BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Bachelor's degree at West London
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies at West London. You'll explore specialist options tailored to your interests, undertake an independent project, and build professional competencies relevant to the field.
About this course
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at West London, based in Ealing / Brentford. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Level 4 6 modules
- Understanding EducationCompulsory
Module details
Module designed to enable you to gain an understanding of how education and early years provision in the UK have developed since the 19th century. You will explore philosophical questions about the role of education and consider the aims/purpose of education. You will be introduced to key concepts such as marketisation, social mobility and meritocracy and explore ways in which inequalities related to race, class, gender and disability are reproduced within the education system.
- The Philosophy of InclusionCompulsory
Module details
Understanding inclusion and equality is integral to a successful study of education and professional practice. This module looks at key ideas and debates in inclusion and equality, examining factors contributing to inequalities in educational outcomes, including the areas of social class, special educational needs and disability (SEND). You will develop your understanding of barriers to equality in education and explore best practices in education settings through engaging with practically orien
- Facilitating learning: How children and young people learnCompulsory
Module details
Module will enable you to critically reflect upon your own education values and how these serve as a reference point for your own practice. A sound knowledge and understanding of key learning theories and how they can be applied to practice in "real-world" settings is essential for professionals working in education and this module will give you the foundation blocks on which to build a broader theoretical knowledge.
- Understanding the Rights of Children in Early EducationCompulsory
Module details
Module will introduce you to issues concerning young children's rights both in the United Kingdom and from a global perspective. It will explore the rights of the child from the perspective of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and how this has impacted upon the rights of young children growing up in the 21st Century. This module sits alongside other modules, specifically developed for this course, that collectively meet the standard for the early years educator req
- Promoting the Development of Children and Young PeopleCompulsory
Module details
Child development is multifaceted. This module will provide you with knowledge of physical, cognitive, social, emotional and language development, and you will learn how these domains of development are interrelated. You will also learn about key milestones from early childhood to the end of adolescence. Crucially, you will develop an understanding of how to support children with different aspects of development and how to recognise when a child's development is not as expected. These are key sk
- Building Positive Learning CommunitiesCompulsory
Module details
Module focuses on the experience of the classroom from both teacher and pupil perspectives. Drawing upon the more theoretical approach of the other L4 core modules, this module extends your thinking to specific examples of the impact of learning theory and educational policy in a real-world context. An important part of this module will be your development of impactful learning practices not least because the classroom plays a key role in developing innovation and creativity, but also because it
Level 5 7 modules
- Using play to support learning and development in the early yearsCompulsory
Module details
Module is designed to provide you with an understanding of how play can be used to support children's learning and development in the early years, with a specific focus on observation, assessment, and planning. It will also cover the use of statutory early years documents in planning for play-based learning experiences.
- Communication, Language and Literacy in the Early YearsCompulsory
Module details
Module will introduce you to the issues related to communication and literacy in the early years. You will explore different theoretical approaches to language and communication development and learn about the importance of listening to and communicating verbally and non-verbally with children. You will consider the development of speech, auditory processing abilities and early reading and writing skills as well as demonstrate a deeper understanding of the skills required to support children wit
- Children, Culture and SocietyCompulsory
Module details
Aim of this module is to develop your awareness of the social construction of childhood from past to contemporary understandings drawing on different conceptual frameworks and looking at different national and international social contexts. You will examine the development of legislative framework and social policy in relation to children and their families. You will explore how current theories approach the concept of childhood in the context of late modernity (19th century and onwards), and co
- Research in PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Aim of this module is to develop your knowledge and understanding of research methods in education. This module is intended to expose you to primary research and the conceptual frameworks in which knowledge is created. The knowledge and skills about research practice and processes you acquire in this module are intended to help you develop a research proposal for your final project and assist you in becoming a reflective professional.
