About the Course
This flexible course offers an integrated international pathway into early years education, with a focus on building your employability through work placements. It also has options to complete over one or two years, depending on your previous related studies.
The degree explores the complexity of early education and child development while placing the developing child within the context of their family and society, both in the UK and globally. It allows you to compare and evaluate international and UK-based early childhood education, offering international students the opportunity to compare their home nation’s early years practice with the UK.
Areas you may cover through the course include early child development; early childhood settings; teaching practice; families and communities; early numeracy and literacy; inclusive education and practice; and international perspectives on early childhood education.
Why choose this course?
- Our Education courses have a high student satisfaction rating for our teaching (91%) and academic support (90%) (NSS 2022)
- Benefit from its strong focus on employability, with placements in settings across the age range (birth to 8) as well as opportunities for voluntary experience
- Learn with a highly experienced, research-active academic team
- Study at a University with over 10 years’ experience delivering degree courses in early years or early childhood education
- Many of our alumni have gone on to qualify as teachers in the UK primary sector or work as leaders in the early years sector
- As an international student, we offer a transition unit before the start of the course that familiarises you with UK early years education
Course Leader - Julie Beams
I gained Qualified Teacher Status in 1987 and have worked in a number of educational settings since then. I have taught across the whole primary age range.
My main focus, however, has been working with children in the Foundation Stage (0 – 5) in schools, day nurseries and Children's Centres in both a hands-on practitioner and an advisory capacity and in a range of different local authorities in England.
Units
- Early Child Development (EDC055-1) Compulsory
- Early Years Curriculum Studies (EDC056-1) Compulsory
- Key Concepts In Education (EDC064-1) Compulsory
- Narratives Of Childhood (EDC048-1) Compulsory
- The Growing Child In Context (EDC050-1) Compulsory
- Understanding Practice In Early Childhood Settings (EDC051-1) Compulsory
- Developing Teaching Practice (EDC063-2) Compulsory
- Early Representations Of Numeracy And Literacy (EDC028-2) Compulsory
- Families And Communities (EDC066-2) Compulsory
- Inclusive Education In The Early Years (EDC072-2) Compulsory
- Investigating The Social World (EDC021-2) Compulsory
- Understanding The Inclusive Practice In The Early Years (EDC065-2) Compulsory
- Developing Children'S Thinking And Understanding (EDC202-3) Compulsory
- Dissertation (EDC207-3) Compulsory
- International Perspectives On Early Childhood Education (EDC216-3) Compulsory
- Professionalism, Leadership And Management In The Early Years (EDC162-3) Compulsory
- Quality In The Early Years (EDC208-3) Compulsory
- Children And Young PeopleS Wellbeing (EDC204-3) Optional
- Representations Of Disability (EDC209-3) Optional
Learning is promoted through participation in a wide range of teaching methods across the degree. In lectures you will be invited to be actively involved through such activities as commenting on videos of practice; in seminars you will share your reflections on your learning in lectures and your reading, debate viewpoints and engage in practical activities. You will attend practical workshops both on campus and in local Early Years settings, and undertake work-related learning through placements in Early Years settings. Please note that you must be aware of and adhere to the University of Bedfordshire and School of Education and English Language placement policies.
As the degree progresses you will be encouraged and guided to develop your learning towards increasingly independent study. You are encouraged to see your learning as a collaborative enterprise in which your participation is crucial. Individual tutorials with staff are offered across the degree to allow you to reflect on your on-going development.
Level 4 introduces you to key ideas about Early Years Education and specific professional and academic skills that you will need to further develop for success in HE. In Levels 5 and 6 of the course the emphasis on lectures decreases with a higher proportion of seminar and workshop sessions. In Level 6 you will complete independent research in a topic related to Early Years Education. You will have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional units that further your own particular interests in education.
Extensive use will be made of the University Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to provide you with information and further materials for your study and facilitate interaction and discussion between students and between staff and students. You will have the opportunity to develop your own IT skills through engagement with various forms of technology such as discussion boards.
Some core units require short periods of work based placement. You will be able to find your own settings for this but you are able to use suitable settings for this that already work with (for example places that have paid employment at or are volunteering in) although this is subject to ethical approval processes. Where you not have such contacts you will get support from the Education Services Team on the Bedford Campus. You will be encouraged to develop work based contacts from the very start of your degree to enhance your learning experiences and to be better able to relate theory to practice.
This course is taught by a core group of lecturers with recent professional practice in a range of Early Years educational settings and research-based work.
Why study in the School of Education and English?
- Broad spectrum of opportunities to study language and linguistics
- 92% satisfaction with English Language and TEFL, NSS 2020
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 96 points with 80 points from at least 2 A level passes
- At least 96 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction Distinction in the BTEC Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications. See your country page for more details
Check Your Country page to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable or contact your International Admissions Team
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 96 points with 80 points from at least 2 A level passes
- At least 96 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction Distinction in the BTEC Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications. See your country page for more details
Check Your Country page to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable or contact your International Admissions Team
Graduates of this course will have access to a wide range of careers working with young children including: working in nurseries; establishing and running your own setting; and working in advisory roles.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2022/23 is £13,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2023/24 is £14,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2022/23 is £13,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2023/24 is £14,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Extra Costs
Campus Library
The Bedford Campus Library set over four storeys offers students access to our extensive range of physical and digital resources with 300,000+ books & 80,000+ ebooks.
PCs are provided on each level for students to use offering access to a wide range of applications as well as access to group-work areas and presentation-practice rooms and a dedicated silent study floor.
BedsSU - The Hub
The Hub is home to BedsSU providing a great space for socialising with friends, catching up on some coursework or taking a well-deserved break.
The Hub is the place to go to take a break from your studies, play table tennis, socialise and watch live sport on the big screen.By night the venue becomes the place to be, with a variety of student events such as pub quizzes, live music and various themed club nights. Evening food includes delicious freshly made pizzas as well as a range of other beverages and snacks.
Bedford Gym
The Aspire Gyms offer a range of affordable membership options giving students exclusive use of a convenient campus-based fitness facility.
The Bedford gym facilitates state of the art cardiovascular equipment with smartphone compatibility as well as an extensive range of fixed resistance machines and a small free weights area. Changing rooms with showers and lockers are available for members to use.
Dance Studios
At the centre of our campus is four fully sprung dance studios equipped with ballet barres, mirrored walls, audio playback and projection for our dance and performing arts students.
Our two campus theatres also provide the ideal performance space for students with regular events held that are open audiences of students, staff and the wider community.
Campus Theatres
Set within the Campus Centre is a 260 seat professional theatre on the ground floor with industry-standard lighting, media desk, roll-down screen, full backstage comms system and large dressing rooms with en suite showers. On the first floor there's also a well-equipped 80 seat studio theatre.
Our theatres welcome new and existing audiences to see a range of student work including contemporary dance, theatre and performing arts; holding regular events that are open to students, staff and the wider community.
Sports Science Labs
Our specialist sports science labs give students a fantastic environment to develop their research skills and expertise, where a student can explore the biology of an elite athlete who could be performing simultaneously within the sports hall.
The state-of-the-art laboratories are purpose built for research and teaching in the fields of exercise and nutrition science. This includes specialised equipment and facilities for assessing human health risk and delivering exercise and diet interventions for health promotion.
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
