BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Bachelor's degree at Edge Hill University
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies at Edge Hill University was founded in 2006 and leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. Teaching quality has been recognised with a Silver award in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
About this course
Early Childhood Studies with Graduate Practitioner Competencies - Edge Hill University Skip Navigation Early Childhood Studies with Graduate Practitioner Competencies BA (Hons) UCAS code: L520 What is the nature of early childhood? From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Edge Hill University, based in Ormskirk. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Social sciences graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 35% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £27,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sociology & Social Sciences, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 80; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 79% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Work-Based LearningCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Work-based Learning is designed to provide you with structured, ongoing support during your professional placements. It offers a coordinated framework through which you can engage with key learning activities, access relevant guidance materials, and receive formative feedback from academic tutors and workplace mentors. By integrating theory with practice, and encouraging reflective engagement with professional standards, this provision aims to enhance your confidence, professional identity, and
Assessment: 100% Practical
- Childhood and SocietyCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Childhood and Society introduces you to the idea that childhood is a social construction dependent on the history, cultural values and power structure of the society in which children live. It will explore the way in which the social, cultural, economic, political, scientific, legal and institutional context in which children have lived, and live today, shapes their experience of childhood. Recognising that ideas about childhood differ across societies and cultures, the module encourages you to
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Early Childhood Development and Social PsychologyCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Early Childhood Development and Social Psychology identifies and explores key issues and debates within the disciplines of psychology, sociology and early years education studies. This module explore how children grow and develop, with a particular focus on cognitive and physical development, as well as attachment theory. It also addresses key perspectives in social psychology including social identity and group behaviour, psychological explanations of aggression and attitudes and wider interper
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Early Years PedagogyCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Early Years Pedagogy introduces you to the key principles of early years pedagogy. The module explores ideas from influential and pioneering educators and examines how these ideas have shaped current early years provision and children's rights. You will study influential educational theorists, compare their perspectives, and consider how general pedagogy relates to early years teaching, learning and development. The module also explores global approaches such as Reggio Emilia, High/Scope, Te Wha
Assessment: 100% Practical
Year 2 4 modules
- Work-based Learning 2Compulsory30 credits
Module details
Work-based Learning 2 will support you as you complete your placements and begin to demonstrate your GPC competencies. Building upon the experience gained in in Work-based Learning 1, you will get a further opportunity to deepen students' understanding of the Early Childhood sector to explore a specific Early Years workplace within an educational environment that provides for children from birth to seven years of age. The module focuses on practical strategies designed to support you in securing
Assessment: 100% Practical
- Contemporary Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and CareCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Contemporary Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Care is a specialist module which explores developmental issues in the specific context of Early Childhood Education and Care. You will be introduced to key issues and theoretical perspectives in the study of early childhood education. This module takes on a critical approach to exploring Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) by drawing on a range of theoretical perspectives, particularly different ways of understanding childhood. Yo
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Researching Early ChildhoodsCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Researching Early Childhoods is designed to help you understand and apply some of the key principles of academic research to different areas of the early years context. The module will introduce you to different research methods and techniques and support you in justifying their suitability in different contexts. You will also have the opportunity to explore a variety of current research papers and evaluate how research findings influence early years practice. Throughout this process, you will b
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Promoting Equity and Inclusion for Early ChildhoodCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Promoting Equity and Inclusion for Early Childhood provides you with an overview of strategies to promote equity and social justice for young children in institutional settings. You will explore how social inequality affects children and families and how issues of equality and rights can be challenged or supported in everyday practice. This module will explore and analyse processes of discrimination and oppression and focus on the ways in which practitioners and those working with children and f
Assessment: 100% Coursework
Year 3 5 modules
- Contesting Early ChildhoodCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Contesting Early Childhood explores key contemporary issues in the early childhood education and care in order to question and challenge common assumptions about children and the services designed to support them. The module helps you develop a critical understanding of young children's development and the academic disciplines that shape early years policy and practice. You will explore topics such as the new sociology of childhood, ideas about masculinities and fatherhood and the recent work of
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- DissertationCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Dissertation allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding through a small‑scale research project focused on an aspect of early years practice that interests you, while helping you understand your transition into employment or further study. You will build on the research proposal developed in ECS2012 Researching Early Childhoods, gaining deeper theoretical and practical insight into a specialist area of interest. You will further develop your research methodology skills and reflect
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- The Critically Reflective PractitionerCompulsory30 credits
Module details
The Critically Reflective Practitioner forms the final element of the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Certificate. You will complete a portfolio that demonstrates your achievement of key competencies related to early years practice. You will draw on evidence from your Level 4, 5 and 6 Early Childhood Studies modules and placements, with support from lecturers, to help you clearly link theory, policy and practice. A key focus of the module is preparing you for employment in early childhood
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Learning Beyond the ClassroomOptional30 credits
Module details
Learning Beyond the Classroom introduces you to the importance of arts, culture, heritage, and the environment in early childhood and family life. The module encourages you to think critically and sensitively when interpreting children's cultural experiences and to reflect on your own perspectives. The module also explores how learning can take place in a range of settings beyond the classroom, showing how different environments can support and enrich work with young children.
