BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education Bachelor's degree at Hertfordshire
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education at Hertfordshire. You'll engage with core theory alongside research methods, applied practice, specialist options, and an independent project, developing the knowledge and professional skills needed in early childhood settings.
About this course
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Hertfordshire. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Education & Teaching, 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 5 modules
- Promoting Children's Wellbeing in the 21st CenturyCompulsory30 Credits credits
- Working with Children: Exploring Identity, Values and VoiceCompulsory30 Credits credits
- Supporting Children: Play, Learning and DevelopmentCompulsory15 Credits credits
- The Child's World: Family, Culture and CommunityCompulsory30 Credits credits
- Placement 1: Observing the Curriculum in PracticeCompulsory15 Credits credits
Level 5 6 modules
- Developing Identity, Values and Voice in PracticeCompulsory30 Credits credits
- Empowering ChildrenCompulsory30 Credits credits
- Celebrating Difference: Inclusion and Diversity in Early Childhood PracticeCompulsory30 Credits credits
- Enabling Children's PlayCompulsory15 Credits credits
- Placement 2: Exploring Approaches to the CurriculumCompulsory15 Credits credits
- Study AbroadOptional60 Credits credits
Level 6 5 modules
- Working Together for Children in Professional PartnershipsCompulsory30 Credits credits
- The Curious Practitioner: Developing an Early Childhood SpecialismCompulsory15 Credits credits
- Placement 3: Enhancing The CurriculumCompulsory15 Credits credits
- Living My Professional Values: Becoming an Advocate for ChildrenCompulsory30 Credits credits
- Improving My Practice Through InquiryCompulsory30 Credits credits
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
You'll study the foundations of education, child development and learning theory from the start, alongside early school placements and observation. As the course progresses, you'll move into curriculum design, pedagogy and the needs of learners with SEND, with sustained classroom practice building your teaching responsibility. In the final year, you'll typically focus on behaviour management, professional standards and assessment, with the option to specialise in areas such as early years, primary teaching, SEND & inclusion, education policy and QTS routes. Throughout, school placements and practical experience are woven into your learning, culminating in a final placement where you'll work towards recognised teaching standards.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you're drawn to working with young children and want to deepen your understanding of their development and learning. You should have a genuine interest in early childhood practice and a commitment to evidence-based approaches in education. This course often attracts people already working in, or returning to, the sector, 85% of accepted students bring previous higher-education qualifications, and the part-time structure allows you to study alongside professional or other commitments. You'll find the work intellectually engaging and grounded in real practice.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 90% of graduates in Education & Teaching are in work or further study within 15 months of leaving. Of those working, 70% are in highly skilled roles or studying further. Early childhood education leads to varied roles in nurseries, schools, centres, and specialist settings. Graduate earnings nationally (15 months after graduation) typically range from £22,000 to £30,000, though figures vary by role and sector. The University of Hertfordshire holds a Silver award for teaching quality (Office for Students TEF 2023) and is.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is offered by the University of Hertfordshire, a public university. The course is studied part-time and taught in English. The University of Hertfordshire is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; your degree will be nationally recognised. The institution holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. For specific information on course length and delivery, contact the university directly.
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
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| another higher-education qualification | 85% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 15% |
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 X310). 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 Hertfordshire →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.
National funding for this subject
- Teacher-training bursaries: Postgraduate bursaries and scholarships are available for selected shortage subjects. Official guidance
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 Education & Teaching 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 education & teaching · 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 Education & Teaching nationally
National figures for Education & Teaching 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 Education & Teaching 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 Education & Teaching 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
- Schools & academy trusts
- Local authorities
- Education charities
- Tutoring providers
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Education & Teaching graduates.
Education SEN MentorMacIntyreEducation Recruitment ConsultantAcademicsEducation Delivery Consultant - Fast Paced, Dynamic Organisation - WorcestershireAP EducationEducation Trustee - Lead Youth Careers & Outdoor LearningRacing to SchoolEducation Recruitment Consultant - Build Futures & Earn UncappedProtocol EducationEducation Recruitment Consultant: Grow Your Desk & ImpactEducation AssetsWho studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Hertfordshire
Education and teaching across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University Of Hertfordshire
933 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 Education & Teaching right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Hertfordshire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £17,450 / 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 Hertfordshire’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 Hertfordshire and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Hertfordshire
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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