within the School of Education, we have developed strong sector partnerships with a range of organisations and education settings, meaning you’ll get to work with SEND individuals from diverse backgrounds and areas. These partnerships have helped inform the curriculum, our placement portfolio and create opportunities to share good practice.
You’ll be offered full support and guidance from your tutor whilst on placement.
You’ll delve deeper into practical application and professional development of SEND. You’ll undertake your first placement block, gaining hands-on experience in real-world settings. This is complemented by a module that encourages building professional skills, including earning additional qualifications in Dyslexia and/or Irlen’s Syndrome.
This Module will cover the many ways in which barriers to learning can be positively managed. Practical support and intervention, such as access arrangements, assistive technology, and skilled use of physical environments, will be explored through a theoretical lens, arming you with a secure understanding of the powerful role colleagues can play inclusion. Equally, the Module will address wider, more complex barriers to inclusion – such as Adverse Childhood Experiences (A.C.E.) children in foster or L.A. Care – covering sector-recognised frameworks such as Attachment and Trauma-Informed Theory.
This Module will explore the expectation on those working in Special and inclusive education to work with a wide range of professionals. Against the framework of every L.A.’s Local Offer, the Module will foster a multidisciplinary, ‘pathway’ thought-modality, equipping students to work skilfully with stakeholders, from vulnerable parents to L.A. experts. The Module will encourage students to recognise professionals as a champion of diversity, fostering and developing thought on their own professional identity / ideology. This module will offer a virtual WIL experience.
Building on the Level 4 Module of the same name, Personal Tutoring is embedded alongside academic skills development and the University’s Careers and Employability offer. Again, you will be encouraged to participate in career-enhancing experiential learning, Local Authority and/or MMU Partnership professional opportunities. Practical professional knowledge will be further developed, such as sharing frameworks and approaches encountered on WIL, to develop and widen your practical knowledge.
This is a Work Integrated Learning Module in which you will be attached to a SEND/Inclusion setting for a block placement. You will have the opportunity to explore teaching and learning within your setting, with a focus on SpLD. Through discussions with your Tutor and engagement in the Module’s assessment, you will begin to gain a greater sense of your professional identity in practice.
You’ll have the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge learnt in class to real-world settings. In year two and year three we anticipate that you'll have five-week block placements – within the School of Education, we have developed strong sector partnerships with a range of organisations and education settings, meaning you’ll get to work with SEND individuals from diverse backgrounds and areas. These partnerships have helped inform the curriculum, our placement portfolio and create opportunities to share good practice.
You’ll be offered full support and guidance from your tutor whilst on placement.
You’ll continue to build upon previous learning and developing professional skills. Your final year focuses on enhancing your insights into special and inclusive education and understanding research methods to tackle your final case study. This case study module allows you to apply your learning to a self-selected topic, understanding with practical knowledge and experience gained from previous work-integrated learning placements.
Building on the Level 5 Module of the same name, Personal Tutoring is embedded alongside academic skills development and the University’s Careers and Employability offer. You will be expected to participate in career-enhancing experiential learning, Local Authority and/or MMU Partnership professional opportunities will be promoted. Guidance and preparation for professional life will be a key focus of your learning. You will engage in personal review to track your career thinking, career planning to explore career options and career literacy to successfully applying for jobs and career opportunities. This module will offer virtual WIL experience.
This Module will hone your insights into different interpretations of special and inclusive education, in preparation for your final Case Study (Module 4). Research methods and enquiry skills will be a key element of the Module, to support your completion of the assignment, designed to advance your understanding of a self-selected topic of professional interest. Modelling good cognitive-load practice and spiral curricular learning, this Module both builds on the content of Level 4, Module 4, whilst scaffolding your learning within the next and final two Modules.
This is a Work Integrated Learning Module in which you will be attached to a SEND/Inclusion setting for a block placement. You will have the opportunity to explore teaching and learning within you setting. Through discussions with your Tutor and engagement in the Module’s assessment, students will fine-tune their skills, knowledge and understanding of both the workplace and your role as professionals.
This module will enable you to develop and apply research and enquiry skills to a self-selected topic of professional interest as a Case Study. The assignment will balance critical and theoretical understanding of the topic with genuine practical knowledge and experience, synthesising links between the two. This links directly to the proposal assessment from L6 Module 2 and experience from module 3 WIL.
