Early Childhood and Education BA(Hons)

Start date

22 September 2025

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBC

BTEC - DMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

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About the course

Reasons to study

You can select option modules that are relevant to your future career plans within early years and education.
To help you get ahead in your studies, there are a variety of support networks and services available to you.
Following this degree, you could go on to secure a career within local authorities, children’s centres, nurseries, or a pre-school setting.

This Early Childhood and Education BA(Hons) degree course is aimed at international students. It will support those who wish to work within a range of early childhood education settings, including in schools, businesses and in the voluntary sector.

Why study Early Childhood and Education BA(Hons)

On this Early Childhood and Education BA(Hons), you’ll develop an understanding of the importance of early childhood education, nationally and internationally. You’ll have access to a range of modules covering many contemporary issues, including:

Sociological perspectives
Educational theories
Safeguarding

A range of option modules are available on this early years international course, as well, which allows you to make sure your degree is relevant to your own future employment plans. Plus, while you’re here, you can take an optional work placement in your second year of study. This only applies to those who study with us from year 1 onwards, with the placement designed develop the skills that employers are looking for and help you gain useful contacts in the wider early childhood sector.

You’ll have opportunity, also, to:

Make national and international comparisons
Analyse and solve problems related to early childhood education in a global context
Undertake an investigative project in your final year, where you’ll chose a specific area of study to research related to early childhood education

Following this degree, you could go on to secure a career within local authorities, children’s centres, nurseries, or a pre-school setting. You might also opt to work as a child minder, or in welfare or safeguarding children. Some students might decide to further their development post-university, with a view to making an impact in a specific role or career within early years. They might do this by enrolling onto another relevant course and boosting skills in, amongst others, classroom leadership.

Course detail

Year 1

Core modules:

Theories and Strategies for Learning

This module introduces you to a variety of key skills intended to support your transition into higher education. The module encourages the development of academic study and communication skills necessary for success on your course along with academic tenacity and resilience. It encourages you to harness your organisation skills, have aspirations and develop self-efficacy.

Perspectives in Learning and Development

This module introduces significant theories and research which underpin development and learning for children, young people and adults. It considers a range of key concepts to explain the basis of development and learning. It identifies the different dimensions of development (cognitive, linguistic, social, moral) and locates these aspects of development in their cultural and social context and in an international context. It focuses on different transitions that children and young people must make as they develop into adulthood and introduces students to different perspectives on the processes involved in learning and development.

Self, Society and Welfare

This module develops your understanding of society. Firstly, it examines social policy issues in society, such as poverty and inequality, and how the state responds to them through ‘welfare’, as well as through ‘rights’ and ‘citizenship’. You will then investigate the formation of identity and social differentiation by examining key sociological concepts such as social class, gender, the family, ethnic identity and disability.

Issues in Contemporary Education

This module introduces the study of education including education as a business and its contribution to the labour market. It examines the historical and political dimensions which have shaped the modern educational system. Your understanding of the nature and purposes of education will be developed through the examination of key theoretical perspectives and educational ideologies. Your understanding will be assessed through a presentation examining the education systems in England and one other country. You will also produce an annotated bibliography of the key texts used to prepare the presentation.

Year 2

Core modules:

Professional Practice and Learning

The programme of study will nurture your independent learning and emphasise the importance of a holistic approach to enhancing your own professionalism and practice through structured workplace learning. You will explore work-based learning opportunities/employability together with occupational and professional concepts, principles and techniques, including reflective practice and using established analytical tools. You will develop and maintain a systematic approach to evidencing and reviewing your professionalism/employability. There will be an emphasis on you setting your own work related learning objectives, developing reflective practice and using learning agreements. Your development will normally be supported in the workplace through supervision arrangements.

Developing Language and Communication for Learning

This module develops your understanding of language acquisition in children and young people. You will learn about why speech, language and communication (SLC) skills are important to children and young people’s development and how this potentially impacts on their life. You will also explore curriculum and pedagogical strategies that underpin educational resources to support speech, and communication needs, producing two activities.

Option modules:

Choose one from a list which may include:

Advanced Professional Practice

This module will develop your employability as a graduate, nurturing your independent learning and emphasising the importance of a holistic approach to enhancing your own professionalism and practice through structured workplace learning. There will be an emphasis on you setting your own work-related learning objectives, developing reflective practice and planning your own learning. Assessment for this module typically involves completing a report that critically explores professionalism within an appropriate professional context and the development of a portfolio.

Social Policy, Inclusion and Inequality

This module focuses on differing theoretical and ideological understandings of social inclusion, and the role of social policy in response to experiences of exclusion in modern British society.

Philosophical Approaches to Education

This module explores the impact of different philosophical systems on the way that education is conceived and put into practice. You will have the opportunity to design an ideal educational system based on your own unique philosophy and representing your own values.

