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Early Childhood (with Foundation Year)

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time including foundation year
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Frenchay Campus
Awarded by:
University of the West of England, Bristol

Course summary

Designed for those who want to work in a professional capacity with or for children, this course provides an excellent foundation for careers with children or further study.

Why study early childhood?

Recent research has established the importance and quality of learning from birth. Now is a really important time to consider how children explore their world.

This Early Childhood degree considers ideas that are central for children's lives and their education, as well as the wider world. This means graduates in early childhood are sought after for a wide range of employment opportunities.

Why UWE Bristol?

Our intellectually demanding BA(Hons) Early Childhood allows you to focus on the areas that interest you most.

You'll examine issues around children's place in society, education, special educational needs, children's learning and development, language and reasoning and environments for children.

Exploring issues affecting children between birth and eight years old, you'll link theory to practice, and understand social, psychological and philosophical factors in children's lives, learning and development.

Undertaking work-related experience is a central aspect of the degree. You'll spend time in early childhood settings in each year of the course.

Develop key communication, research, interpersonal and critical thinking skills, including learning to work effectively with others, organise information and ideas, and present your ideas clearly and confidently. Learn to reflect on your own and others' practice.

Where can it take me?

This Early Childhood degree will equip you to work at managerial level in childcare and educational settings, children's services and family support or in other fields.

Many early childhood students study for an early years or primary postgraduate teaching qualification, or for a master's degree in social work, psychology, play therapy or speech and language therapy.

By the end of your Early Childhood degree, you'll be qualified to work at level three in an early years setting (subject to completing work-related learning practice and holding suitable literacy and first aid qualifications). This means you can be counted in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) staff:child ratios at level three.

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
X31F
Institution code:
B80
Campus name:
Frenchay Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
64 points

A level

No specific subjects required. Points from A-Level General Studies and AS-Level subjects (not taken onto full A-Level) can be included towards overall tariff. You must have a minimum of one A-Level.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
MPP

No specific subjects required.

Access to HE Diploma

No specific subjects required.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

No specific subjects required.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Grade C/4 in English, or equivalent.

T Level

No specific subjects required.

We recognise the individual nature of each application and our typical offer should be viewed as a guide. UWE Bristol welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. We will consider evidence of your relevant personal, professional or educational experience where it demonstrates an ability and potential to succeed on the course. Please include details of any relevant experience in your application.

If you don't meet the above requirements but have already completed your qualifications and can demonstrate relevant personal, professional or education experience, we may ask you to complete a written task to determine your suitability to study the course.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply and all convictions, including those which are spent, must be disclosed. This is in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. If you are offered a place, you must undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and will be required to complete a disclosure application form. All information will be treated in confidence and only taken into account when absolutely necessary.
Health checks
All offers will be subject to satisfactory health checks.

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For home students the foundation year for this course is capped at £5760 - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-students-studying-a-foundation-year
Following the foundation year the fees will increase to the approved fee cap - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuition-fees-and-student-support-2026-to-2027-academic-year/changes-to-tuition-fees-2026-to-2027-academic-year-and-2027-to-2028-academic-year

Clearing contact details

Clearing information

Apply online

Email:admissions@uwe.ac.uk

Phone:+44(0)117 32 83333

Course Clearing information

Additional information

Thursday 13th August - 08:00 - 20:00
Friday 14th August - 08:00 - 18:00
Saturday 15th August - 10:00 - 16:00
Sunday 16th August - Closed
Monday 17th August to Thursday 20th August - 09:00 – 17:00
Friday 21st August – 09:00 – 16:30
Saturday 22nd August and Sunday 23rd August - Closed
Monday 24th August to Thursday 27th August - 09:00 – 17:00
Friday 28th August – 09:00 – 16:30
Saturday 29th August to Monday 31st August - Closed

Course contact details

Admissions Office

Email:Admissions@uwe.ac.uk

Phone:+44 (0)117 32 83333

Bristol, UWE

Coldharbour Lane
Frenchay
Bristol
BS16 1QY

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