The Early Childhood Studies programme is based on the concept of ‘Educare’. It aims to investigate and advance a multi-professional approach to early childhood education and care services in Northern Ireland and beyond. The programme has been designed by professionals across the sector to meet the training needs of current and future practitioners. The course provides a broad understanding of how young children think, learn and develop. The programme covers three core themes - Understanding the Child, The Child in the Learning Context and The Child in the Family and Community - taking account of the latest developments within the field of early childhood and reflecting the multi-professional and multidisciplinary nature of contemporary early childhood services.
How will I study?
In addition to lectures, tutorials, workshops and individual/group projects, a substantial part of the teaching and learning process is delivered through your work-based placements. During your studies, you will have the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of settings with children between 0 and 8 years. You will also have the opportunity to apply for an exciting study abroad adventure in Year 2, living and studying at one of the College’s partner universities.
Who will be teaching me?
In College and on your work-based professional placements, you will be taught, assessed and supported by an exceptional team of internationally recognised, research-led and experienced lecturers and tutors. As a small, specialist institution, you get to know your tutors and they get to know you and support you in becoming a highly qualified practitioner.
How will I be assessed?
A variety of assessment methods are used, including critically reflective essays; individual and group projects and presentations; written examinations; assessment on placement; and a final dissertation.
The modules below illustrate the current curriculum available on the BA Early Childhood Studies degree. However, modules are subject to change.
Year 1
- Children’s Learning Intentions
- Foundations in Social and Developmental Learning
- Childhood in Society
- Professional Experience 1
- Child Development
- Children’s Health and Wellbeing
Year 2
Partnership with Children & Families- Children in the Early Years Environment
- Management, Leadership & Professionalism
- Early Years Curriculum (3-8 Years)
- Professional Experience 2
- Research Methods
plus one module from the following:
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Curiosity, Creativity and the Child
- Fundamental Movement
- The Under Threes in the Early Years Setting
Students undertaking an international placement will take the following: European Mobility for Students of ECS (Incorporating Early Years Curriculum (3-8 Years), Management, Leadership & Professionalism & Professional Experience 2.
Year 3
- International Perspectives
- Undertaking a Small-Scale Project
plus three modules from the following:
- Developing Professionalism
- Advanced Social & Developmental Learning
- Playful Learning and Teaching in Practice
- Advanced Understanding of Diversity & Inclusion
- Early Years Intervention
Programme Specification
For full programme specification click here
A level
BBB
BTEC Extended Diploma
DDD – Not all BTEC Extended Diplomas are considered, please check with Academic Registry.
Access Course
Successful completion of Access course with an average of 65% in level 3 modules.
CACHE Extended Diploma
Grade B – Childcare, Learning and Development
Irish Leaving Certificate
H3H3H3H3H4H4 to include English and Mathematics.
The Admissions Process
The BA Early Childhood Studies degree at Stranmillis University College is very popular and each year the number of applicants greatly outweighs the number of places available.
Academic Registry receives applications directly from UCAS. Applications are considered on the basis of the information provided. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that complete detail is provided. All applications must contain a reference otherwise they will not be considered. All fully completed applications submitted by the UCAS closing date of 31st January are given equal consideration. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
Step 1 – Review of Academic Profile
All applicants must have a minimum C grade in GCSE English and Mathematics. If an applicant is attempting to achieve the GCSE subject requirements in the year of application, this must be demonstrated in the UCAS application.
Level 2 Essential Skills Numeracy and Application of Number is not acceptable in lieu of GCSE Mathematics.
Level 2 Essential Skills Communication is acceptable in lieu of GCSE English.
An Unsuccessful decision will be processed against an application that does not meet the GCSE requirements.
Applicants that have already completed A-levels (or equivalent Level 3 qualifications) but do not precisely meet or fall slightly below the entry requirements, may still be shortlisted for interview, but will not initially receive an offer. Such applicants may be reconsidered in August, assuming required interview score has been achieved and depending upon availability of places.
Step 2 – Review of UCAS Personal Statement
All applicants who meet the initial academic criteria will have their Personal Statement reviewed by a member of staff in Academic Registry.
