BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
Course overview
Start date
September 2020
Subject area
Teaching and Education
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
Do you want to help shape and change young lives through education? Do you have a passion for teaching? Do you want to change communities from the inside? If you’re interested in learning more about children and childhood and you envisage a career working with and for children and their families, this course will give you an excellent foundation.
Our course will give you a fascinating insight into the way children experience their childhoods and how that experience influences them as they develop. You’ll look at childhood from a range of different critical perspectives and explore the factors that influence the childhood experience. You’ll examine issues such as health, early-years legislation and global inequalities in childhood.
You’ll have the opportunity to work on projects in the local community, applying your developing knowledge by devising practical solutions to real-life problems.
Early childhood is a well-established and popular area of study at UEL. Our academic team come from a broad range of professional backgrounds and cultures and, together, they have more than 100 years of experience in the field. Early Childhood Studies is available online.
This makes it easy to fit around parenting or work. You’ll study using our virtual learning environment, Moodle, which includes chatrooms, reading materials, lecture clips and assignments.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out morePlacement
Optional placement year available
95%
Overall satisfaction
Our overall student satisfaction score (NSS, 2018)
95%
Academic support
Our academic support and staff have been rated at over 95% in the NSS for 2018.
Teaching and learning
Develop a reflective approach to special education and critical thinking skills which are transferable to the workplace.
Vikki Silvers
Early Childhood Studies, BA (Hons), undergraduate
Originally I chose the course because I wanted to be a Key Stage One teacher, but I’m learning there is a range of other possible career paths.
The course covers a holistic view of child development and I’ve been able to gain a new perspective, looking through a child’s eyes.
I’ve especially loved exploring the enchantment of children’s literature.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,729.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- All nursing and many allied health students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year from the government.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance or contact Student Finance England.
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will automatically be cancelled.
For information visit gov.uk/student-finance
Please note EU students can only apply for their funding using a paper application form.
To download a form visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money. Please make sure you also factor in the fees for the visa application and immigration health surcharge when budgeting.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- September 2020
-
Degree
112
New UCAS Points
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
We will also consider the UEL New Beginnings pre-entry course with relevant Work Experience
Overall IELTS score of 5.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (or recognised equivalent).
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll learn
Early Childhood Studies prepares you to be a thoughtful and flexible early years practitioner, working with and for children and families in a range of settings and professional roles.
You’ll come to understand that there are many different ways of understanding early childhood. We give you a range of academic and professional perspectives on childhood, then ask you to explore the deeper philosophies, beliefs and attitudes that underpin them.
You’ll learn how children develop, from conception onwards, how they experience life and how that experience forms the basis of their later development.
You’ll develop an understanding of the factors that influence childhood, and of how this knowledge is critical in supporting the learning and development of children.
We’ll teach you about how early years services are structured in this country, and how to work across the system to get the best results for children.
You’ll also benefit from field-based learning as you carry out the third-year research project which you’ll devise yourself.
What you'll study and when
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
Introduction to Early Childhood, Special Needs and Education
Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Placements in Context - Play and learning
Skills for Academic and Professional Writing
Research in Practice: Live Project
Exploring Social Worlds
Key Principles for Inclusion
Emerging Research Communities
Practice module Part 1
Practice module Part 2
Identity and Social Justice
Building Research Communities
Contemporary issues in Education
Practice module
Practice module
Online Modules
Issues and Controversies in Early Childhood Development (core)
Observing, Documenting and Researching with Children, Families and Practitioners (core)
Social Policy for Children and Families (core)
Advocating for Children: National and International Contexts (core)
This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.
The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three.
Critical and global perspectives on education
Practice module
Practice module
Active Research Communities
Online Modules
Early Childhood Research Dissertation (core)
Leading and Managing Partnerships in the Early Years (core)
Inclusion and Diversity in the Early Years (core)
Multimodal Learning in Early Childhood (core)
How you'll be assessed
We assess each module individually using the most appropriate method to look for evidence of learning.
We assess some modules by coursework only and some by a combination of exam (either seen or unseen) and coursework. Coursework can take the form of essays, reports, class presentations, learning journals and book reviews.
Regular formative assessment tasks will provide the opportunity for you to monitor your own understanding and engagement prior to the final assessment.
How you'll learn
We believe small is beautiful. That’s why we’re moving away from large lectures in the future and focusing our teaching more on seminars, group presentations, workshops and fieldwork.
Based at UEL’s Cass School of Education and Communities in Stratford, you’ll explore the significance of early childhood in different cultures and societies.
This is particularly relevant given the ethnic and cultural diversity which exists in east London and, indeed, among UEL’s student intake and staff. We use that diversity to our advantage by incorporating discussion time into our teaching.
You’ll benefit from the extraordinary richness of the research conducted in childcare by UEL’s International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare (ICMEC), which has a worldwide reputation.
Professors Helen Penn and Eva Lloyd, both teachers on your course, set up ICMEC. Their research in subjects such as how we provide childcare and how policy affects the provision of childcare is brought into the classroom.
The subject of Early Childhood is only relevant when it is applied to the reality which exists outside UEL’s walls. It’s why we take your learning off campus and give you the chance to work on real-life projects that benefit society directly.
This fieldwork will not only broaden your own practical experiences but allow you to observe the practice of professionals as you do so.
Your future career
Early Childhood Studies gives you the skills and knowledge to work in a wide range of jobs with children and for children and their families.
Graduates have taken jobs in local government, the NHS, charities, housing associations and day nurseries.
Their roles have included childcare project managers, family support workers, play co-ordinators, out-of-school project managers and classroom/education assistants.
The University of East London has strong and trusted relationships with local schools, childcare organisations and loyal alumni. This means you’ll have plenty of contact with potential employers through work placements, mentoring and guest lecturers.
If you already work, the degree will enhance your enjoyment and boost your progress because you will have a deeper understanding of what you do. You may find it easier to move into a management role, for example.
Early Childhood Studies also equips you with transferable skills such as working to a deadline, giving presentations and project management, which are beneficial in many other careers.
You may wish to further your journey in childhood studies on one of UEL’s postgraduate courses. For example, this degree allows you to qualify as a social worker by taking an approved postgraduate degree, or as a primary school teacher by taking a PGCE. It also prepares you to train as a speech and language therapist.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
