Early Childhood Studies (Top-Up)

Designed to turn your Level 5 qualification – such as a diploma, teaching apprenticeship or foundation degree – into a full Bachelor’s degree. If you haven't already got a level 5 you may be interested in our Education Foundation courses.

Our BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (top-up) programme has been designed to offer those who want to develop their career working with younger children an opportunity to gain a qualification which combines academic knowledge and practical skills. This programme will help to develop professional skills and knowledge currently in demand across the early years sector such as partnership working, leadership and understanding of educational psychology.

You'll study how children develop, as well as factors which affect their learning and development, child psychology and the services which support wellbeing and psychological health. The programme will also provide you with a broader understanding of early years policy and practice and how this can be managed and developed effectively within your own and wider settings. Through the course you have opportunities to take part in work-based learning with placement opportunities, during which you’ll be encouraged to be critically reflective of your own impact in the workplace.

*UCP are currently working with the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network in order to gain recognition of this degree pathways and certification of Graduate Practitioner Competencies at Level 6 for our graduates on completion, which is also recognised by the Department for Education’s Career Progression for the Early Years Workforce. This will then qualify you to work as an Early Years Educator and you'll develop a portfolio of evidence of your skills and practice at Level 6 to present to Early Years employers. This will be subject to approval, please contact UCP or the course team for the latest information.

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies provides a great pathway to postgraduate study and to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) or initial teacher training programmes across the education sector.

The courses at University Centre Peterborough are studied in smaller class sizes compared with other universities, a typical class size is under 20 students.

What can this course lead to?
After graduating, you will be able to gain a position as a Teaching Assistant within in
Primary or Secondary schools.

You will also be able to apply for a PGCE in Primary or Secondary Education, or apply for an MA in a field related to education.

Previous students have also been offered places in the School Direct and Teach East programmes, and have progressed to teaching roles via this route.

Other career options related to Education can include working in the Education Department of a local council or going on to work in education based research.