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Education (Early Years) BA(Hons)

2026-27 (also available for 2025-26)

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Start date

21 September 2026

Duration

4 years part-time

Entry requirements

UCAS - 112

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

20

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About the course

Reasons to study

  1. 95% of graduates from Education and Early Years BA(Hons) are in work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22. UK Domicilied).
  2. Teaching typically takes place on Saturdays to fit in with your existing work in a school or childcare setting.
  3. Your personal tutor will be on hand to help ensure you have a positive learning experience.

Current government reforms in education are focused on early childhood development and the importance of high-quality early years provision in providing the foundations that prepare young children for the best start in life. So, if you’re currently an early years practitioner, aspiring to develop high quality practice and are passionate about working with children and their families, then this course could be for you.

Why Education (Early Years)?

  • You’ll have the opportunity to explore a variety of issues in relation to children and early childhood, including health and wellbeing, education, learning and development and to look at wider topics such as safeguarding, society and early years practice. We’ll help you develop as a reflective, evidence-based practitioner.
  • We’ll ensure you develop the essential practical and professional skills to work with children and families in the early years, including the ability to work collaboratively with parents, colleagues and other professionals. You’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to equality of opportunity and inclusive, anti-discriminatory practice.
  • Your place of work forms a key element of the course allowing you to put theory into practice. To ensure flexibility and access for those working within schools and other childcare settings during the week, teaching on this course typically takes place on Saturdays, approximately 8 per academic year.
  • You’ll be taught by an outstanding team of teachers. You’ll also have access to our extensive professional and academic network which feeds directly into course design and delivery and to excellent facilities and specialist equipment. 95% of graduates from Education and Early Years BA(Hons) are in work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduation*.

The top five job titles advertised in the UK for graduate roles associated with Education (Early Years) BA(Hons) are Nursery Practitioners, Early Years Practitioners, Early Years Teachers, Nursery Assistants and Nursery Managers.*

Lightcast data extracted from Graduate Career Explorer – job postings from Dec 2023 to Nov 2024 showing jobs advertised associated with a selection of relevant graduate. *(HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22. UK Domicilied).

Course detail

Core modules:

Academic Skills for Study

In the module, you will development your academic study and communication skills necessary for successful study at degree level. This will include study skills related to critical reading and writing, planning, referencing, working independently, working with others and presenting ideas.

The Professional Practitioner

Activities in this module will nurture independent learning and emphasise the importance of a holistic approach to enhancing professionalism and practice through structured workplace learning. You will explore work-based learning opportunities 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 practical work. There will be an emphasis on setting workplace learning objectives, reflective practice and the use of learning agreements.

Theories of Learning and Development

In this module, you will learn about significant theories and research which underpin development and learning for children, young people and adults. You will explore a range of key concepts to explain the basis of development and learning and identify the different dimensions of development (cognitive, linguistic, social, moral). You will consider these aspects of development in their cultural and social context and in an international context. You will focus on different transitions that children and young people must make as they develop into adulthood.

Entry requirements

112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of A Levels or Level 3 qualifications in Early Childhood, Learning Support or a related educational area.

Merit at T Level

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
  • 112 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.
  • If you already have a level 4 or higher qualification such as NVQ level 4 or 5 or Foundation Degree relating to the course you will be considered for entry directly into Year 2 or above.

In addition you must also:

  • Have GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above (grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme), or equivalent.
  • Be in employment or voluntary work in an appropriate registered setting (for a minimum of 120 hours per year) and have support from your employer.

You must also demonstrate during interview that you have sufficient general academic skills to be able to undertake the course.

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.

Your career

The course is designed to support your progression in to more senior roles in early years education. The course could enable you to consider a varied range of careers in education, including teaching, early years professional and learning support roles. Previous graduates have progressed as childcare workers, primary and early years teachers and teaching assistants, special needs support roles, play therapist and social support workers.**

Upon successful completion you may also consider pursuing further study, including a PGCE or other professional Master's programmes.


*95% of graduates from this subject area were in work or further study 15 months after graduation. (HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22, UK Domiciled)

**LinkedIn and Graduate Employment Market Statistics (GEMS)

95% Graduates employed*

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.

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.

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