Please note, Professional Practice and Learning is only available to students starting from Year 1 of the course. Social Policy, Inclusion and Inequality and Philosophical Approaches to Education are core modules for students joining the course in Year 2.

Year 3

Core modules:

Planning Your Final Year Project

This module will help you to learn how to design and conduct a final year project. It does this by exploring a range of research and design approaches, strategies and methods. The module helps you to design a project that utilises your knowledge and abilities, carry it out and evaluate its outcomes. Your final year project will focus on an empirical research, policy or practice development, documentary research, policy analysis, entrepreneurship activity, or other options in negotiation with your tutor. The module guides you towards gaining a thorough, critical understanding of project planning and evaluation, research protocols, methods, ethics and ways of doing data analysis. By the end of the module you’ll be confident and capable of designing your own rigorous and valid project.

Final Year Project

This module allows you to pursue your academic and work-related interests and to demonstrate the breadth of knowledge, understanding, and strengths that you have developed during your degree studies. You will review critical understanding of project planning and evaluation, research protocols, methods, ethics, and analysis. You will be supported in the selection of a focus for your final project, in the development of an application for ethical approval, and at each stage of your study. Your final year project will focus on an empirical research, policy or practice development, documentary research, policy analysis, entrepreneurship activity, or other options in negotiation with your tutor. This module is your opportunity to work together with a supervisor to confidently and rigorously undertake a valid project.

Option modules:

Choose two from a list which may include:

Critical Approaches to Inclusive Education

You will examine definitions and different understandings of inclusion and models of disability, considering a national and global context. You will explore the impact these different definitions and models have on educational policy and practice. You will critically analyse current approaches to inclusion in a range of settings. You will develop your understanding of approaches to inclusive planning, teaching and assessment that ensures accessibility, challenge and achievability for all pupils.

Supporting Social, Emotional and Mental Health in Education

This module explores the context of and responses to a range of social, emotional and mental health needs in educational settings. Your understanding of different techniques that can be used to promote positive social, emotional and mental health plus behaviours for learning will be developed. You will explore causes of social, emotional and mental health needs, and look at how these can lead to dysregulated behaviour as well as the way that emotional and other difficulties can be recognised in one-to-one, small group encounters and whole class contexts. You will also consider theoretical aspects of supporting positive social, emotional and mental health, alongside behaviour management.

Leadership and Management in Professional Contexts

This module seeks to develop your understanding of theories of leadership, management and the organisation of professional practice. You’ll have the opportunity to explore relevant theory and practical factors such as mentoring arrangements, group structures, staff development and the leadership of change in professional practice. Assessment typically involves the development of an annotated bibliography and a poster presentation.

Health and Wellbeing

Through this module you’ll explore different aspects of the health and well-being of children and young people and become equipped to evaluate the wider public health agenda, national trends and supporting legislation. Assessment is typically via research, presentation, discussion and written evaluation.

Teaching and Assessment

You’ll be taught through a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and interactive workshops. On average, 16% of the study time on the course is with your lectures (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, tutorials etc. You’ll also have a personal tutor who’ll be assigned to you throughout your degree to support your ongoing wellbeing and ensure that you have a positive learning experience.

*based on 2022/2023 timetables

You study four modules each year. These place an emphasis on work-based practice. Module content gives you the opportunity to gain the underpinning knowledge in a range of essential subjects. We’ll help you to develop your skills as a reflective practitioner and to improve your academic ability.

You’ll be encouraged to develop your own particular interests by choosing some option modules from Year 2.

Assessments vary and include essays, developing creative and teaching resources to support children’s learning, student-led seminars, presentations and timed tests.

Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

Teaching excellence

The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.
Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).
We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

Entry requirements

BBCat A Level or equivalent

112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications

Merit at T Level

DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma, D*D* BTEC National Diploma or CACHE Diploma grade B

Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above
112 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications

In addition you must also:

* have GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme.

* provide Pre-Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Placements

In your second year you may have the option to complete a work placement in a relevant educational setting. We can help link you with a placement setting either individually or as a member of a small group. You could gain experience in schools, children’s centres, nurseries, children’s services, young people's centres/community groups, in a local council, or in museum education for example. Your placement could be in Huddersfield or surrounding areas, so please consider any travelling costs you may incur.

Facilities

Students in Open Access IT lab

Education students in a lecture

Education students in classroom seminar

Students working in Early Years classroom

Students working in classroom

Student Work

Education Research

Our research critically analyses educational practice and policy, informing professional and pedagogic practice as well as social and educational policy at international, national and regional levels. Much of our research has involved processes of co-production with local authorities, third sector organisations and other funders, and has so had clear implications and applications for practice, professional development and policy making.

