Early Childhood Studies (BA)

Undergraduate Degree with Foundation Year School of Education

A degree with a sharp focus on employability in the early years sector, and with teaching informed by the influential works of Friedrich Froebel.

Early Childhood Studies (BA)
Entry Tariff

2023/24 entry: Call 0300 303 8320 to find out if you are eligible for this programme in Clearing

September 2024 Year 1 entry: 112 UCAS points (or equivalent)

September 2024 Foundation Year entry: 64 UCAS points (or equivalent)

UCAS Code

X310

X110 (if choosing Foundation Year)

Duration

3 years (full-time)

4 years (full-time) if opting for the additional placement year

4 years (full-time) if opting for Foundation Year entry

Start date

September 2023

September 2024

Degree Type

BA (single honours)
Course also available with Foundation Year

Modules

These modules are those we currently offer for 1 year (full time) and may be subject to change.

This course is offered as a degree with foundation year – a four-year programme which provides an additional foundation year at the beginning of the degree, that will give you academic and practical experience, as well as the skills you need to ensure you are equipped to successfully complete your chosen degree.

New for 2023: £2,000 Foundation Scholarships for all home students  

Find out more about our degrees with a foundation year  

 
 
 

Study Abroad

This course has the option of studying abroad as part of your degree in your second semester of second year.

With Roehampton Abroad scholarships of up to £1,000 and Turing Scheme funding available, you could spend a semester at one of our partner universities across the globe, with destinations including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe.

Find out more about where your degree could take you here.

 

Skills

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On our BA Early Childhood Studies, our priority is ensuring that you graduate with a professional skillset. This incorporates;

  • Developing knowledge, skills and confidence to act as an advocate for babies, young children, their families and communities. 
  • Understanding policy and practice, and learning to engage in critical inquiry and problem solving around key issues in the field.
  • Graduate Practitioner Competencies - Students have the opportunity to gain the level 6 certificate through undertaking an assessed placement. 

Roehampton is internationally renowned for its work in early childhood studies. This course takes a distinctive Froebelian approach to the study of early years, grounded in the following principles:

  • A holistic view of babies, young children, their families and the communities they are part of, making links with past, present and future.
  • The centrality of play and (outdoor) environments for wellbeing and learning. 
  • Inclusion and connectedness, and a commitment to social justice in the field of early childhood.
  • A commitment to recognising and responding to the individual experiences and understandings of children.
  • Continued development of understanding of professionalism and professional reflection and action, linking theory, research and practice.

How you'll learn

Teaching consists of a mixture of lectures and small group seminars. 

You will be taught by a supportive, highly driven team of academic staff, who are all experts in their specialisms. You will learn from some of the best in the field. 

This course offers all students the option of a one-year paid work placement, to boost your employability even further. If you choose this route, you will take the placement following year two of your course, and then return to complete your degree. Find out more here: Undergraduate Placements | University of Roehampton, London

You will also be well supported in our School of Education, where we prepare our students for enriching careers within the modern education system. We have a rich 183-year history and have been providing higher education to women for longer than any other university in the country.

 

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Upcoming Events:

Career options

You will be well placed to secure a variety of roles, such as working as an education professional in primary and nursery care (teaching, administration or management)* or a special needs professional in schools, children centres and the community. You could work for a children's charity undertaking policy and research, in community support, welfare or housing, or for an NGO or central or local government department.

*This is an academic degree- further study may be needed to gain professional qualifications

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Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. We will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers. You’ll also have opportunities to work with our partners across London and beyond, and to attend a Roehampton jobs fair where you can find out about graduate opportunities and meet employers.

Application Info

How to apply

Undergraduate programmes

If you need any help or advice with your application, or just want to ask us a question before you apply, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Detailed advice on applying for an undergraduate degree is available on our How to apply page.

Tuition fees and funding

September 2023 entry tuition fees

Year 1 fees, see links in table below for more information.

UK EU and International Placement year
£9,250 £15,000 £950

September 2024 entry tuition fees

To be confirmed.

