Rhodes University

What you'll study

The BEd Honours is a focused programme combining advanced theoretical study, subject-specific didactics and an independent research project. Coursework typically covers research methods in education, curriculum design and assessment, education policy and leadership, and contemporary issues such as inclusive education and the sociology of education.

• Research Methods: quantitative and qualitative approaches, research design, data collection and analysis, ethics in educational research, and preparation of an honours mini-dissertation.
• Curriculum and Assessment: curriculum theory, curriculum development, formative and summative assessment practices, and assessment policy and quality assurance.
• Subject Didactics / Pedagogy: advanced teaching methods and curriculum approaches tailored to a candidate's teaching phase or subject specialism (for example Foundation Phase, Intermediate, Senior Phase or Further Education and Training).
• Inclusive and Socially Responsive Education: special needs education, multilingual and multicultural classroom practice, equity and diversity in schooling.
• Educational Leadership and Policy: foundations of school leadership, management, educational policy analysis and community engagement.
• Honours Research Project: a supervised mini-dissertation that demonstrates the candidate's ability to plan, execute and present independent research on an educational topic.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally required to hold a recognised undergraduate degree in education (for example a Bachelor of Education or an equivalent teaching qualification) or a related bachelor’s degree with appropriate educational background. Candidates should usually have demonstrated academic competence at honours level in previous study and a clear academic or professional purpose for further study in education.

Professional teaching registration or classroom experience is often an advantage, particularly for applicants seeking applied or practice-oriented specialisations. Shortlisted candidates may be asked to submit a research proposal and to attend an interview; additional departmental prerequisites or bridging modules may be required for those without sufficient prior coursework in education.

Career prospects

Graduates of the BEd Honours programme move into a range of roles across the education sector. The qualification strengthens prospects for both classroom and non-classroom careers and is also the usual pathway to master's and doctoral study in education.

• Senior and specialist classroom teacher roles (subject or phase specialists)
• School management and leadership positions
• Curriculum development and assessment officers in provincial departments or private providers
• Education policy analyst, planner or consultant
• Research assistant or educational researcher in universities, think tanks or NGOs
• Training and development roles in adult education, teacher professional development and community education projects

Why study at Rhodes University

Rhodes University offers a focused and research-oriented School of Education with strengths in socially responsive pedagogy and community engagement. Small class sizes and close supervision allow honours students to work directly with experienced academic staff on research projects and to receive personalised feedback on their coursework and dissertation.

The School has active links with regional schools, education departments and civil-society organisations, providing opportunities for applied research, classroom collaboration and professional networking. Studying at Rhodes also gives access to its library resources, research seminars and interdisciplinary centres that support education scholarship and innovation.