A personal desire and motivation for working with young children must be evident in your Personal Statement. You will be required to demonstrate your commitment to working with young children by providing examples of working with children in a structured environment such as nursery, primary school, youth club, etc. An Unsuccessful decision will be processed for any applicant that does not demonstrate this evidence in their Personal Statement.
Step 3 – Interview and Presentation
Applicants that pass the first two steps of the process will be invited to take part in an interview and presentation. Applicants will be notified of their interview date at least one week beforehand. You will also be provided with the presentation topic at this time.
BA Early Childhood Studies interviews are held on various dates in February and March. The interview will be conducted by a panel of two, normally comprising a member of Academic staff from Stranmillis University College and a current/retired early years professional. The presentation will be followed by a short interview during which the interviewers will ask you a number of set questions. The interview, including the presentation, will last approximately 20 minutes. Both the interview and the presentation are scored out of 20 giving a total possible score of 40.
Step 4 – Offers
Offers are made on the basis of ranked interview score and verification of qualifications. The limited number of places available on the full-time degree programme makes this a competitive application process, but potential candidates interested in early childhood studies should note that the four-year BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (part-time) degree programme is not subject to restricted numbers.
Academic Registry aims to have offers processed on UCAS before the 31st of March, however, the final UCAS deadline for ‘on time’ applications is 16th May.
All offers are subject to a satisfactory Access NI Enhanced Disclosure Check, which you will be asked to complete prior to commencing study.
Please note that due to the demand for places and the limited number of places available, applications for deferred entry will not be considered.
Please email registry@stran.ac.uk if you require further information on entry requirements or the admissions process.
Step 5 – Confirmation and Clearing
Following publication of results in August, applicants that exactly meet or better the conditions of their offer will be accepted onto the course. Depending on the number of successful applicants and the number of vacancies still to be filled, it may be possible to offer places to applicants who have dropped slightly below the conditions of their offer. In the event of a small number of places being available, an applicant’s interview score and overall academic profile, such as GCSEs and AS Levels, will be assessed and decisions will be made on this basis.
Enhancing employability is a key part of the student experience. The transferable skills developed on the degree, together with extensive professional placement experience, ensure that our graduates are highly sought after. The most recent Graduate Outcome survey results report that 97% of our graduates are in employment or further study fifteen months after graduation. .
Careers
The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies degree forms a sound basis for career progression in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors of early years provision including:
Early Years Organisations
Nursery and Primary Schools
Centres Associated With The Early Years Organisation
Toy and Book Libraries
Creches
Parent and Toddler Groups
Childcare And Family Centres
A Level 6 qualification, this degree exceeds the requirements for leadership and management qualifications under the terms of the Minimum Standards For Child Minding And Daycare (DHSSPS, 2012). A number of graduates have pursued further study at both Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s level in the fields of Early Childhood Studies and Social Work. Others have taken up employment through, for example, the Government funded “Sure Start” initiative.
Degree Enhancement
Our Degree Enhancement programme is designed to further help you to stand out from the crowd. The programme provides a range of opportunities to enhance your skillset through optional short courses, awards and volunteering opportunities in areas relevant to your chosen career path.
Tuition Fees
The fees below are dependent on the ‘residency’ status of each student as determined by their Local Education Authority.
| 2024 - 25 Tuition Fees | NI/ROI | GB | EU Other* | International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEd Primary / Post Primary BSc Physical Education & Sport BA Early Childhood Studies | £4,750 | £9,250 | £20,800 | £20,800 |
| PGCE | £4,750 | £9,250 | £20,500 | £20,500 |
*EU other – Students from the EU (excluding the Republic of Ireland), other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members.
All fees are normally subject to an annual inflationary increase.
For further information on fees and payments, please click here.
Additional Course Costs
All Students
There may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies. To support their studies, students are encouraged to borrow books and access online learning resources from the Library. This service is free. However, if students wish to purchase texts, rather than borrow them from the Library, prices per text typically range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Early Childhood Studies (ECS)
It is a requirement that applicants who are accepted onto the programme undergo an Enhanced AccessNI Check at the beginning of first and third years. The current cost of an Enhanced AccessNI Check is £33.