Entry tariff

2023/24 entry: Call 0300 303 8320 to find out if you are eligible for this programme in Clearing

September 2024 Year 1 entry: 112 UCAS points (or equivalent)

September 2024 Foundation Year entry: 64 UCAS points (or equivalent)

We welcome applications from students studying T Levels.

For all courses we also accept a wide range of other qualifications and experience. Contact us to find out more.

When we consider applications to study with us, we form a complete view of your achievements to date, and future potential, and can offer flexibility in entry requirements. Find out more about our Contextual Offer scheme.

General entry requirements

UK students

Validation and curriculum review

What is validation?
Validation is a formal process through which the University approves a programme (content, teaching, learning and assessment) as being of appropriate standard and quality. This is a normal process used throughout the university sector.

The University expects to publish details of the validated programme in the academic year prior to the start date of the programme. You are advised to check the University website at that time to ensure that you have up-to-date information. In the meantime, if you require information you should contact 0208 392 3232.

What is curriculum review?
Curriculum review is the regular and systematic monitoring and reviewing of programmes. It is a normal process in the sector and it is the way by which the university ensures that your course remains up-to-date and relevant. The process may result in changes to the content, structure and/or assessment of the programme.

The University expects to publish details of the re-validated programme by 31 March in the academic year prior to the start date of the programme. You are advised to check the University website at that time to ensure that you have up-to-date information. In the meantime, if you require information you should contact 0208 392 3232.

Need help before you apply?

Our Alumni

Andrea Yankah

Class of 2016

Andrea Yankah started her BA Early Childhood Studies degree at Roehampton in 2013 and we're delighted to say she's still with us.  Here's her testimony:

I initially chose Roehampton as a mature student, attracted by the rich history of Froebel College. From the moment I arrived, I decided I never wanted to leave.

What I've learnt since 2013 has completely opened my eyes to the political and complex nature of the early years sector. Importantly, it's taught me that it's not only OK to question the status quo, it's necessary to do so.

This realisation ignited my passion for advocacy. At the time I started my degree, I was closing down a successful childcare business that I had been running for a few years. Government policy and funding changes made it difficult to continue providing quality care whilst remaining sustainable. During my undergrad study I founded the Early Childhood Studies Society, I also became a student rep and represented the department at Senate.

After graduating I completed a master's and also ran a consultancy  supporting struggling early years providers. It was at this point that Roehampton invited me to work as a visiting lecturer, which led to a role managing the early childhood degree at one of Roehampton's partner colleges. Running that programme and reflecting on my studies alerted me to some of the issues facing those engaged in early years study, issues that became the basis for my PhD research that I am now halfway through. 

On top of everything I am building a think tank in Ghana, to advocate for culturally competent early childhood programmes and education reform.  You can check out this project on www.no-ri.org, or search Andrea Yankah on social media. The staff in Roehampton's Early Childhood Studies department, who I now have the pleasure of calling my colleagues and friends, have been integral to my personal and professional development throughout my time here."

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Megan Griffiths

Class of 2017 – BA Primary Education (QTS)

Megan Griffiths graduated with a first class honours degree in Primary Education from Roehampton in 2017, with the teaching of English as her curriculum specialism. Having made the decision to do a teaching degree while at sixth form, she visited lots of universities but chose Roehampton on the basis of its beautiful campus and the warm welcome she received here.

Throughout her studies Megan enjoyed the placement modules most, and in her final year she was offered a job by one of her placement schools working a Year 2 class teacher in Kingston. Since then she has made two major strides in her career: a recent promotion to Early Years Foundation Stage Lead in her school was followed by the opportunity for part-time secondment to the Schools Alliance for Excellence (SAFE) as the organisation’s English Teaching and Learning Lead. In this role Megan visits schools across Surrey and shares best practice in English with other teachers. On top of this she is planning to embark on a master’s degree in teaching and learning in 2022, with the active support of her school. Megan told us “I’m excited for my future in teaching and my master’s degree, but I still have such fond memories of my time at university and will be forever grateful to Roehampton for shaping my future.”

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