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Early Childhood Studies

Entry requirements


96-112 UCAS points including a minimum of 2 A Levels. Preference for social science/ health & social care/ early years/ childcare qualifications but others are considered.

Considered alongside other qualifications.

Pass Access to HE Diploma with at least 33 credits at Merit or Distinction. Preference for social science/ health & social care/ early years/ childcare qualifications but others are considered.

Considered alongside other qualifcations.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

26-28

Preference for social science/ health & social care/ early years/ childcare qualifications but others are considered. English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalents

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H4,H4,H4,H4-H3,H3,H4,H4,H4


Preference for social science/ health & social care/ early years/ childcare qualifications but others are considered. English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalents

Considered alongside other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

D*D*

Preference for social science/ health & social care/ early years/ childcare qualifications but others are considered.

Considered alongside other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

MMM-DMM

Preference for social science/ health & social care/ early years/ childcare qualifications but others are considered.

Considered alongside other qualifications.

96-112 UCAS points to include two Advanced Highers. Preference for social science/ health & social care/ early years/ childcare qualifications but others are considered. English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalents

Considered in combination with Advanced Highers.

T Level

P

Pass (C or above on the core) 96 points or above , (preference to education/ social science/ health and social care, but all considered)

UCAS Tariff

96-112

Including a minimum of 2 A Levels. Preference for social science/ health & social care/ early years/ childcare qualifications but others are considered.

Considered alongside other qualifications.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Early childhood studies

Take a fresh look at childhood. Explore the theory and reality of children's early years through a variety of perspectives including sociology, social psychology, history, and philosophy. Develop a well-rounded view of childhood and a clear understanding of potential career paths within this dynamic field. This innovative course encourages critical thinking, fosters innovation, and provides practical insights to navigate the complexities of working with children during their formative years.

Engage with young children and their families in the Work Based Learning module, operating in various settings according to your preferences; for example, children's charities, family centres, child development centres, family work within prisons, and women's rehabilitation centres. Or opt for the Work Based Learning Plus module to attain professional recognition in a nursery, primary school, or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school environment.

- Explore the relationships between play and learning in your own studies as well as in child development.

- Expand your options beyond traditional teaching and open up further career opportunities in education, social care, community work, psychology, management and research.

- See for yourself how theories and policies are applied in practice by visiting a wide range of provision for children and families.

- Learn on the job during the work-based learning placement. You will gain the practical skills employers are looking for.

- Opportunities to extend your early years practice through assessment in placement; gaining valuable experience in working with children and families.

- Take a broader view of children’s development by studying the subject in practical, historical and international contexts.

- Develop essential skills through a variety of coursework-based assessments – from essays, surveys and child observations to group presentations and video commentaries.

- Learn from experienced lecturers and tutors who are actively engaged in national and international research projects.

- Make the most of the opportunities presented by being part of a department that has strong links with universities in Europe, Canada, Africa and the USA and through the International Students’ Exchange Programme.

Modules

In the first year, you’ll get an overview of the factors that affect children’s lives and begin considering your own professional identity within the sector. You’ll explore how children grow and develop, drawing on the latest research around thinking, playing and learning. You’ll also gain an understanding of different approaches to observing children. Modules on social policy and equality and diversity will introduce you to key contemporary issues.

Your second year focuses on developing your analytical and reflective skills, and expands your hands-on experience during the work based learning module. You will continue to develop your understanding of research while studying children’s development and communication. Throughout this year you will be encouraged to make links with your learning in practice and your academic learning, which will enable you to have a greater understanding of young children and their families lives.

In the final stage of the course you will be helped to make the transition from ‘knowledge consumer’ to ‘knowledge producer’. You will use your developing knowledge and experience to challenge, extend and critique other people’s ideas and your own. You will plan and carry out a research project to develop and disseminate understanding of what you have identified as an area of interest and you will continue to develop your capacity to act as a strong advocate for young children and families.

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry and up to date information can be found on our website

Assessment methods

Assessment is 100% coursework

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Plymouth

Department:

Plymouth Institute of Education

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What students say


How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Childhood and youth studies

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

98%
UK students
2%
International students
4%
Male students
96%
Female students
57%
2:1 or above
10%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
B
B

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Childhood and youth studies

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£20,000
med
Average annual salary
100%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

79%
Welfare professionals
13%
Welfare and housing associate professionals
3%
Teaching and educational professionals

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Childhood and youth studies

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£29k

£29k

£25k

£25k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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