Our SENDI course is designed for those who seek to understand the importance of meeting the needs of children, young people, and families through an inclusive approach to education. You'll learn how to undertake research in the field of inclusive education, to think critically about policy and practice in special educational needs, and to be an advocate for equality.
University of the Year finalist
Recognised for our graduate success, we’re shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.
Overview
This course is a chance to explore SEN, disability and inclusion in a broad, imaginative and practical way, drawing on expertise across the university and beyond. You'll build your awareness of SEND and inclusive practise as you learn more about the historical and contemporary initiatives that support our educational system.
At Worcester, you're not just a name in the classroom – our teaching staff get to know you, and want to see you achieve. You'll benefit from small class sizes and bespoke tutor support, placement and networking opportunities, and exposure to visiting speakers from a range of SEN-related backgrounds. We foster an academic community where everyone is encouraged to share their experiences and opinions – allowing you to learn from your fellow course-mates, not just your lecturers.
Our course also offers opportunities for you to work alongside other professionals linked to supporting children, young people, and families – such as occupational health professionals, speech and language therapists and social workers. This means you'll be well-prepared to pursue roles in a variety of sectors, including Education, Health, and Social Care.
Placements
You’ll have many opportunities to gain real-world experience and enhance your CV by carrying out voluntary work, or by completing optional professional placement modules in your second and third years of study. We have well-established links with local organisations, including Worcestershire Children's First, as well as a range of special schools and settings with specialist SEND facilities.
Course content
Each year you'll study a mix of mandatory and optional modules. This flexible course lets you explore SEN, disability and inclusion career paths in a variety of sectors, including Education, Health, and Social Care. In your final year, you'll have an opportunity to undertake a research project on a topic of your choice.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Optional modules
Careers
Successful completion of our SENDI degree will enable you to explore careers in a variety of sectors, including Education, Health, and Social Care. Graduates have successfully gone into roles such as:
- Autism specialist unit manager
- Specialist learning support assistant
- Community support worker
- Youth worker
- Local Authority SEND caseworker
With additional professional training, you'll also be able to pursue roles within speech and language therapy, educational psychology and social work.
You may choose to take your learning further and progress onto postgraduate study, such as our MA Education (Special and Inclusive Education).
Opportunities to Progress
This course has excellent teacher training progression opportunities – a 2.2 degree classification or above will enable you to be considered for an interview for one of our PGCE Primary courses, provided you meet the course prerequisites. We also offer a PGCE in Further Education (SEND) for those interested in teaching in colleges, sixth forms, adult education centres, workplace training facilities and various other further education providers.
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
You’ll be taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures and seminars.
There are no exams on this course. Instead, you’ll be assessed using applied methods designed to prepare you for the world of work. These include research activities, reflective logs, portfolios of evidence and individual or group presentations.
Teaching and assessment contents
You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminar, tutorials, guided study of current documentation including legal and policy frameworks, as well as input from visiting speakers. Each year some optional modules offer the opportunity for work-based learning in relevant settings. Multimedia presentations and use of virtual learning environment (VLE) will be utilised throughout.
Academic and personal support is available from Firstpoint. In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year and three occasions in each of the other years of a course. You also have an opportunity to discuss any issues that may be affecting your academic performance and discuss employability opportunities.
Meet the Team
Meet some of our Institute of Education staff.
Dr Rebecca Mace
Rebecca is an experienced educator with nearly two decades of teaching across a diverse range of settings, including state, independent, day, boarding, single-sex, and co-educational schools. For the past six years, she has focused her work in higher education. Rebecca’s research interests are strongly rooted in philosophy, education, and feminism and she has a particular interest in technology, particularly the application of AI in education. Rebecca completed her PhD at University College London, where her research explored how social media-dominated culture impacts the concept of self. She also spent a year as a part-time Research Associate at the University of Oxford's Internet Institute Digital Ethics Lab.
In addition to her teaching career, Rebecca has worked across a range of sectors, including Defence, National Security, and high-performance sports. Her diverse background allows her to bring a multidisciplinary perspective to her work in education and technology. Outside of her professional life, Rebecca is an avid runner and swimmer and has represented Great Britain in Aquathlon at the Agegroup level, competing in both World and European Championships.
Dr Marie Stephenson
Marie joined the Department for Education & Inclusion in 2014 and brings extensive teaching experience from the post-compulsory (FE) sector. Marie has several specialisms, which include teaching the visually impaired, having spent a few years designing and delivering courses at the Royal National College for the Blind. She teaches on undergraduate & post graduate courses in the Department for Education & Inclusion and is pathway lead for the MA in Education (Leadership & Management). She is also Course Lead for the BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion.
Marie is also currently the lead coordinator for the new NPQ SENCO working with valuable partners such as the Church of England (Diocese of Worcester) to deliver their excellent replacement course for the PGCert NASENCo Award – which welcomes SEND practitioners from across the country.
Dr Alexandra Sewell
Jessica Rayner
Jessica Rayner is a Lecturer in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion (SENDI) at the University of Worcester’s Institute of Education. With a background in teaching Sport, Disability Sport, Social Sciences, and Employability across secondary, further, and higher education, she brings a wealth of experience to her role. Jessica has worked extensively in both mainstream and specialist settings, collaborating with professionals across education, health, and care sectors. Her academic interests include social justice in education, multi-agency working, and employability for individuals with disabilities. Currently pursuing an MA in Education and Social Justice, Jessica is committed to fostering inclusive learning environments and critical thinking among her students.
