The Early Childhood Team at the University of Warwick are delighted to offer a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood, to support you to extend the numerous skills and qualities obtained in your level 4 and 5 modules and to then thrive at Level 6. During this time, you will be nurtured by fantastic tutors with a range of expertise in Early Childhood. You will engage with 3 key modules that are designed in a way that provides you with plenty of tailored and individualised tutor support. We view the BA year very much as a celebration of you and your commitment to studying Early Childhood.
Evening and Saturday sessions to fit into your schedule
Possible option to study towards an award that suits your aspiration
The course offers you an opportunity to gain a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood (if you are a continuing student, these pages detail the content of the course at level 6), in just over a year, from the summer term in the first academic year to the end of the summer term the following academic year. You will be able to study for the part-time award while you work part or full-time.
During this time, you will be given the exciting opportunity to undertake an investigation into a topic relating to early childhood that you are passionate about, ultimately enabling you to make informed recommendations for future policy, research and practice. You are encouraged to draw on your own personal experience and make links between your study at university, your personal experience and your professional practice in the field of early childhood. You will also explore a range of international perspectives on early childhood, which you can apply to your own research area.
Upon completion of level 5 of the Early Childhood provision at Warwick or at a partner college, you have the option to specialise in a particular area to gain a named award, i.e. a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Inclusion and Special Educational Needs and Disability, or Leadership.
Hear from course director Charlotte Jones about the strengths in our degree.
This video was filmed in July 2024
Proud member of The Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network
Entry requirements
Foundation Degree in Early Childhood, either with us at the University of Warwick or with another institution completed within 5 years. For external Foundation Degrees, we will review your record of previous learning.
Who is the Programme for?
The programme is for people working in private or public contexts with responsibility for young children and families, including
Early years practitioners in childminder, private, voluntary and independent settings
Teaching and learning support assistants, classroom assistants and early years educators working in schools and other educational settings
Health workers, parents and grandparents involved in supporting children's learning, welfare and development
It is for students who have been awarded the Foundation Degree in Early Childhood with us at University of Warwick, as well as applicants who have achieved a Foundation Degree in Early Childhood at other Institutions.
Applications are currently closed. Sign up to our mailing list for course opening updates.
Each module on this Degree takes account of key social and political developments and is also inspired and led by early childhood research, and ongoing feedback from our students, employers as well as external examiners. The particular content of modules may, therefore, occasionally be subject to change, in the interests of ensuring that contemporary contexts are reflected, and best practice continues to be drawn upon. Please read our terms and conditions for more detailed information.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for Home/EU Students in 2024/25 are as follows: £6,160 (120 credits)
Please note that 30 credits will be paid in the tuition fee year 24/25 and 90 credits in 25/26 requiring you to apply for student loans twice.
Currently, the University of Warwick is not sponsoring students on part-time or distance learning courses with a Student Visa (formerly known as Tier 4 visa), and so if you require a visa to study a part-time or distance learning course in the UK which is longer than 6 months' duration, you may wish to consult the 'right to study' page on our Student Immigration and Compliance website before you make an application.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2025/26 year of study). Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Are there any course specific costs?
View the potential additional fees associated with this course.
Teaching and learning
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2025/26 Cohort Course starts on Saturday 15 March 2025 and will take place every Monday evening. There may be a few term one Saturday sessions.
2024/25 Cohort Course starts on Saturday 16 March 2024 and will take place on one evening a week. These dates are to be confirmed.
Careers
Career benefits of attending this course include:
Achieve a University of Warwick degree
Gain knowledge and understanding of early childhood
Build up your confidence as a scholar and professional
Have the opportunity to apply to teacher training programmes
Students are guaranteed an interview for the Early Years or Primary Core (university-led) PGCE courses delivered in the Centre for Teacher Education, as long as they achieve the entry requirements of the programme.
Our Early Childhood students who wish to progress into teaching are supported by the Centre for Lifelong Learning and the University.
Opportunities to progress in your career during and beyond the course, with your study with us opening up a number of avenues for future career development in areas such as:
Education: teaching, educational leadership, and management, allied services relating to Inclusion and SEN, safeguarding
Health: Children's mental health, speech and language therapy, play therapy
Social Justice and community engagement: Family support worker, social work
Academia: early childhood education and care research, publication
Arts and culture: children’s author, storyteller
Further studies in Early Childhood at postgraduate level
The CLL Student Support Team supports the pastoral and academic needs of our diverse student body, including:
Supporting the academic development of undergraduate and postgraduate students
Ensuring a learning experience of the highest quality, both at the University and in partner colleges.
Communicating with students in order to ensure a positive learning experience at CLL
To do this, we support you in many areas, including:
Study skills
Student welfare
Technology and e-learning
Careers and development
Hear from course director Charlotte how students can develop skills on the course.
This video was filmed in July 2024.
"Through University I have met some wonderful and inspiring people who I have learnt a lot from through their personal and professional development. The staff through my journey have been amazing -- especially my tutors who have supported through the highs and lows not only academically but on a personal level too."
Helen, Early Childhood 2025 graduate
"Warwick has an amazing body of staff who are always ready and willing to answer any questions you might have. From day one of the induction evening, expectations were clearly set out and we were signposted to any resources we might need and although the campus was a little intimidating at first, I think we all soon began to feel confident in our surroundings."
Faye, Early Childhood 2020 graduate
Life at Warwick
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live in a campus residence or in partnership accommodation off campus, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
74th
Warwick is ranked 74th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
(We work with over 20 partners, including professional bodies and partner colleges, and are always looking to build new partnerships)
85%
1st and 2nd class degrees
(From 2016 to 2022, 85% of our undergraduate have achieved a first or second class honours degree)
Accessible, flexible, world-class Warwick education for lifelong learners
For more than 30 years the Centre for Lifelong Learning has been a centre of expertise in the education of lifelong learners in different contexts, with a focus on enabling adult learners to achieve their personal and professional goals by accessing a Warwick education, irrespective of background.
Who we are
A global network - There are 42 nationalities among our current students
A local community - 74% of our students are based in West Midlands
Accessible Higher-Education - In 2022, 32% of our students joining the courses do not have A-levels or level-3 qualifications
A nurturing place - From 2016 to 2022, 85% of our undergraduate have achieved a first or second class honours degree
A learning hub for many - We are home to over 1000 undergraduate and postgraduate students
A collaborative institution - We work with over 20 partners, including professional bodies and partner colleges, and are always looking to build new partnerships
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Experience campus at an Open Day. Can't visit? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
