BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies

The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies degree at the University of Plymouth gives you an engaging, hands-on approach to understanding how children grow, learn, and develop from birth to eight years old. You won’t just study theories — you’ll be actively involved in learning through placements, interactive workshops, and real-world research projects. The course is built around experience and reflection, preparing you to work confidently in education, childcare, family support, and community settings.

Here’s how you’ll gain meaningful, practical experience throughout your degree:

• Work placements in early years and educational settings each year, allowing you to observe, plan, and evaluate children’s learning in real environments.

• Opportunities to specialize in areas like child development, early intervention, inclusion, and play-based learning, with guidance from experienced practitioners.

• Access to specialist early childhood facilities on campus, including observation rooms, practical learning spaces, and digital tools that support assessment and development tracking.

• Interactive workshops and group projects where you’ll design learning materials, evaluate case studies, and explore creative teaching methods.

• A research project in your final year that lets you investigate a topic of your choice, often linked to your placement experience or future career interests.

• Strong links with local schools, nurseries, and early years settings, helping you build a professional network before you graduate.

• Dedicated support through the Charles Seale-Hayne Library, providing extensive resources in childhood education, psychology, and child development research.

• A focus on reflective practice and professional development, ensuring you graduate with both academic knowledge and the confidence to make a real difference in children’s lives.

Graduates of this programme leave equipped to support young children’s learning and development, in both educational and wider community settings. Typical job roles include:

• Early Years Educator or Practitioner in nurseries, children’s centres or early primary settings

• Family Support Worker or Child & Family Practitioner

• Early Years Curriculum Specialist or Coordinator

• Specialist Practitioner working with children with additional needs, or in community/voluntary sector roles supporting children & families

Here’s how the University of Plymouth supports you and how the programme gives you a strong foundation:

• Career Support: The University offers comprehensive employability and student-support services, helping you with professional preparation, placement opportunities and guidance on careers working with children, families and early years organisations.

• Employment Outcomes & Salary Figures: The programme emphasises practical placements, which enhance employability. Graduates are able to work in a wide range of roles supporting children and families — which suggests good prospects for starting salaries typically at around £20,000-£25,000 in early-career roles, with scope to progress rapidly as you gain experience and qualifications.

• University–Industry Partnerships: You’ll engage in real work-based learning modules in diverse settings (nurseries, charities, children’s centres, community organisations, early years provision) to build hands-on experience. The curriculum emphasises how theory connects with practice, giving both academic grounding and real-world relevance.

• Long-Term Accreditation Value: This degree offers a broad view of early childhood from developmental, sociological, policy and practice perspectives — meaning you graduate with knowledge and skills that are valued not just in early years teaching, but also in community work, children’s services, inclusion, research and policy roles. The balance of theory and placement makes the qualification durable and flexible.

• Graduate Outcomes: With your honours degree and strong placement experience, you’ll be ready to step into practitioner roles with children aged from birth to early primary years, or move into specialist work (for example working with families, supporting inclusion, or working within community/charity settings). You’ll also have the foundations to progress into leadership, coordination or research-focussed roles over time.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you can advance to postgraduate study such as a Master’s in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or Educational Leadership. You may also pursue teacher-training routes (such as a PGCE or equivalent) if you wish to work in a primary teaching role. Alternatively, you could continue into research-based degrees (MRes/PhD) in early childhood studies or related fields, opening pathways into higher-level roles in policy, academia or specialist practice.