All ECS students undertake compulsory periods of work placement each year as part of the programme and should be aware that they will have to fund any associated travel and living costs. In final year, there may be costs associated with transport and materials for your dissertation research project and additional costs for printing and binding. Students undertaking an Erasmus+ or international study abroad option as part of the programme should be aware that, although grants are available, students may have to fund or supplement travel and living costs.
Bursaries and Scholarships
Stranmillis offers a number of bursaries and scholarships to students who meet certain criteria. For further information on available bursaries and scholarships, please click here.
The Stranmillis motto is Docendo Discimus: ‘Through teaching we learn’. Our aim is to deliver the highest quality teaching and learning environment to enable you to achieve your full academic potential and develop as an outstanding workplace practitioner. Innovative thinking, pushing boundaries and creating new and better solutions to professional challenges and global issues within the field of early childhood education and care are central to the course.
A Blended Approach
Our teaching staff have a passion: a desire to inspire you to learn, to question and to innovate. We know that doesn’t happen in the lecture theatre alone. Your teaching and learning experience is enriched through a blended learning approach of lectures, workshops, tutorials, group and individual projects and self-directed study.
Personal Tutor
Every student is assigned a personal tutor, who will take the time to get to know you and your learning needs, giving you personalised academic support throughout your degree.
Work-based Placements
Work-based placements are an integral and core part of the degree, allowing you to see your learning being put into practice in a supervised and supportive environment. In Year 1, you will be on placement two days a week in each semester, one in a voluntary sector playgroup and one in a private sector daycare. In Year 2, you will have 2 block placements, each lasting three weeks, in a statutory nursery school or unit or a nursery class within a primary school. In Year 3, you will be on placement 2 days a week, in each semester, in two sectors/locations selected by you in line with your future career aspirations. Students should note that Year 1 and 2 placements take place within a 20 mile radius of the College.
Study Abroad
In Year 2, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our 30+ partner institutions through our Erasmus+ programme – a learning experience that our students find hugely enriching academically as well as personally: experiencing and sharing cultures; improving language skills; and acquiring new perspectives on education and learning.
Programme Specification
For full programme specification click here
The Early Childhood Studies programme is based on the concept of ‘Educare’. It aims to investigate and advance a multi-professional approach to early childhood education and care services in Northern Ireland and beyond. The programme has been designed by professionals across the sector to meet the training needs of current and future practitioners. The course provides a broad understanding of how young children think, learn and develop. The programme covers three core themes - Understanding the Child, The Child in the Learning Context and The Child in the Family and Community - taking account of the latest developments within the field of early childhood and reflecting the multi-professional and multidisciplinary nature of contemporary early childhood services.
How will I study?
In addition to lectures, tutorials, workshops and individual/group projects, a substantial part of the teaching and learning process is delivered through your work-based placements. During your studies, you will have the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of settings with children between 0 and 8 years. You will also have the opportunity to apply for an exciting study abroad adventure in Year 2, living and studying at one of the College’s partner universities.
Who will be teaching me?
In College and on your work-based professional placements, you will be taught, assessed and supported by an exceptional team of internationally recognised, research-led and experienced lecturers and tutors. As a small, specialist institution, you get to know your tutors and they get to know you and support you in becoming a highly qualified practitioner.
How will I be assessed?
A variety of assessment methods are used, including critically reflective essays; individual and group projects and presentations; written examinations; assessment on placement; and a final dissertation.
The modules below illustrate the current curriculum available on the BA Early Childhood Studies degree. However, modules are subject to change.
Year 1
- Children’s Learning Intentions
- Foundations in Social and Developmental Learning
- Childhood in Society
- Professional Experience 1
- Child Development
- Children’s Health and Wellbeing
Year 2
- Partnership with Children & Families
- Children in the Early Years Environment
- Management, Leadership & Professionalism
- Early Years Curriculum (3-8 Years)
- Professional Experience 2
- Research Methods
plus one module from the following:
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Curiosity, Creativity and the Child
- Fundamental Movement
- The Under Threes in the Early Years Setting
Students undertaking an international placement will take the following: European Mobility for Students of ECS (Incorporating Early Years Curriculum (3-8 Years), Management, Leadership & Professionalism & Professional Experience 2.
