Early Childhood Studies
BA (Hons)
Top-up degree
- UCAS codes: Institution B20, Course X333
Key facts
- Award
- BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Top Up
- Taught by
- New College, Swindon
- Course length
- One year full time, or two years part time.
- UCAS codes
- Institution Code: B20
- Course Code: X333
- Campus Code: L
Entry requirements
You'll have successfully completed an accredited Foundation Degree in Early Years, or equivalent qualification, and will usually have achieved a minimum average grade profile of 50% of your overall Foundation degree or equivalent qualification.
If you don't have formal qualifications, previous experience may be taken into account. Candidates will be assessed on an individual basis.
See 'typical offers' for more information.
Boost your Foundation qualification with our Early Childhood Studies Top-up degree.
- Spend one day a week in college and apply your learning in your current early years role.
- Join a community – a small cohort of fellow students led by supportive staff.
- Feel valued and heard; this child-focused course is grounded in practice and reflection.
Boost your Foundation qualification with a top-up degree, delivered by New College Swindon and designed by Bath Spa. On successful completion of this course, you'll be a Level 6 graduate practitioner, enabling you to confidently navigate a number of professional roles within early childhood education and care.
The course follows a term-based teaching pattern that’s designed to enable you to work while you study. You'll spend one day a week on campus.
Run by a specialist University liaison, in collaboration with subject experts from New College Swindon, BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Top-Up offers support from a close-knit teaching team, plus access to Bath Spa’s library and digital resources.
What you'll learn
Overview
This rich, academic course is grounded in practice and reflection. You’ll develop your understanding of how children learn, and enhance your interactions with them. This is a child-focused top-up degree, designed by Bath Spa University to enable you to continually develop your professional practice.
You’ll learn about:
- Social, cultural, historical, political and economic contexts of early childhood
- Approaches to working with babies, young children, families and communities
- Global issues and debates, such as young children as active participants in the lives and practices of families, societies and cultures
- The processes that shape early childhood and young children's lives, including ethical principles and children's rights
- Educational research and enquiry methods
- Skills that support participation, critical engagement, and intellectual independence.
In addition, you’ll learn to present your ideas confidently in a variety of forms, use ICT for various professional purposes, and work collaboratively.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment is based entirely on coursework. This could take the form of essays, presentations, reflective portfolios and independent research. There are no unseen exams on this course.
How will I be taught?
You'll be taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, skills practice, presentations, case studies and group workshops.
All of your taught sessions will be condensed into one day, to enable you to work around your studies.
Opportunities
Work placements, industry links and internships
You’ll benefit from the expertise of incoming guest lecturers from Bath Spa University, who visit once or twice a year to present on their current research in early childhood education and care.
You’ll already be working in an early years setting, and you’ll have the opportunity to apply the theories explored on the course in your professional practice. This is particularly true of your dissertation, which is an independent project that you'll undertake with our guidance and support. You’ll choose a dissertation topic that interests you and feeds into your aspirations.
Careers
Students who pass this course are eligible to apply for postgraduate study, such as MA Education (Early Childhood Studies) at Bath Spa.
Graduates can also take other paths into education, such as initial teacher training with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
As a graduate, you'll also be qualified to progress to managerial roles in settings such as nurseries, childrens' centres, and community and family projects.
Facilities and resources
Where the subject is taught
This course is taught at New College Swindon's recently updated Student Education Centre, which offers contemporary learning facilities and IT resources. You'll also have access to Bath Spa's Library Services, including our digital resources and dedicated Library staff.
Fees
Please note: Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland are no longer eligible for the UK (Home) fee status. Please refer to the international student rate.
UK students full time
2021/22 Entry
Course fees
Year 1 | £8,250 |
Year 2 | Published Jan 2022 |
Year 3 | Published Jan 2023 |
2022/23 Entry
Course fees
Year 1 | Published Jan 2022 |
Year 2 | Published Jan 2023 |
Year 3 | Published Jan 2024 |
2023/24 Entry
Course fees
Year 1 | Published Jan 2023 |
Year 2 | Published Jan 2024 |
Year 3 | Published Jan 2025 |
International students full time
2021/22 Entry
Course fees
Year 1 | N/A |
Year 2 | |
Year 3 |
2022/23 Entry
Course fees
Year 1 | |
Year 2 | |
Year 3 |
2023/24 Entry
Course fees
Year 1 | |
Year 2 | |
Year 3 |
Interested in applying?
Typical offers
You'll have successfully completed an accredited Foundation Degree in Early Years, or equivalent qualification, and will usually have achieved a minimum average grade profile of 50% of your overall Foundation degree or equivalent qualification.
If you don't have formal qualifications, previous experience may be taken into account. Candidates will be assessed on an individual basis.
It's a condition of entry that you'll have secured a suitable work-based learning setting by the time of admission.
Please be aware that you'll be required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enhanced disclosure check prior to undertaking school placements.
How do I apply?
Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.
Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.
Admissions service: +44 (0)1225 876 180
Email: admissions@bathspa.ac.uk
Course leader: Rebecca Digby
Email: r.digby@bathspa.ac.uk