- Preparing for Professional Practice in Early Years EducationCompulsory
Module details
Module aims to provide you with a secure understanding of the early years workforce including the statutory requirements, key policies, procedures, and practice. You will have the opportunity to gain essential practical experience, knowledge, and skills in delivering early years education and caregiving through the support of an early years placement setting. This module aims to afford you the opportunity to examine and critically evaluate the relationship between educational concepts and theori
- Professional Practice in Early Years EducationCompulsory
Module details
Module aims to provide you with a secure understanding of the early years workforce including the statutory requirements, key policies, procedures, and practice. You will have the opportunity to gain essential practical experience, knowledge, and skills in delivering early years education and caregiving through the support of an early years placement setting. This module gives you the opportunity to examine and critically evaluate the relationship between educational concepts and theories, and t
- Evidenced Based PracticeCompulsory
Level 6 5 modules
- Policy and Practice for Early ChildhoodCompulsory
Module details
Early years education and care is guided by policy at local, national, and, increasingly, global levels. This module will help you to understand how and why policy is made, the impact upon practice and their role in policy as an educator, and the role that politics, ideology, society, and the economy play in early years policy.
- Leadership to Support Children, Families and PractitionersCompulsory
Module details
Leadership has a significant impact upon the teaching and learning outcomes, and overall ethos and culture, in any educational setting. In this module, you will begin by examining the difference between leadership and management, terms that are often used interchangeably yet have differing definitions. You will then explore different theories of leadership, before examining the impact that different leadership styles have upon teaching and learning in schools and how leadership differs in early
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - Inclusion in PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Module is about examining perspectives and challenging our thinking around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The module will critically engage with both SEND theory and practice, so that you can inform it, challenge it, implement it and re-shape it. This module will provide the opportunity for you to examine and explore the personal, social, psycho-motor, and emotional needs of children with special needs.
- Children, Food and EnvironmentCompulsory
Module details
Module aims to address the importance of food and sustainability and nutrition within the early years setting with the aim to connect children, staff and families to more environmentally friendly habits and to nurture a sustainable food culture. This fits within the context of a programme that endeavours to work with families and communities to ensure young people thrive. The module considers the sociocultural and environmental context of early education and the challenges in addressing the dive
- Dissertation in Childhood StudiesCompulsory
Module details
Module builds on from Level 5 research methodology module and enables you to undertake an individual enquiry-based study related to a relevant topic of your choice within the area of Early Childhood Studies. This may be an empirically based investigation, a thematic literature review or a library-based piece of research.
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
A BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies degree typically combines foundational concepts with practical and specialist study. You'll usually begin with core academic skills and the main strands of the subject, whilst developing data and digital literacy. In your second year, you'll deepen your understanding of how these themes connect, undertake applied project work on real briefs, and select optional modules to broaden your knowledge. By the final year, you'll pursue specialist options that reflect your interests, develop professional and employability skills (often including placement experience), and complete an independent research project or dissertation that draws together your learning across the degree.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you're drawn to early childhood development and education, with genuine curiosity about how young children learn and grow. You may be working in childcare, nurseries, schools or a related setting, or planning to move into the sector. You should be comfortable with both theoretical study and practical application, reading research, reflecting critically on what you observe, and translating ideas into real classroom or care-room contexts. Part-time study means you'll juggle coursework with work or family commitments; success here requires self-discipline and motivation to sustain momentum over time.
Careers & job market
Across General Studies courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after leaving, with 65% in highly skilled roles or postgraduate study. Starting salaries typically fall between £24,000 and £30,000; after five years, graduates earn between £25,075 and £35,400. These are national figures from Graduate Outcomes and LEO data, not university-specific guarantees. Early childhood qualifications can lead to roles in nursery management, educational leadership, SEN coordination, or progression to specialised postgraduate study.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is taught at the University of West London, a recognised UK degree-awarding body located in Ealing and Brentford. The course is studied part-time and delivered in English. The University of West London holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
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.
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 X304). 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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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 West London →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 General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 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 General Studies nationally
National figures for General Studies 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.
Job market & outlook
How General Studies 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 General Studies 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
- Employers across sectors
- Public sector
- Corporates & charities
- Startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit General Studies graduates.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of West London
Combined and general studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Ealing / Brentford
2,092 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 General Studies right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to West London from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by West London; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 West London’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 West London and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
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Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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