Program Overview

Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons)

Course Overview

Early childhood is a fascinating stage of life to explore. This course will support your development in a wide range of professional skills which are essential for working with children (aged 0-8 years) and families, including those with additional needs.

Course Options

• Full Time (3 years)
• Part Time no fixed duration

Study Type

• Full Time

Course Length

• 3 Years

Campus

• City Campus, Gloucester

UCAS Code

• X312

Entry Requirements

• Typical Offers (Early Childhood Studies)
  • 96 UCAS tariff points, CCC at A levels, MMM at BTEC or a Merit in your T-Level.
  • If you are using a combination of qualifications to achieve the required UCAS tariff points, they must either include at least 2 A levels, a BTEC or an equivalent qualification.
• Additional requirements
  • English Language or Literature and Maths Grade 4/C in GCSE (or equivalent) are normally required.
• DBS and health check required
  • In order to study this course, offer holders will need to complete a satisfactory DBS and Health Clearance check.
• Don't meet the entry requirements?
  • This course is available with an additional integrated foundation year. This four year option has lower entry requirements – see below – than the other study type/s available.
  • Typical offers
    • 48 UCAS tariff points, EE at A levels or a PP in a BTEC Diploma.
• Mature students
  • We welcome applications from mature students (aged 21 and over) and do not necessarily require the same academic qualifications as school leaving applicants, although some entry requirements may still apply for Professionally Accredited Courses. We accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas and make offers on an individual basis.
• International students
  • Please read the entry requirements for your country – and contact our admissions team if you have questions.

Course Modules

• Level 4 (Undergraduate year 1)
  • Key skills for university, employment and life (CS4001)
  • Professional Practice in Early Years 1 (CS4002)
  • The Sociology of Childhood (CS4004)
  • The Psychology of Childhood (CS4005)
  • Special Needs: Listening to Children (CS4006)
• Level 5 (Undergraduate year 2)
  • Students as Researchers (CS5001)
  • Professional Practice in Early Years 2 (CS5002)
  • Working with Children, Families and Communities (CS5004)
  • Promoting Children's Wellbeing (CS5005)
  • Promoting Children as Competent Learners (CS5006)
  • Professionalism and Legal Responsibilities (CS5007)
  • The Creative and Thinking Child (CS5008)
• Level 6 (Undergraduate final year)
  • Work Based project/Dissertation (CS6001)
  • Professional Practice in Early Years 3 (CS6002)
  • Early Childhood: Contemporary Issues (CS6003)
  • Lifelong Learning (CS6006)
  • Health for Life (CS6007)
  • International Comparative Visit (CS6008)
  • Comparative Studies (CS6009)

Fees and Costs

• Start date | Location | UCAS code | Fee (UK) | Fee (international)
  • Sep 2025 | City Campus, Gloucester | X312 | £9,535 | £17,425
  • Sep 2026 | City Campus, Gloucester | X312 | TBC | TBC

Careers

Early Childhood Studies (ECS) graduates have a wide range of career options, including roles such as early years setting manager, special educational needs and disabilities practitioner, children’s centre manager, family support worker, support practitioner for families with critically ill children, social work assistant, and paediatric occupational health assistant.

Teaching Staff

• Academic course leader
  • Emma Butler
  • Academic Course Leader for Early Childhood Studies

Research Areas

• The School of Education and Science

Placements

• Across the three years you’ll gain real-world experience of putting your skills into practice through a range of work based placements – such as children’s centres, schools, family refuge centres, gallery education teams, play rangers, nurseries, family support teams and special needs schools.

Trips and Experiences

• You’ll have the opportunity to visit Stockholm in Sweden, an international leader in early years education. Gain unique access to a variety of settings, and witness first-hand how Swedish practitioners provide for their children and families.