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Early Childhood Studies (final year entry)

BA (Hons)

Key facts
Overview
How to apply
Tuition fees
Funding your studies
Learning and assessment
After you graduate

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Key facts

UCAS code

X351

Start dates

September 2023

Location

Harcourt Hill

Distance learning

Course length

Full time: 1 year

Department

School of Education, Humanities and Languages

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Overview

In a world where children’s futures are uncertain, qualified early childhood graduates with specialist practitioner skills and professional knowledge are needed more than ever.

On this final year course, you’ll enhance the learning you’ve already completed. You'll gain a solid understanding of the theory underpinning your practice. You’ll learn and master different pedagogical approaches - and you’ll know when, why and how to use them.

You'll have the support and guidance to develop your professional knowledge. You can also take the opportunity to make your own area of interest an important issue in Early Years through your dissertation. And you’ll graduate ready to take a professional and leading role within the early years sector.

Student writing notes

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Students will usually have achieved a Higher National Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care or an equivalent relevant Early Years related level 5 qualification of 240 credits subject to individual credit rating by Oxford Brookes University.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

Please see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Credit transfer

Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.

Find out more about transferring to Brookes. If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.

Application process

Full time Home (UK) applicants

Apply through UCAS

International applicants

Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) distance learning full time
£9,250
International full time
£15,200
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
International full time
£15,950

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) distance learning full time
£9,250
International full time
£15,200
2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
International full time
£15,950

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students. 

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

 

 

 

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Oxford Brookes Bursary for home students Undergraduate maintenance loans for part-time UK students Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Learning and assessment

On the course, you’ll be able to focus on your interests, and grow in the areas you care about most. You might explore how inequality impacts childhood. You might compare education systems across the world. You might examine child development. Or you might analyse children’s literacy - and how to build a love of reading.

You’ll emerge with a solid understanding of both teaching pedagogy, and practitioner techniques. This means you’ll fully understand how different approaches work. And you’ll know when, where and how to use them. You’ll ultimately be better equipped to support any child, in any situation.

students in a seminar

Study modules

Final Year Modules

Compulsory modules

  • Dissertation Preparation

    This module gives you the skills and knowledge to excel at your dissertation. You’ll gain a thorough knowledge of topics that will prepare you for every stage of your dissertation. You’ll learn how to plan your dissertation, analyse research and write up a powerful argument. You’ll gain a valuable critical awareness of yourself as a researcher, as you get to know the processes involved. You’ll also understand the key ethical procedures of fieldwork, allowing you to work successfully in the field.

     

  • Children in the Digital World

    How do media and technology impact children’s lives and their understanding of the world? You’ll use key academic theories to explore these dynamic questions and how the issues are relevant in education. You’ll explore direct examples of media and technology, and gain core practical skills for your degree as you make links between theory and real life situations. 

     

  • International Comparisons in Early Childhood Care and Education

    You’ll examine core policies and practices in education. You’ll gain important analytical skills for your degree, as you consider the differences in education policy between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You’ll analyse how international evidence in education impacts services in these four UK countries.

     

  • Reflective Practice

    You’ll enhance your confidence and skills in working as a practitioner in an early years setting. You’ll discuss current issues, and reflect on your own practice in the light of current policy and research. As a group, we’ll focus on reflection as means of bringing together theory and practice, with an emphasis on group reflection. You might focus on issues such as:

    • deepening understandings of curriculum organisation and delivery
    • focusing on the individual needs of the child
    • addressing issues of inclusion, individual achievement or well-being
    • focusing on relationships with parents and the community.

    As part of the module, you’ll also complete a reflective journal.

  • The Principled Professional

    Gain fantastic preparation for work as a professional early years practitioner. You’ll explore the core elements of the professional’s role in early years settings and other employment contexts. You’ll develop a strong understanding of professionalism, giving you the best chance to succeed in job interviews and your future career. You’ll also grow into a strong advocate for the wellbeing of children and their families.

  • Dissertation

    You’ll undertake independent research on a topic in Early Childhood Studies which fascinates you. You’ll have the support of an expert supervisor who will help you negotiate a key issue in Early Childhood Studies and develop it into a dissertation.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

You’ll learn at our Harcourt Hill campus, home of our School of Education, where you’ll have access to specialist education teaching spaces. You will gain specialist skills and knowledge. You might explore how inequality impacts childhood. Or look at education systems across the world.

You’ll be supported through your study by leading researchers in education. And the latest research and developments in education will directly inform your learning.

As a distance learner you’ll become part of a professional community of learners and educational professionals online.

You’ll learn through pre-recorded resources, online lectures and seminars. You’ll also take part in collaborative activities, being part of an interactive approach to learning and teaching.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

Your modules will be 100% assessed by coursework. These could be presentations, essays and/or project reports.

Assessment for some modules includes group assignments that encourage collaborative and team working skills.

After you graduate

Career prospects

You’ll graduate as a confident and self-aware educational practitioner who can decisively employ the right techniques in your day-to-day practice.

And you’ll be equipped to enter a range of careers - like:

  • teacher training
  • play therapy
  • special educational needs
  • educational psychology
  • social work.

Related courses

Related course
Early Childhood Studies
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Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.