BA Early Learning and Childcare Bachelor's degree at UHI
BA Early Learning and Childcare at UHI is accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), fully meeting the educational requirements for registration with this body.
About this course
BA Early Learning and Childcare is a Bachelor's degree (BA) at UHI, based in UHI Argyll,UHI Inverness,UHI Moray,UHI North West Hebrides,UHI Orkney,UHI Perth,UHI Shetland. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Education graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £32,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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.
Year 1 - CertHE 6 modules
- Learning through playCore
- My studies and the learning communityCore
- Professional values in practiceCore
- Safe working practices in ELCCore
- Supporting practice through a reflexive approachCore
- The developing child 0-18 yearsCore
Year 2 - DipHE 6 modules
- Communication, collaboration and teamworkCore
- Implementing practice through a reflexive approachCore
- Observation in practiceCore
- Outdoor play and learningCore
- Supporting ASN in practiceCore
- Working with our youngest childrenCore
Year 3 - BA 5 modules
- Childhood and society
- Developing and supporting partnership with parents
- Enquiring practitioner
- Leading practice through a reflexive approach
- Quality frameworks in practice
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 BA develops your knowledge and practice in early learning and childcare. You'll usually begin with foundations in child development, how children learn, and how education systems are organised. Early school placements and observation start in the first year. As the course progresses, you'll study curriculum planning, teaching and assessment, moving through sustained classroom practice with increasing responsibility. In the later stages, you'll explore specialist areas such as early years, SEND and inclusion, education policy, and school placements. Many students combine this with QTS routes to secure qualified teacher status. Throughout, practical experience and professional placement are woven through the curriculum, culminating in a final placement and assessment against professional standards.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking to work in early learning and childcare settings. It is designed for part-time study, making it accessible alongside work or other commitments. You'll develop both theoretical understanding and practical capability in the field, with opportunities to specialise according to your interests and career direction.
University & format
This BA is delivered part-time by the University of the Highlands and Islands, a university with campuses across multiple locations including UHI Argyll, UHI Inverness, UHI Moray, UHI North West Hebrides, UHI Orkney, UHI Perth, and UHI Shetland. Teaching is in English. The course is accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to fully meet the educational requirements for registration with this body. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, your qualification will be nationally recognised.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
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. 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
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Published UHI fee framework
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.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £32,500 | £29,000 – £37,000 | 215 |
| 3 years after | £24,000 | £17,000 – £31,500 | 50 |
| 5 years after | £28,000 | £23,500 – £36,500 | 50 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 215. Cohort 2021-22.
- 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.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Education & Teaching courses at the same study level.
Compared with 515 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
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 AssetsIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Fees and funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £32,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Education and teaching across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Education & Teaching right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
Related courses
More at UHI
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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