Everything you need to know...
International: £12,750 per year
Course summary
- Explore the varied approaches to early childhood education, including issues related to child development, inclusion, the health and culture of children under eight years, and safeguarding.
- Consider the significance and impact of children's friendships, forest schools, participation, gender and identity, inclusive practice, working with families, and young children's wellbeing.
- Look at the importance of play in children's lives and development.
You can follow your own particular interests in early childhood such as understanding looked-after children, alternative environments for play and learning, being creative, and therapeutic approaches to working with children and young people.
Student view
Watch student Emma Robertshaw talk about what it’s like to study this course.
How you learn
Your studies are led by a team of lecturers with extensive and varied professional experience in key services for children and families. Their backgrounds include social work, health visiting, teaching, social care and psychology. They are all involved in research, writing books and leading early years practice.
You will learn through
- self-managed learning
- group work learning
- lectures
- seminars
- workshops
- work based learning tasks and reflections
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Work placements
Work based learning is integrated throughout the course. You can gain experience in a range of settings such as as schools, pre-schools, forest schools, child minders and outreach hubs.
You could also apply to take an international placement, working abroad with one of our partner institutions. We currently have arrangements with universities in Germany and Spain.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- nurseries and pre-schools
- primary schools
- special schools
- further education colleges
- universities
- hospitals
- charities
- community centres
- community organisations
- third sector and private employers
A number of our students go on to study a postgraduate qualification in subjects including social work, education and research. Others progress to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) to qualify as teachers.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
UK students
Five GCSEs at grade C or grade 4 or above, including English language and mathematics. We may accept GCSE equivalents. Plus one of the following
• 104 UCAS points from at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. We accept AS levels. We do not accept General Studies.
Or
• 88 UCAS points from three A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. We do not accept General Studies.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course
• Grade B from CACHE Diploma Level 3 in Child Care and Education.
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 in the writing module and a minimum of 5.5 in all other skill areas.
You also need some understanding of young children (0-7 years old) gained from practical experience, equivalent to 75 hours or more, on a paid or voluntary basis.
Download our application experience guidelines for more information about experience requirements. This document includes important information about your application. Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being unsuccessful.
As you will work with children, you must complete a declaration of criminal convictions form. If you are successful in applying, a Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as Criminal Records Bureau) check is required.
We consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience are also considered. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.
Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these are considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.
EU and International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
Modules
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module: Childhood Stories | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Early Childhood In Context | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Early Experiences And The Developing Brain | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Reading For A Degree | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Researching Childhood | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: The Role Of The Adult In Children's Exploration And Learning | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module: Becoming A Critically Reflective Learner | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Children As Communicators And Thinkers | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Pedagogy Of Play | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: The Politics Of Children's Services | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module | Credits | Assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module: Childhood And Loss | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Children And Young People Learning English As An Additional Language | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Children And Young People With Medical Needs | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Children's Insider Perspectives Of Disability | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Forest Schools | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Inspiring And Engaging Children Through The School Curriculum | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: The Dilemma That Is Inclusion | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Working With Emotional Intelligence | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module: Leadership In Early Years Contexts | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Participation In The Early Years | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Practical:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Research Project | Credits: 40.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module | Credits | Assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module: Alternative Environments For Play And Learning | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Autism: Challenging Ideas Of Challenging Behaviour | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Being Creative | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: International Perspectives | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Therapeutic Approaches With Children And Young People | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Understanding Looked After Children | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Youth Justice | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
| Module: Youth Work | Credits: 20.00 |
Assessment:
Coursework:
|
&:nbsp;
100% |
Fees and funding
Home/EU students
Our tuition fee for UK/EU students starting full-time study in 2018/19 is £9,250 per year.
† If your course is studied over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation and/or Government regulations. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for international students starting full-time study in 2018/19 is £12,750 per year.
We offer a range of scholarships and awards for international students. Find out more.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Childhood studies courses (PDF)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
