Select your course options:
Where Are You Applying From?
How Would You Like To Study?
When Do You Want To Start Your Studies?
Which Campus Would You Like To Study At?
Which Options Would You Like With Your Course?
Why choose the School of Education
Our education courses rank in the UK top 15 in their subject field for career prospects (Guardian, 2025).
Our education students gave positive responses over 90% for our teaching; learning opportunities; assessment and feedback; academic support; organisation; and learning resources (NSS, 2024).
Our education courses rank in the UK top 20 in their subject field for student satisfaction (CUG, 2026).
About the course
If you currently work in the early-years sector and have a relevant Foundation degree or equivalent in this field, this top-up course will bring you up to a full Honours degree in just one year. It also allows you to put your learning into practice immediately, in your workplace. The course builds on the knowledge and skills you have already have while developing your understanding of child development and early-years education from a variety of professional perspectives.
This course can be studied from our Bedford campus or via a blended learning route. The blended-learning groups have their own student society and come together during planned Saturday study days across the academic year.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Mock classrooms with specialist assessment technology including a resourced early-years classroom leading to our Forest School and garden space
- Forest School where you can deepen your understanding of the long-term educational benefits of outdoor learning
- Specialist sensory centre for teaching SEND and early years courses
- Multimedia space for webinars and podcasting
- Access to a four-storey library, open outside of taught sessions
- Wide range of sports facilities including playing fields, multi-use games areas and a sports arena
Industry links
As one of the largest providers of teacher education in the eastern region, we have well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations, a network that puts us at the forefront of educational developments.
Student experience
Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well and you benefit from personalised highly student-centred learning.
You benefit from the support of your own personal tutor, a subject and/or placement mentor, a unit and course coordinator, and the additional support of our experienced library staff, all of whom will help you throughout your student journey and with balancing study with work and personal commitments.
You have the opportunity to go on relevant field trips and attend relevant educational conferences.
We have regular visits by professionals from schools and academy chains; SEN schools; local education authorities; and other agencies involved in broadening students understanding such as the NHS (neurodiversity), museums, local faith leaders and sports representatives.
For those taking the blended-learning route, Saturday study days offer a vibrant opportunity to extend your thinking and learning through a range of teaching sessions and seminars.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Dr Malini Mistry
I started my career working as a primary school teacher and gained experience across all year groups.
Whilst working in the primary sector, I managed and led many areas of learning in the curriculum including ICT, History, Geography, RE and Early Years. Additionally, I was part of the Senior Leadership Team alongside responsibility for Key Stage 2.
What will you study?
Studying our Applied Early Years Studies (Top up) BA (Hons) course will equip you with the in-depth knowledge around early-years education and child development. The course aims to provide you with in-depth knowledge around learning and development, such as in our Early Learning from Birth to Five unit. Here, you will explore early-years educational theory and practice. You will consider the needs of younger children, particularly under three, as well as the role adults play in supporting the learning development of children under the age of five.
As an early-years educator, it is also important that you show good leadership and management skills. This is where our Leading Practice in the Early Years unit comes in to introduce you to various aspects of team leadership including the challenges of working with diverse groups of people. Finally, you will have the opportunity to conduct a Research Project in Applied Early Years Studies where you can pursue an area of interest relevant to your field in more depth. By integrating theory and practice, you will work under a supervisor to conduct specialised research into your chosen field that will build on your understanding of an area of practice that may be relevant to your future career.
To help you prepare for your research project, our Research Methods in Applied Education unit will introduce you to key aspects of the research process. These include research methods, data collection tools, ethical research, and how to analyse both quantitative and qualitative data so that you will be confident in carrying out your own extended research.
How will you be assessed?
At Level 6 the assessment strategy for the course is less formative in nature and more summative. The first Research Methods unit that you take will introduce them to assessment at Level 6 and will act as preparation for the major piece of work that they undertake in the research project. All assessments are applied to your work or volunteer experience. The assessments will include formal essays poster and PowerPoint presentations research proposal ethic approval documentation and a dissertation report. The research based dissertation will enable students to carry out their own research project guided throughout by a supervisor and will be the culmination of your work on the degree through the academic year. Throughout the course extensive use will be made of the University VLE (BREO) to provide information and further materials for study and facilitate interaction and discussion between students and between staff and students.
Careers
The early-years’ sector is growing with increased state support for childcare. This will provide opportunities for graduates able to contribute towards the provision of high-quality education and care for young children. The degree will allow you to progress within your own early-years’ setting as a practitioner leader. Alternatively, you may like to go on to primary or early-years teacher training (PGCE), early-years initial teacher training (EYITT) or other areas working with children from birth to age seven.
Entry Requirements
Virtual Tour
