BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies · West LondonBachelor's degree · Duration varies
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The University of West London · Undergraduate

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.

BA (Hons)
Award
Years
Part-time
Study mode
Ealing / Brentford
Location

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.

2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider

Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates

2026 entryLive availability check

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 requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check West London's official course page for the current offer.

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Offer-based entry

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.

Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
UCAS codeX304quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code X304). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by Apply directly to the provider

    Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask West London whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Home£5,760 / yr

Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).

Check fees at West London →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£5,760tuition used per year, published course home fee
total borrowing, course length not published

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.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All West London funding →
No verified named award is shown for this provider yet.

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.

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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs General Studies nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,000 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£20,825 – £29,400
After 5 years LEO
£25,075 – £35,400
national rangeaxis £19,500 – £36,500

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.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across General Studies courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
65%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

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.

Where they work

  • Employers across sectors
  • Public sector
  • Corporates & charities
  • Startups

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of West London

All students17,690
International27.1%
Aged 25+48.3%

Combined and general studies across the UK

Students39,200
Aged 25+62.2%

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.

Anti Social Behaviour 612Violent Crime 415Vehicle Crime 242Shoplifting 181Public Order 154

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.

Common questions

Set by West London. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
See the career and earnings data for General Studies below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
The published home tuition is £5,760 per year for this course. 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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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