BA (Hons) - Education Studies with Early Years (Top Up)

This course is subject to validation.
What does this mean?

If you have a Foundation Degree or a similar qualification in Education, Early Childhood Studies, or Teaching and Learning Support, you can expand your knowledge and advance your career with a BA (Hons) in Education Studies with Early Years.

This one-year top-up course will enhance your understanding of key topics in education, with a particular focus on early years practice. You’ll apply early years theory and knowledge through practical placement modules and explore both national and international perspectives on early years education. The course also examines current issues in the field, including social justice, policy, and leadership and management.

Please note applications for international students are for online only.

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Course Overview

Throughout the course, you’ll complete practical placements in early years settings, giving you valuable hands-on experience. You’ll have the flexibility to choose a placement with an institution or organisation you’re already familiar with, or we can support you in finding a new one. If you’re currently working in an early years setting, your job can even count as your placement.
Our industry-experienced tutors will guide you, providing a solid academic foundation to enhance your practical learning. You’ll explore key topics in early years education, teaching, and learning, while gaining both national and international perspectives on education.

On this course you will...

Complete work-based placements, enhancing your academic knowledge and boosting your employability.
Develop a critical understanding of educational environments and approaches in relation to early years practice including equality, diversity, leadership and management.
Benefit from a personalised learning environment, including a personal tutor and small class groups.
Complete research inquiries in early years educational settings on issues that are of interest to you, developing analytical and critical thinking skills.
Learn flexibly and study at times that suit you via Distance Learning.

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Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationDistance Learning
Institute Institute of Education, Arts and Society
UCAS CodeX308
Delivery StyleOnline
Course DurationFull-time: 1 Year
Course Start PointSeptember
AwardBA (Hons)
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysAll

Minimum entry requirements

96-112

UCAS Tariff points

A foundation degree or HND in a relevant subject

Honours degree

Tuition fees

£9,535

UK | For programme

£14,900

International | For programme

Tuition Fees Policy

Course Structure

What you will learn

This programme will develop useful skills for a future working in a range of education and early years settings, including roles such as a nursery assistant, nursery nurse, nursery manager, pre-school assistant/leader or play-work assistant/leader. Alternatively, if you want to become an Early Years school teacher, you can top up your qualifications with a one-year PGCE course to gain Qualified Teacher Status, subject to application.

Year one

This course is a one-year Top-Up. As such, the following modules are taken over the academic year of study.

Professional Studies and Work-based Contexts in Early Years
Further develop your professional understanding of early years working environments including schools and non-school settings.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Develop a critical understanding of the concepts of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Educational Leadership and Management in Early Years
Develop an understanding of the perspectives of leadership and management in the early years, making links between education management theory and practice.
Current Issues and International Perspectives
Develop an awareness of national and international issues within all sectors of education.
Special Study in Early Years
Undertake and communicate findings of a reliable and valid small-scale research project into an appropriate aspect of early years education.

Overview

96-112 UCAS Tariff Points.

A foundation degree or HND in a relevant subject.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

GCSEs: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C or above

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course; emphasise your areas of interest and reflect upon any experience you have gained. You should be an original thinker who is keen to bring your unique experience to the academic study of early years education.

We are looking for passionate individuals who are keen to understand the wider context of education; someone who excels at teamwork and has made positive contributions to their current enterprise or community.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here), applicants that are estranged from their parents, are care leavers or have caring responsibilities or are in receipt of or received free school meals during their secondary education. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply).

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

£9,535 - UK
£14,900 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

Funding

In addition to any student finance allocation, you may also be eligible for additional funding. We offer a range of grants, scholarships, and bursaries to support low-income students, students from partnered organisations, those who go on to study a PGCE course, and more. You can learn more about these on our Fees and Funding Pages.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..

Student Finance

Additional Costs

You may need to purchase stationery, course books and personal equipment. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover travel to placement and the university campus, parking and/or accommodation at placement/university campus (if required).

Books and Journals

All core text books are available via the University's library and e-library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support their learning on their course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for their own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes during webinars. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Clothing and Equipment

Students will require their own computer or laptop to engage in webinars, access our Virtual Learning Environment and writing assignments. For this course, an entry-level laptop would suffice, £300 - 400.

Other

Students will need to fund their own transport to their placement. Students are expected to complete at least 50 hours of placement during the course. The student can arrange their own placement close to home, and it can be in the student’s place of work if this is an appropriate setting, such as a school. Therefore, students should budget for these travel costs. Placement will require sensible, professional clothing and footwear as appropriate to the setting.

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Location
Distance Learning
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BA (Hons) - Education Studies with Early Years (Top Up)