Early Years (FdA)

Fd(A)

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Key facts

UCAS code

X314 (Abingdon and Witney College) X318 (New College Swindon).

Start dates

September 2025 / September 2026

Course length

Full time: 2 years

Overview

The Early Years foundation degree is designed for practitioners who work with young children in a range of pre-school and nursery settings, and have experience of this sector. The course is delivered at the following Oxford Brookes partner colleges:

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

International full time off-campus
£9,900

Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,700

International full time off-campus
£9,900

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

International full time off-campus
£9,900

2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,700

International full time off-campus
£9,900

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

Financial support and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

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.

On this course you’ll be going on placements in schools; you'll self fund travel to and from your placements.

You’ll also need a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check. This costs about £50. You may also need to pay an extra fee of about £15 to keep your DBS up-to-date.

How to apply

Further offer details

Foundation degrees are not typical degrees, so there is no typical offer. Each application will be considered on its merits and in the light of your employer's commitment to support your learning.

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Prior qualifications necessary for entry to the programme include English Language requirements.
Applicants must:

  • Be capable of producing work at a standard equivalent to Level 4
  • Produce for assessment at the interview a 500 word piece of work reflecting on their role as an early years practitioner
  • Have a reference from their employer
  • Have relevant work experience, paid, in a voluntary capacity or as part of your studies.

Entrants should normally have as a minimum one of the following:

  • An A-level or vocational A-level
  • NVQ level 3 (such as BTEC or other qualification)
  • An Advanced Modern Apprenticeship.
  • Access to a relevant work setting for a minimum of 10 hours per week.

Applicants with prior certificated or experiential learning may be admitted with credit for up to a maximum of 120 credits at Level 4.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

Screening

All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.

English language requirements

Please see the University's standard English language requirements.

International applications

International applications to other providers can be made through the Oxford Brookes Application Portal. Applicants can also apply through UCAS.

Unfortunately, International Applicants are not able to be admitted to this course at New College Swindon, but are still able to apply to Abingdon & Witney College.

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 with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors.

If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.

We operate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.

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

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

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.