Dr Rebecca Mace
Rebecca is an experienced educator with nearly two decades of teaching across a diverse range of settings, including state, independent, day, boarding, single-sex, and co-educational schools. For the past six years, she has focused her work in higher education. Rebecca’s research interests are strongly rooted in philosophy, education, and feminism and she has a particular interest in technology, particularly the application of AI in education. Rebecca completed her PhD at University College London, where her research explored how social media-dominated culture impacts the concept of self. She also spent a year as a part-time Research Associate at the University of Oxford's Internet Institute Digital Ethics Lab.
In addition to her teaching career, Rebecca has worked across a range of sectors, including Defence, National Security, and high-performance sports. Her diverse background allows her to bring a multidisciplinary perspective to her work in education and technology. Outside of her professional life, Rebecca is an avid runner and swimmer and has represented Great Britain in Aquathlon at the Agegroup level, competing in both World and European Championships.
Dr Marie Stephenson
Marie joined the Department for Education & Inclusion in 2014 and brings extensive teaching experience from the post-compulsory (FE) sector. Marie has several specialisms, which include teaching the visually impaired, having spent a few years designing and delivering courses at the Royal National College for the Blind. She teaches on undergraduate & post graduate courses in the Department for Education & Inclusion and is pathway lead for the MA in Education (Leadership & Management). She is also Course Lead for the BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion.
Marie is also currently the lead coordinator for the new NPQ SENCO working with valuable partners such as the Church of England (Diocese of Worcester) to deliver their excellent replacement course for the PGCert NASENCo Award – which welcomes SEND practitioners from across the country.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 88
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| A-level | CCC |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | MMM |
| T-level | Pass (C or above) |
We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above. Work out your estimated points with the UCAS tariff calculator.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year for new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
Graduate Case Studies
Tom Saunders
"Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion(SENDI) is close to my heart as my brother has additional needs. This and my passion for creating equal and inclusive opportunities for all encouraged me to study the course. By studying SENDI at Worcester, I have learned about the past, present, and future of educational topics and societal challenges.
The course has allowed me to develop my understanding and explore topics that I am interested in and passionate about, such as: making learners feel included, understanding various special educational needs and how important creating an equal society is, as well understanding the importance of Mental Health. These key values and concepts that are present in the learning content throughout the course. With a continual focus on creating a community built around advocating for voice, inclusion, equality and positive mental wellbeing.
It is structured to develop personal autonomy, which enabled me to thrive in assessments because of the various choices available, such as essays, posters, presentations and reflective pieces.
Throughout my studies here at Worcester, I have been able to look at real-life case studies, analysing past, present and future policies and legislation, hearing from guest speakers. Everything that I have learned in the classroom can be applied in real life to develop a culture of inclusion and supporting me to be the best version of me.
SENDI has allowed me to build my graduate skills for my future career in teaching and has given me options for future study at the University of Worcester and beyond."
Megan
"I had an excellent experience studying Special Educational Needs, Disabilities, and Inclusion (BA Hons). Prior to beginning the course, I worked in mainstream secondary schools in support staff positions and have always had a love for supporting the learning and well-being of young people, particularly those who identify with SEND.
I am currently working at the setting where I completed my degree work placement module, working directly with young people with SEMH needs. I'm also studying a short course called 'Therapeutic Approaches to Supporting Children Experiencing Adversity' here at the University of Worcester. I intend to learn a variety of therapeutic ways to developing young people's well-being after completing this course."
Tom Saunders
"Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion(SENDI) is close to my heart as my brother has additional needs. This and my passion for creating equal and inclusive opportunities for all encouraged me to study the course. By studying SENDI at Worcester, I have learned about the past, present, and future of educational topics and societal challenges.
The course has allowed me to develop my understanding and explore topics that I am interested in and passionate about, such as: making learners feel included, understanding various special educational needs and how important creating an equal society is, as well understanding the importance of Mental Health. These key values and concepts that are present in the learning content throughout the course. With a continual focus on creating a community built around advocating for voice, inclusion, equality and positive mental wellbeing.
It is structured to develop personal autonomy, which enabled me to thrive in assessments because of the various choices available, such as essays, posters, presentations and reflective pieces.
Throughout my studies here at Worcester, I have been able to look at real-life case studies, analysing past, present and future policies and legislation, hearing from guest speakers. Everything that I have learned in the classroom can be applied in real life to develop a culture of inclusion and supporting me to be the best version of me.
SENDI has allowed me to build my graduate skills for my future career in teaching and has given me options for future study at the University of Worcester and beyond."
Megan
"I had an excellent experience studying Special Educational Needs, Disabilities, and Inclusion (BA Hons). Prior to beginning the course, I worked in mainstream secondary schools in support staff positions and have always had a love for supporting the learning and well-being of young people, particularly those who identify with SEND.
I am currently working at the setting where I completed my degree work placement module, working directly with young people with SEMH needs. I'm also studying a short course called 'Therapeutic Approaches to Supporting Children Experiencing Adversity' here at the University of Worcester. I intend to learn a variety of therapeutic ways to developing young people's well-being after completing this course."
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
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Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion BA (Hons) - X360
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