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Leading Practice and Provision for Babies and Under ThreesOptional30 credits
Module details
Leading Practice and Provision for Babies and Under Threes is designed to support students in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector to develop a strong understanding of the fundamental principles that underpin early years pedagogy for babies and very young children aged under three. For the purposes of this module, babies are defined as children from birth up to 12 months old. The module provides you with the opportunity to explore a range of concepts drawn from research and profe
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course centres on understanding the nature and social contexts of early childhood, equipping you with graduate practitioner competencies. You'll usually start with foundations in sociology, social problems and research methods, exploring how class, gender, race and inequality shape society and policy. In Year 2, you'll move to social theory and data analysis, alongside applied streams such as criminology, social policy, gender and identity, or migration. Year 3 typically opens specialist options in areas like research methods and social work routes, accompanied by research-led seminars on contemporary debates and a final dissertation project where you conduct your own empirical or theoretical research into an early childhood or social topic of your choice.
Who it's for
This course suits students with A-levels or equivalent qualifications. Recent entrants typically held a UCAS tariff between 112 and 127 points. You should be interested in early childhood development, education and care, and prepared for a programme that combines academic study with hands-on professional practice. The course is designed for those considering careers working with young children and families in various settings.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 85% of graduates in Sociology and Social Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. Graduate earnings across the field vary: starting salaries typically range from £23,000 to £30,000 at 15 months post-graduation, with variation continuing as careers develop. After five years, earnings generally fall between £24,650 and £34,800. These figures reflect national outcomes data and should not be treated as guaranteed individual outcomes.
University & format
This BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies is delivered at Edge Hill University, a public university in Ormskirk, over 3 years on a full-time basis, taught in English. Edge Hill is a recognised UK degree-awarding body whose degrees are nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L520). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Edge Hill University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Sociology & Social Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £27,000 | £23,000 – £32,000 | 80 |
| 3 years after | £20,500 | £15,500 – £25,000 | 350 |
| 5 years after | £24,000 | £19,500 – £29,000 | 355 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 80; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sociology & social sciences · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Sociology & Social Sciences nationally
National figures for Sociology & Social Sciences graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 80; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Sociology & Social Sciences courses at the same study level.
Compared with 751 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 20% of published destinations
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Welfare and housing associate professionalsSOC 2020 322 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,937
- Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 50; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Sociology & Social Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Sociology & Social Sciences graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Local authorities
- Charities & NGOs
- Research organisations
- Government & universities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sociology & Social Sciences graduates.
Sociology AdjunctCommonwealth Of VirginiaSociology ECT - High-Achieving Secondary School in BrightonMarchant RecruitmentHead of Psychology and SociologyTeacherActiveIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £27,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.6 out of 10: NSS 87.6% · in work or study 90% · continued 79%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Edge Hill University
Social sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Ormskirk
220 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Sociology & Social Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Edge Hill University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £14,500 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Edge Hill University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Edge Hill University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Edge Hill University
Sociology & Social Sciences at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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