You’ll have the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge learnt in class to real-world settings. In year two and year three we anticipate that you'll have five-week block placements – within the School of Education, we have developed strong sector partnerships with a range of organisations and education settings, meaning you’ll get to work with SEND individuals from diverse backgrounds and areas. These partnerships have helped inform the curriculum, our placement portfolio and create opportunities to share good practice.
You’ll be offered full support and guidance from your tutor whilst on placement.
Whether you’ve already made your decision about what you want to study, or you’re just considering your options, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
A levels - e.g. BBC
Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma - DMM
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DMM
Access to HE Diploma - Pass with a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points
CACHE Level 3 Diploma grade B (excluding CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator VRQ)).
T level - We welcome applications from students undertaking T level qualifications. Eligible applicants will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of Merit as a condition of offer.
Other Level 3 qualifications equivalent to GCE A level are also considered.
A maximum of three A level-equivalent qualifications will be accepted towards meeting the UCAS tariff requirement.
AS levels, or qualifications equivalent to AS level, are not accepted.
Please contact the University directly if you are unsure whether you meet the minimum entry requirements for the course.
We will interview you as part of your application.
GCSE English Language grade C/4 or above,
GCSE Mathematics grade C/4 or above.
Alternatively, Level 2 Functional Skills in English Language and Mathematics are accepted.
A Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS), Occupational Health screening and Child Disqualification checks are required for all students. Instructions on how to complete these checks will be provided once you hold firm offer for this course.
We welcome applications from mature students and career changers.
A levels - e.g. BBC
Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma - DMM
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DMM
Access to HE Diploma - Pass with a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points
CACHE Level 3 Diploma grade B (excluding CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator VRQ)).
T level - We welcome applications from students undertaking T level qualifications. Eligible applicants will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of Merit as a condition of offer.
Other Level 3 qualifications equivalent to GCE A level are also considered.
A maximum of three A level-equivalent qualifications will be accepted towards meeting the UCAS tariff requirement.
AS levels, or qualifications equivalent to AS level, are not accepted.
Please contact the University directly if you are unsure whether you meet the minimum entry requirements for the course.
We will interview you as part of your application.
There’s further information for international students on our international website if you’re applying with non-UK qualifications.
A Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS), Occupational Health screening and Child Disqualification checks are required for all students. Instructions on how to complete these checks will be provided once you hold firm offer for this course.
We welcome applications from mature students and career changers.
Tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are still being finalised for all courses. You can find information on 2024/25 standard undergraduate fees for UK/Channel Islands and EU/Non-EU international students. All fees stated may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year.
Compulsory estimate: Travel costs to placement estimated at £2 to £15 a day whilst on placement (costs will vary considerably).
You will need to budget for travel costs to your placement, which could be across the North West region. You may incur costs between £2 - £15 per day (costs will vary considerably).
Compulsory estimate: £0.00 to £52.00 depending on your status
DBS checks - Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Childcare disqualification check are required for this programme as students will be in settings with children and vulnerable young people. Costs for these will be covered by the School of Education on enrolment at Level 4. Costing per head is £51.45. This includes DBS Enhanced with Barred Lists (£38), the provider processing fee (£6.60) and Post Office fee for ID verification (£6.85).
Upon completion of the DBS check, students have the option to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. The Update Service allows individuals to keep their DBS certificates up to date and allows employers or education providers to check a current certificate, without the need to request a new certificate. Subscription to the DBS Update Service is £13.00 per year, to be paid by the student. Students who have resided outside the UK continuously for a period of twelve months or more in the last ten years, while over the age of 18, will also be required to provide evidence of a satisfactory overseas police check, and to meet any associated costs, including the cost of a certified translation if required. DBS subscription is strongly encouraged for students embarking on programmes, where DBS clearance will be an ongoing requirement for placements and professional practice.
Optional estimate: £400
All books required for the course are available from the library. The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, students may choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop up to £100 each year for books and printing.
Find out more about financing your studies and whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships
Money MattersThe course will prepare you for diverse career paths within roles in schools, specialist provision, multi-academy trusts, charities, local authorities, and nurseries.
Graduates may pursue roles such as SEND education consultant, therapeutic pastoral lead, council SEND programme lead, or specialist inclusion lead, among others. Additionally, graduates will have the opportunity to enter sectors including adult care, hospitals, charities, and local councils, with pathways to postgraduate study such as MA in Inclusive Education or Initial Teacher Education programmes.
You can apply for this course for 2025/26 entry once UCAS applications open in autumn.
Visit UCAS for further details, including deadlines.
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.