Undergraduate

Early Childhood Education and Care (1 year top-up)

A teacher smiles at a baby while playing with a parrot puppet in a classroom
A peg doll and yellow toy pram in a dollhouse
A teacher and small child play with craft materials in a classroom
A teacher sitting on grass outside demonstrates to a young child on a sunny day

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Make a difference to the next generation of thinkers, makers and dreamers.
This course gives you the chance to progress your career in the early years sector.
You’ll build practical skills to engage 0-8s in learning – and develop your understanding of learning theories for this age group.
You could discover the benefits of learning beyond the classroom and study for Forest School certification.
Study theory in our lecture rooms, learning as part of a committed community who all share an interest in developing excellent learning opportunities.
A teacher smiles at a baby while playing with a parrot puppet in a classroom
A peg doll and yellow toy pram in a dollhouse
A teacher and small child play with craft materials in a classroom
A teacher sitting on grass outside demonstrates to a young child on a sunny day
Education Lecture Room

Code

Duration

Mode

Top up your foundation degree to full Honours level while building practical skills on this one-year course for practitioners.

This degree is designed to meet the exact but changing needs of employers in the early years sector. You’ll study learning theories with a focus on 0-8s, developing your knowledge and understanding of working with babies and young children.

Taught in the evenings, you’ll be able to balance volunteering or work alongside your studies. You must be in a paid or voluntary work role throughout the course.

  • You could gain

    Graduate Practitioner Status 1

  • Learn in the evening

    and fit study around your life

  • Forest School

    certification opportunity

  • Flexible

    learning methods including online study

  • Get prepared

    for graduate professions and further study

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Course overview
Module options

About this course

This course gives you the chance to progress your professional pathway in the early years sector. You’ll develop the essential skills and attributes that employers in the sector value while gaining experience in an academic background. 

We combine academic rigour with fun and creative ways to encourage the 0-8s to take part in learning. You’ll examine global perspectives in early childhood education and care and analyse alternative learning environments.

Build practical skills while you train, carrying out part of your learning in your own workplace. You could access our simulated early years learning environment and study for an accredited Forest School certification. This gives you a valuable extra qualification and prepares you to work outside with children, taking into account a range of needs.

We’re proud to be part of the Early Childhood Degree Network, where you'll benefit from events and profile-raising activities. You’ll have the opportunity to achieve Graduate Practitioner Status and graduate ready for postgraduate study.

Scheduled study hours and how you’re assessed

Throughout your degree, you’re expected to study for 1,200 hours per year. That’s based on 200 hours per 20 credit module. And it includes scheduled hours, time spent on placement and independent study. How this time is divided across the year varies and depends on the module you are studying.

How you'll be assessed depends on the course you study, and the modules you choose. You may be assessed through a mix of examinations, coursework, presentations and group projects.

Choose your modules

Each year, you’ll study modules worth a certain number of credits, and you need 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits – so you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more. In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120. Some modules are compulsory, some are optional, so you can build a course that’s right for you.

International Perspectives in Early Childhood Education and Care

Explore a range of contemporary early years aspects of provision, care and education, including current international trends and how they impact on children and families. 

Compulsory20 credits

Enabling Environments

Explore, critically analyse, and justify alternative environments for learning which promote health, well-being, safety and nurturing care for all. 

Compulsory20 credits

The Graduate Practitioner

Engage with the multiple perspectives on the roles and responsibilities of graduate practitioners leading practice in the early childhood sector. Explaining, Analysing and reflecting upon your own professional practice and personal development, this module will provide you with an opportunity to bring synthesis to your academic and practice based journey and personal progression.  

Compulsory20 credits

Voice of the Child

Explore beyond the traditional creative themes of art and music to investigate the impact and role non-traditional subjects can have in supporting children’s developmental journeys. You'll reflect on the building of positive relationships with peers and adults alike whilst you also take a critical look at you and your settings role in this journey.

Compulsory20 credits

Dissertation

You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up your own project on a topic you choose, supported by your dissertation supervisor.

Compulsory40 credits

This course is taught on an evening as you will be in paid or voluntary work throughout the programme.

5 Modules

Playlist

Kath Hickman

Course Overview 2 mins

Rewilding Reading

Research Highlight 9 mins

Life on campus

University Life 2 mins

Teaching facilities

University Life 1 min

Entry requirements

What do I need?

What do I need?

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Take a look at our facilities

Education Lecture Room

Study the theory in our lecture rooms – before you put your learning into practice in the classroom.

Forest School Training Centre

You could access our Forest School Training Centre with outdoor classroom, gardens, wooded area and wildflower meadows.

Brynmor Jones Library

Our seven-storey library is a superb learning space. As well as more than a million books, there’s a variety of study areas, over 400 open-access PCs and one amazing view.

Early Years Room

You could access our simulated early years learning environment. An engaging, inclusive space with a range of materials, resources and technology.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

Forest School Training Centre

Look around

A young child and student teacher playing in a classroom
Education Lecture Room
Forest School Training Centre
Brynmor Jones Library Observation Deck
A young child and student teacher playing in a classroom
A student sitting on green grass reading a book

Future prospects

Our degrees reflect the high demand for well-trained professional practitioners. The range of opportunities for graduates in children’s services is varied and wide.

You could also go on to support children with additional needs or secure community, social or family support work, or progress as an early years practitioner or work in community services.

This course is also a stepping stone to further postgraduate study.

University of Hull Open Day

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

The standard way to apply for this course is through UCAS. This will give you the chance to showcase your skill, qualities and passion for the subject, as well as providing your academic qualifications.

Not ready to apply?

Visit our next Open Day, and see all that Hull has to offer for yourself. Talk to our lecturers about your subject, find out what university is really like from our current students, and take a tour of our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.

  1. Available to students who evidence core competencies and complete the required placement hours.

 

All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

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