Education with Sustainability
Explore the effects of environmental and social change on education - and build practical experience for your future career.
of universities in the country for graduates who agree their current activity is 'meaningful'.
Source: GOS 2025
Learn how education intersects with planetary health, sociology, globalisation, technology, and social justice.
At ARU in Cambridge you'll focus on Environmental Sustainability Education (ESE) in policy and practice.
Explore theories on outdoor learning, place-responsive teaching and creative pedagogies – and conduct your own research on these approaches.
As well as gaining academic knowledge, you’ll build practical experience through volunteering, placements, and community engagement.
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Hear from ARU students about feeling supported, gaining confidence, and finding a path in Education that genuinely changes lives – including their own.
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Study at a university with 20 years + experience of training education professionals
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Ranked 13th in the UK for Education (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
Study at an award-winning university
We've received a Gold award for the quality of our education in a UK-wide review of teaching standards. We were also proud to be named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023.
Careers
Gain specialisms in environmental sustainability, including outdoor learning, place-responsive pedagogy, conservation education, and environmental justice.
You could work in education in schools, further education colleges, environmental charities, zoological/botanical attractions and museums, or in policy making/research nationally or transnationally.
Teaching and modules
Study our BA (Hons) Education with Sustainability to future-proof your career in education.
You’ll explore the nature and role of education in society, and take one sustainability-specific module each year.
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
- Journey through Life: Stages of Human Development
- Safeguarding and Wellbeing
- Research Foundations
- The Power of Connection: Building Strong Educational Relationships
- Environmental Sustainability Education: Policy and Practice
- Equity in Education: Understanding Identity and Social Justice
- Ruskin Module
- Learning Theories in Education
- Educational Research Methods
- What's in a Place?
- Undergraduate Major Project
- Neurodiversity and Inclusion: Strategies for Effective Learning
- Education in the Digital Age: Policy, Theory and Global Trends
- Leadership and Enterprise
- Education and Environmental Justice
To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.
- Learning to Learn
- Critical Thinking
- Composition and Style
- Intercultural Studies
- Ethics
- Social Perceptions
- Psychology
- Journey through Life: Stages of Human Development
- Safeguarding and Wellbeing
- Research Foundations
- The Power of Connection: Building Strong Educational Relationships
- Introduction to the Study of Literature and Writing *
- Creating the Past: From the Archive to the Web *
- Environmental Sustainability Education: Policy and Practice *
- Redefining Ability: Perspectives on Disability in Modern Society *
- Leadership Cultures in Education and Organisational Theory *
- Equity in Education: Understanding Identity and Social Justice
- Ruskin Module
- Learning Theories in Education
- Educational Research Methods
- Digital Stylistics *
- Bridging Cultures *
- Britain in the 19th century *
- Hanging, Prisons and Community Service: Crime and Punishment in Britain throughout the Ages *
- What's in a Place? *
- Education for All: Global Approaches to Inclusive Practice *
- Building Strong Teams: Leadership for Staff Development *
- Undergraduate Major Project
- Neurodiversity and Inclusion: Strategies for Effective Learning
- Education in the Digital Age: Policy, Theory and Global Trends
- Leadership and Enterprise
- Forbidden Stories: Banned Children's Books *
- Writing and the Present *
- Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000 *
- The Making of Modern Media *
- Education and Environmental Justice *
- Leading the Way: Inclusive Education in Action *
- Navigating Change: Strategic Leadership in Education *
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Drew QuayleSenior Lecturer
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Dr Gareth BatesSenior Lecturer
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Dr Paula DainesDeputy Head of School
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Dr Elsa LeeSenior Lecturer
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Natalie CombesSenior Lecturer Practitioner
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Dr Eleni LithariSenior Lecturer
Facilities
Join our community and benefit from our network of primary schools. You'll be able to observe teaching, create lesson plans and develop activities for a range of learners.
You can also use extensive library and IT resources, and access support with careers and employability, study skills, health and wellbeing.