Year 3
- International Perspectives
- Undertaking a Small-Scale Project
plus three modules from the following:
- Developing Professionalism
- Advanced Social & Developmental Learning
- Playful Learning and Teaching in Practice
- Advanced Understanding of Diversity & Inclusion
- Early Years Intervention
Programme Specification
For full programme specification click here
A level
BBB
BTEC Extended Diploma
DDD – Not all BTEC Extended Diplomas are considered, please check with Academic Registry.
Access Course
Successful completion of Access course with an average of 65% in level 3 modules.
CACHE Extended Diploma
Grade B – Childcare, Learning and Development
Irish Leaving Certificate
H3H3H3H3H4H4 to include English and Mathematics.
The Admissions Process
The BA Early Childhood Studies degree at Stranmillis University College is very popular and each year the number of applicants greatly outweighs the number of places available.
Academic Registry receives applications directly from UCAS. Applications are considered on the basis of the information provided. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that complete detail is provided. All applications must contain a reference otherwise they will not be considered. All fully completed applications submitted by the UCAS closing date of 31st January are given equal consideration. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
Step 1 – Review of Academic Profile
All applicants must have a minimum C grade in GCSE English and Mathematics. If an applicant is attempting to achieve the GCSE subject requirements in the year of application, this must be demonstrated in the UCAS application.
Level 2 Essential Skills Numeracy and Application of Number is not acceptable in lieu of GCSE Mathematics.
Level 2 Essential Skills Communication is acceptable in lieu of GCSE English.
An Unsuccessful decision will be processed against an application that does not meet the GCSE requirements.
Applicants that have already completed A-levels (or equivalent Level 3 qualifications) but do not precisely meet or fall slightly below the entry requirements, may still be shortlisted for interview, but will not initially receive an offer. Such applicants may be reconsidered in August, assuming required interview score has been achieved and depending upon availability of places.
Step 2 – Review of UCAS Personal Statement
All applicants who meet the initial academic criteria will have their Personal Statement reviewed by a member of staff in Academic Registry.
A personal desire and motivation for working with young children must be evident in your Personal Statement. You will be required to demonstrate your commitment to working with young children by providing examples of working with children in a structured environment such as nursery, primary school, youth club, etc. An Unsuccessful decision will be processed for any applicant that does not demonstrate this evidence in their Personal Statement.
Step 3 – Interview and Presentation
Applicants that pass the first two steps of the process will be invited to take part in an interview and presentation. Applicants will be notified of their interview date at least one week beforehand. You will also be provided with the presentation topic at this time.
BA Early Childhood Studies interviews are held on various dates in February and March. The interview will be conducted by a panel of two, normally comprising a member of Academic staff from Stranmillis University College and a current/retired early years professional. The presentation will be followed by a short interview during which the interviewers will ask you a number of set questions. The interview, including the presentation, will last approximately 20 minutes. Both the interview and the presentation are scored out of 20 giving a total possible score of 40.
Step 4 – Offers
Offers are made on the basis of ranked interview score and verification of qualifications. The limited number of places available on the full-time degree programme makes this a competitive application process, but potential candidates interested in early childhood studies should note that the four-year BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (part-time) degree programme is not subject to restricted numbers.
Academic Registry aims to have offers processed on UCAS before the 31st of March, however, the final UCAS deadline for ‘on time’ applications is 16th May.
All offers are subject to a satisfactory Access NI Enhanced Disclosure Check, which you will be asked to complete prior to commencing study.
Please note that due to the demand for places and the limited number of places available, applications for deferred entry will not be considered.
Please email registry@stran.ac.uk if you require further information on entry requirements or the admissions process.
Step 5 – Confirmation and Clearing
Following publication of results in August, applicants that exactly meet or better the conditions of their offer will be accepted onto the course. Depending on the number of successful applicants and the number of vacancies still to be filled, it may be possible to offer places to applicants who have dropped slightly below the conditions of their offer. In the event of a small number of places being available, an applicant’s interview score and overall academic profile, such as GCSEs and AS Levels, will be assessed and decisions will be made on this basis.
