Program Overview

Early Childhood Studies (Graduate Practitioner)

BA (Hons)

Discover how babies, toddlers and young children develop, learn and think, and pick up practical skills and experience to help shape their future.

Course Options

• 2 years accelerated blended-learning
• 3 years (distance learning)

Key Facts

• STUDY OPTIONS: 2 years accelerated blended-learning
• START DATES: September
• LOCATION: Chelmsford
• ENTRY: UCAS code: X3C0
• FEES:
  • £11,440 UK students starting 2025/26 (accelerated degree, per year)

Teaching and Assessment

2 years accelerated blended-learning

• Year 1
  • The Developing Child
  • The Developing Graduate Practitioner in Practice
  • Safeguarding and Wellbeing
  • Inclusive Research with Children
  • Creative Pedagogy: How Children Learn (0-8)
  • The Reflective Graduate Practitioner in Practice
  • Education for Global Citizenship and the Use of Artificial Intelligence
  • Into ARU
• Year 2
  • Exploring a Sustainable Education
  • Innovative Change Through a Creative Lens of Leadership
  • The Professional Graduate Practitioner in Practice
  • Undergraduate Major Project
  • Advocating for Children's Rights
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)

Student Experience

• Mitzi graduated with a First from our BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies in 2023, and now works as an Admissions and Conversion Co-ordinator at ARU, as well as being a freelance writer and self-published children’s author. Discover how our course helped Mitzi.
• ARU spotlight - Violet Ongele Hindle: Violet balances our Early Childhood Studies degree with teaching part-time in a primary school and being a mother. Read Violet's spotlight interview.
• Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) student Lucie Hamilton explains what you learn on the course and why play is so important for children's development. Read Lucie's blog.

Facilities

• Our Early Childhood Resource and Research Room is packed with toys, games and equipment including Montessori didactic apparatus (specialist learning toys) where you’ll be able to experience a child’s eye view of the world.

Careers

• Guided by the Early Years Professional Framework, we work with employers to ensure our BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies will give you the knowledge, skills and abilities that they need.
• You’ll be qualified to work in any registered setting in England, including nurseries and pre-schools, and with additional training you could also consider a career in educational psychology or social work.

Entry Requirements

• Standard entry requirements: 80 UCAS tariff points
• 5 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English
• If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
• An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure will also be required.

Fees and Paying for University

• Tuition fees and student loans for UK students (2025/26): £11,440 UK students starting 2025/26 (accelerated degree, per year)
• Living costs: As a very general guide, living costs at university can range from around £7,000–£9,000 per year. They may be lower if you're living at home.

Practical Experience

• As an Early Childhood Studies student at ARU you’ll benefit from:
  • placement, throughout your degree individually tailored to enable you to gain experience in a variety of early years settings
  • additional volunteering and work experience, further professional development training opportunities, enrichment trips, research groups and various early childhood and education events
  • learning the underlying values, principles and philosophies of early childhood education and care
  • knowledge of contemporary and competing theories relating to children from birth to eight years, and their families
  • developing your communication skills for different needs and audiences
  • gaining a globally recognised degree qualification.