Early Childhood BA (Hons)
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UCAS Code: X320|Duration: 3 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
The Early Childhood degree builds advanced knowledge about young children. This Early Childhood course covers child development, interactions, and the effects of local and global inequalities. It prepares you to advocate for young children's needs and rights.
This Early Childhood degree provides a supportive learning environment. You'll get expert guidance, access to university resources, and teaching from a diverse team with experience in research, practice, and policy. Your learning includes guest speakers and field visits in Liverpool, a city rich in community and culture.
The Early Childhood course is taught by academics from sociology, education, philosophy, and psychology. They are active researchers who publish widely and attend national and international conferences. Their expertise creates a challenging, research-informed setting.
For single honours students, the early childhood degree has a required placement to apply theory in a professional setting. For combined honours students, the placement is optional.
Course structure
Teaching on the early childhood degree combines lectures for all students with seminars and small group sessions. You will also engage in workshops, guided reading, distance learning, and activities on the University's Virtual Learning Environment, with the opportunity to meet your tutor one-to-one each week.
For students on the single honours early childhood course, the first year includes around 12 teaching hours per week, reducing to around 10 hours in the second and third years. For those studying Early Childhood as a combined honours degree, there are approximately 6 teaching hours in the first year, reducing to 5 hours in later years.
Alongside formal teaching, you are expected to dedicate additional time to independent study and group work in preparation for assessments.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study, you will have a variety of assessment methods including essays, exams, e-portfolio, posters, and reflective journals. Feedback on assessments will be given to you online and you will also have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with your tutor. Longer pieces of writing are supported by interim constructive written and oral feedback.
Year One
Understanding Childhood
The first module of the early childhood degree introduces you to the interdisciplinary field of Early Childhood. You will examine how ideas of childhood have changed over time and across different historical and socio-cultural contexts, using specific case studies. The module also traces the development of the field through the work of pioneers such as Froebel, Montessori, and the McMillan Sisters. In addition, you will begin to explore the emergence of children’s rights and their significance in everyday life.
Child Development and Play
In the second module of the early childhood course, you will focus on contemporary understandings of child development and learning. You will study the value of play-based pedagogies and consider how digital technologies and storytelling shape children’s moral, social, emotional, physical, and language development. Learning is deepened through varied assessments, including the opportunity to write your own children’s story.
Year Two
Explorations in Early Childhood
Learning Theories
In your second year of the early childhood degree, you will explore ley learning theories, with a particular emphasis on socio-cultural approaches approaches and the child’s learning environment. The module examines the biological, socio-emotional and socio-cognitive foundations of learning and development in infancy and early childhood.
Child Health and Well-being
This module investigates how culture, environment and lived experience shape health and well-being. You will study issues such as identify formation, self-awareness, mental health and stress, friendships and family circumstances, gaining deeper insight into factors that influence children's lives.
International Perspectives
Within the early childhood course, you will be encouraged to make international comparisons in early childhood education and care, studying influential approaches such as Reggio Emilia, Te Whariki, High Scope and Forest School.
Year Three
Advanced Studies in Early Childhood
Social Policy
In the final year of the early childhood degree, you will develop advanced analytical skills to explore the global, economic and political development of constructs of childhood. This module focuses on issues of rights, diversity, equity and inclusion, with particular attention to the development of social policy and legislation regarding children and their families.
Multi Agency Working
This module examines the role of a multi-agency teams in the context of high-profile cases, highlighting both the challenges and constraints of interprofessional practice. You will investigate key issues affecting young children and their families, such as poverty, disability, abuse and discrimination, within the wider framework of the early childhood course.
Dissertation
The dissertation allows you to consolidate your theoretical and practical knowledge by undertaking an independent research project in early childhood. You will design and carry out a study, then present your findings in a formal dissertation, demonstrating the depth of expertise gained throughout your early childhood degree.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 112 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications. |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 112 Tariff Points |
| IB | 26 points |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 112 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | No specific subject requirements |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirementspage. |
Careers
Graduates of the Early Childhood degree have gone on to pursue careers as members of Local Authority multi-agency teams, leaders in Children’s Centres, Children’s Learning Officers in museums and galleries and employees of national and national and international charities such as Save the Children and NSPCC. A significant number of graduates also enter the teaching profession (after successfully completing a PGCE) or the social work profession (subject to further qualification), whilst others have successfully achieved careers in business, management and government.
Graduates of this degree will have the knowledge and skills to move into a wide variety of roles in working with young children and their families.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
In your second year, you will be encouraged to get involved in a placement in a children’s setting or service. These placements will provide you with a valuable insight into professional practice with a view to graduation. For single honours students this placement is compulsory, for combined honours students the placement is optional but highly recommended.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are £9,535* for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,535*.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
*subject to Council approval.
Additional costs
On top of tuition fees, you will need approximately £100 to buy key textbooks required for the degree.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £14,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: