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Early Childhood Education and Care

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Brighton
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Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Early years professionals play a crucial role in shaping young minds working in areas including childcare, support services, children’s centres and healthcare.

Our Early Childhood Education and Care degree will build your knowledge and skills to turn your passion for working with children into a rewarding career.

You'll study child development, sociology, psychology, health and social policy, and explore education, the roles of family and wider institutions and more.

Two placements, visiting experts, field trips and observational visits to different early years settings, will develop your experience and understanding of the sector to ensure you are work-ready.

Top reasons to choose this course

  • 2nd in the UK for education courses – Guardian University Guide 2025.

  • 100% of graduates in work or further study 15 months after their degree – Graduate Outcomes survey.

  • Two placement opportunities to gain hands-on professional experience.

  • Observational study visits to support your understanding of the sector.

  • Learn from a team of early years experts and visiting guest lecturers.

  • Specialist curriculum centre with 30,000 specialist resources to enhance your learning.

  • Successful completion of the degree will lead to you being counted as a level 3 early years practitioner.

  • Guaranteed interview to our postgraduate teaching courses if you wish to pursue a career in teaching.

Modules

Year 1
Knowing and Learning in Higher Education
How Children and Young People Learn
Educational Thinkers and Activists
Child Development: Physical, Social and Emotional Development
Families and Communities in Early Childhood Contexts
Policy, Legislation and Change in Education

Year 2
Child Development: Play for Learning and Development in Early Childhood
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice
Research Methods
Child Development: Communication, Language and Literacy in Early Childhood
Placement: Understanding Young Children and Young Children’s Services

Final year
Teamwork, Collaboration and Leadership
Assessing Learning and Development in Early Childhood
Reflection on Learning
International Perspectives on Early Childhood
Dissertation: Researching Early Childhood

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Brighton

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 09/2025

Apply by
29 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
X310
Institution code:
B72
Campus name:
Brighton
Campus Code:
B
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

University of Brighton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
X310
Institution code:
B72
Campus name:
Brighton
Campus Code:
B

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

104 - 120 points

A level

BBB - BCC

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM - DMM

Access to HE Diploma

D: 24 credits M: 21 credits P: 0 credits
Pass with 60 credits overall. Level 3 units in communication, numeracy and IT required. At least 45 credits at level 3.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

30 points
Must include three subjects at Higher Level.

T Level

M
Education and Childcare T-level is accepted on this course.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)66.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5. in each element, or equivalent English Language qualification.

Review our English Language requirements https://www.brighton.ac.uk/international/applying-here/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements/index.aspx

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Brighton we recognise that not everyone's background provides the same advantages, and we know that grades are not the only indicator of potential.

If you meet our contextual admissions criteria we will make you an offer which is at least 16 UCAS points lower than our standard offer. You may also be eligible for additional financial and practical support from us through the Brighton Boost cost of living support package.

Learn more on the University of Brighton website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1
EU£17250Year 1
International£17250Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

The fees listed in the table above are for full-time UK undergraduate students in academic year 2025-26. You will pay further fees in each year of your course. Fees may increase each year. UK undergraduate and certain postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government. The annual fee increase will not exceed the UK government's maximum regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant academic year. Many of our courses include the option of a salaried placement year. Tuition fees for a placement year are charged at a lower rate of £1850. The international tuition fees listed above are for full-time courses during the academic year 2025-26. Further tuition fees are payable in each year of study. Non-regulated tuition fees, which usually apply to international students and UK postgraduate students* are subject to an annual increase of a maximum of 5% or the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), whichever is higher.
*Some designated postgraduate courses are regulated by the UK government – the annual fee increase for eligible UK / Home students on these designated courses will not exceed the UK government’s regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant academic year.

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