Find out more about HudCRES

News and Events

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Your career

This course will enable you to consider a varied range of careers and you will be able to use your transferable professional skills such as: organisational, leadership, teamwork, communication, record keeping, report writing to work in a professional capacity, while keeping children and young people safe and promoting their health and well-being.

The course can lead to future careers in early years practice, teaching assistant, teaching, social work, family support, educational pastoral support, SEN teacher, SEN support, training consultant, early years marketing, speech and language assistant, health visitor assistant,â¯nanny, childminder, please notes they may be further study required at post graduate level for some career options. The degree will also be useful if you are pursuing roles in early years settings (including childminders), Children's Centres, community hubs, schools, Local authority, training organisations, FE teaching and typical employers include - early years settings (including childminders), Children's Centres, community hubs, schools, local authorities, training organisations, FE colleges.

You may also want to undertake further study to boost your career prospects through post graduate study, this would apply if you were intending to work in teaching (PGCE), speech and language, social work, disability nursing, children's nursing,â¯play therapist, educational psychologist. There are different master’s degrees in childhood and early years practice and where a specialism is the focus such as Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Opportunities to be a research assistant, study for a PHD/Doctorate or be enterprising and set up own business may also be available.

* Percentage of graduates from this subject who are in work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2020/21, UK domiciled, other activities excluded).

95% Graduates employed*

Further study

Progression to a postgraduate course is dependent on successful completion of your undergraduate studies, there may also be minimum qualification requirements such as a first class or higher second (2.1) degree. Please check the course details to confirm this.

Primary and Early Years Education PGCE with QTS

If you want to become a primary school teacher for Foundation and Key Stage 1 pupils (aged three to seven years), this PGCE course will help you on your way .

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate

00007108 - Primary Education PGCE with QTS - 2025-26

Primary Education PGCE with QTS

If you're aspiring to become a primary school teacher, then our Primary Education PGCE with QTS course will help you on your way .

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate

00007896 - Education (Early Childhood Studies) MA - 2025-26

Education (Early Childhood Studies) MA

The Early Childhood Studies MA course focuses on current issues faced by early years’ professionals.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate

Inspiring Graduate

Our graduates go on to succeed in a whole range of exciting careers. Here’s just one example.

As a graduate of the University of Huddersfield you'll also become a member of our alumni community, allowing you to stay in touch and continue to access university services.

I learned so much information during my course that I now involve into everyday practice, or can share with other peers at work. I now feel able to tackle any challenge. I couldn’t have done that without the support and confidence instilled in me from various tutors during my course.

I am currently a nanny for two families. I work on a sole charge basis, so the parents are out of the house and at work and I am in charge of school/nursery runs, playdates, classes and playgroups during term-time and the holidays. I work 50 hours a week, if not more and I LOVE my job. For right now, as I continue to live in London I plan to stay as a nanny. However in a couple of years when I may contemplating moving out of London, I am considering getting an EYTS and teaching in reception, or entering into child psychology as a therapist, or speech and language therapist. I haven't quite narrowed it down yet, but I have a few things I'd like to research further.

Grace Siddle, Graduated 2019, in similar course: BA Early Years, part-time

Further study
Inspiring Graduate

Primary and Early Years Education PGCE with QTS

If you want to become a primary school teacher for Foundation and Key Stage 1 pupils (aged three to seven years), this PGCE course will help you on your way .

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate

Primary Education PGCE with QTS

If you're aspiring to become a primary school teacher, then our Primary Education PGCE with QTS course will help you on your way .

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate

Education (Early Childhood Studies) MA

The Early Childhood Studies MA course focuses on current issues faced by early years’ professionals.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate

Our graduates go on to succeed in a whole range of exciting careers. Here’s just one example.

As a graduate of the University of Huddersfield you'll also become a member of our alumni community, allowing you to stay in touch and continue to access university services.

I learned so much information during my course that I now involve into everyday practice, or can share with other peers at work. I now feel able to tackle any challenge. I couldn’t have done that without the support and confidence instilled in me from various tutors during my course.

I am currently a nanny for two families. I work on a sole charge basis, so the parents are out of the house and at work and I am in charge of school/nursery runs, playdates, classes and playgroups during term-time and the holidays. I work 50 hours a week, if not more and I LOVE my job. For right now, as I continue to live in London I plan to stay as a nanny. However in a couple of years when I may contemplating moving out of London, I am considering getting an EYTS and teaching in reception, or entering into child psychology as a therapist, or speech and language therapist. I haven't quite narrowed it down yet, but I have a few things I'd like to research further.

Grace Siddle, Graduated 2019, in similar course: BA Early Years, part-time

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

The maximum fees we will charge for UK based students on undergraduate courses in 2025/26 will be £9,535 per year for full-time students (subject to parliamentary approval). We review and revise fee levels in line with inflation (RPI-X) and regulatory permissions.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and finance.

If you are an EU or international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.