STUDY

Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies (progression route)

Wooden bead maze toy
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: X314
Start date: September 2024
Duration: One year full-time.
Location: East Coast College (Lowestoft)
Typical Offer: A Foundation degree, (or equivalent) - FdA or FdSc
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: X314
Start date: September 2024
Duration: One year full-time.
Location: East Coast College (Lowestoft)
Typical Offer: A Foundation degree, (or equivalent) - FdA or FdSc

Overview

The Early Years and Childhood Studies programme is an exciting programme enabling those working in early years to work towards graduate status. The course is suitable as a pathway to primary school teaching (you must also achieve GCSE maths, English and science). 

Those studying at Lowestoft will attend one day per week (2.00pm - 9.00pm) and will need to have face-to-face contact with children for at least 20 hours per week.   

Students study early intervention, child health and professional practice alongside their dissertation study. Topics offered for dissertation last year included identification of gifted and talented children, the value of home visiting in transitions and whether the school starting age is too young. Future employment opportunities exist in schools, children's centres, playgroups, nurseries, social care and voluntary organisations. 

All students are allocated a personal tutor who will offer pastoral support and will visit students in their settings. In addition, academic tutorials are an integral part of each module during which students can clarify and review the teaching and learning with their tutors.

STUDY

Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies (Progression route)

Wooden bead maze toy
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: X314
Start date: September 2025
Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time
Location: East Coast College (Lowestoft)
Typical Offer: A Foundation degree, (or equivalent) - FdA or FdSc
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: X314
Start date: September 2025
Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time
Location: East Coast College (Lowestoft)
Typical Offer: A Foundation degree, (or equivalent) - FdA or FdSc

Overview

The BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies (Progression Route) is an exciting programme enabling those working in early years to complete a full honours degree. The course is suitable as a pathway to primary school teaching providing you have achieve GCSE maths, English and Science. 

You will study early intervention, child health and professional practice alongside their dissertation study. Topics offered for dissertation in previous years included identification of gifted and talented children, the value of home visiting in transitions and whether the school starting age is too young. Future employment opportunities exist in schools, children's centres, playgroups, nurseries, social care and voluntary organisations.

Whist this is a full-time course, typically this course generally only requires 1-2 days on campus attendance, supported by self-directed study. This means you can continue to work alongside your studies and balance other commitments.

Course Modules

The areas of study include early years, care and education, children's services and play work.

This course is designed with the child care practitioner in mind. It has been shaped to combine studying while working in a busy childcare setting. At all campuses the course enables you to earn while they learn and maximise the amount of time spent at work.

Some modules have adopted a ‘blended learning approach’ where you can access part of the module via the virtual learning environment supported by face-to-face group tutorial sessions.

Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Records.

East Coast College building

In order to improve to practice, it is necessary not only to be self-reflective, but also to acknowledge your own weaknesses in practice. This module will provide you with the opportunities to continue to develop your practice through research into your own weaknesses. To this end the module is based on your requirements so as to be of real value to workplace.

This module focusses upon your own strengths and the concepts of good practice applicable to your sector. However, you are also required to consider the challenges when cascading good practice to others. Employers have stated that students have good ideas, but they need to persuade the rest of the staff, and therefore this module considers this process.

The module develops understanding of leadership and management that will by requiring you to lead a project. Although it is imperative that practitioners develop skills and knowledge in leading early years practice, not all of you may wish to be in a formal leadership role, and in addition, some students work in the school sector, for whom a leadership role may not be appropriate.

This module builds on previous study undertaken at Level 5 and takes as its basis the theoretical knowledge acquired in research methodology and process together with skills in the critical evaluation of published research. It provides you with an opportunity planning, design, analysis, and critical evaluation and to investigate a topic of your own choice and seeks to equip you with the skills of project

Entry Requirements

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Career Opportunities

Graduates will be able to progress within the field of children’s care, opportunities exist in: 

  • Schools
  • Playgroups
  • Nurseries
  • Social Care
  • Voluntary Organisations

With an Honours degree graduates can progress onto post-graduate studies: MA in Childhood Studies and in PGCE or Certificate in Education.

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£9,535

per year
UK Part-time Tuition Fee

£1,589*

per 20 credit module
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£15,090

per year

*Please contact Student Centre for further information on part-time fees

Further Information

At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with you course that you will need to budget for.

UK fees and finance UK bursaries and scholarships International fees and scholarships

How to Apply

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Apply Now Further Information on Applying
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