Enhancing employability is a key part of the student experience. The transferable skills developed on the degree, together with extensive professional placement experience, ensure that our graduates are highly sought after. The most recent Graduate Outcome survey results report that 97% of our graduates are in employment or further study fifteen months after graduation. .
Careers
The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies degree forms a sound basis for career progression in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors of early years provision including:
Early Years Organisations
Nursery and Primary Schools
Centres Associated With The Early Years Organisation
Toy and Book Libraries
Creches
Parent and Toddler Groups
Childcare And Family Centres
A Level 6 qualification, this degree exceeds the requirements for leadership and management qualifications under the terms of the Minimum Standards For Child Minding And Daycare (DHSSPS, 2012). A number of graduates have pursued further study at both Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s level in the fields of Early Childhood Studies and Social Work. Others have taken up employment through, for example, the Government funded “Sure Start” initiative.
Degree Enhancement
Our Degree Enhancement programme is designed to further help you to stand out from the crowd. The programme provides a range of opportunities to enhance your skillset through optional short courses, awards and volunteering opportunities in areas relevant to your chosen career path.
Tuition Fees
The fees below are dependent on the ‘residency’ status of each student as determined by their Local Education Authority.
| 2024 - 25 Tuition Fees | NI/ROI | GB | EU Other* | International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEd Primary / Post Primary BSc Physical Education & Sport BA Early Childhood Studies | £4,750 | £9,250 | £20,800 | £20,800 |
| PGCE | £4,750 | £9,250 | £20,500 | £20,500 |
*EU other – Students from the EU (excluding the Republic of Ireland), other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members.
All fees are normally subject to an annual inflationary increase.
For further information on fees and payments, please click here.
Additional Course Costs
All Students
There may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies. To support their studies, students are encouraged to borrow books and access online learning resources from the Library. This service is free. However, if students wish to purchase texts, rather than borrow them from the Library, prices per text typically range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Early Childhood Studies (ECS)
It is a requirement that applicants who are accepted onto the programme undergo an Enhanced AccessNI Check at the beginning of first and third years. The current cost of an Enhanced AccessNI Check is £33.
All ECS students undertake compulsory periods of work placement each year as part of the programme and should be aware that they will have to fund any associated travel and living costs. In final year, there may be costs associated with transport and materials for your dissertation research project and additional costs for printing and binding. Students undertaking an Erasmus+ or international study abroad option as part of the programme should be aware that, although grants are available, students may have to fund or supplement travel and living costs.
Bursaries and Scholarships
Stranmillis offers a number of bursaries and scholarships to students who meet certain criteria. For further information on available bursaries and scholarships, please click here.
The Stranmillis motto is Docendo Discimus: ‘Through teaching we learn’. Our aim is to deliver the highest quality teaching and learning environment to enable you to achieve your full academic potential and develop as an outstanding workplace practitioner. Innovative thinking, pushing boundaries and creating new and better solutions to professional challenges and global issues within the field of early childhood education and care are central to the course.
A Blended Approach
Our teaching staff have a passion: a desire to inspire you to learn, to question and to innovate. We know that doesn’t happen in the lecture theatre alone. Your teaching and learning experience is enriched through a blended learning approach of lectures, workshops, tutorials, group and individual projects and self-directed study.
Personal Tutor
Every student is assigned a personal tutor, who will take the time to get to know you and your learning needs, giving you personalised academic support throughout your degree.
Work-based Placements
Work-based placements are an integral and core part of the degree, allowing you to see your learning being put into practice in a supervised and supportive environment. In Year 1, you will be on placement two days a week in each semester, one in a voluntary sector playgroup and one in a private sector daycare. In Year 2, you will have 2 block placements, each lasting three weeks, in a statutory nursery school or unit or a nursery class within a primary school. In Year 3, you will be on placement 2 days a week, in each semester, in two sectors/locations selected by you in line with your future career aspirations. Students should note that Year 1 and 2 placements take place within a 20 mile radius of the College.
Study Abroad
In Year 2, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our 30+ partner institutions through our Erasmus+ programme – a learning experience that our students find hugely enriching academically as well as personally: experiencing and sharing cultures; improving language skills; and acquiring new perspectives on education and learning.
Programme Specification
For full programme specification click here