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Early Years Education at University of Winchester - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 20262026 - 2027
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University of Winchester has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

13Sep
University of Winchester - Open Day (2026 entry)
Undergraduate
11Oct
University of Winchester - Open Day (2026 entry)
Undergraduate
1Nov
University of Winchester - Open Day (2026 entry)
Undergraduate

Course summary

  • Gain the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Status at Level 6 (professional qualification) alongside your degree.
  • Gain professional experience and put theory into practice through placements at each level of study.
  • Graduate as a work ready professional and become an outstanding graduate through a consistently high-quality student experience.
  • Learn from a dedicated team of research active tutors who are experts in the field.
  • Benefit from our links and partnerships with local and international early years providers.
  • Graduate as a research-informed critical thinker who understands the power education has to shape lives and to be a lever for positive change in the world.
This programme offers you the opportunity to gain the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies Qualification in addition to your academic award. If you want to make a positive difference to the lives of young children, their families and the societies in which they grow up, this degree is for you. Early childhood education and the wider issues related to the experiences, development and care of children plays a critical role in the cognitive, social and emotional development of individuals in ways which impact their formative years and later lives. This degree takes a holistic approach to the study of early childhood focusing on education, care and development from conception to 8 years and you can gain the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies Qualification at Level 6 in addition to your degree if you wish. Whether your degree leads you to become an Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner in early years settings, to another graduate career related to young children, or to further study, you will develop the breadth and depth of knowledge and specialist skills necessary to become a critically minded, reflective professional. Our course supports you to develop an in-depth understanding of research, policy and practice in the field and you will draw on a range of disciplines including education, social policy, disability studies, philosophy, health and psychology to develop you as an outstanding graduate ready to work in the Early Years sector or other multi-professional contexts. As well as developing your knowledge and expertise in Early Childhood, our course supports your intellectual, personal, social, ethical and professional development and you will develop important transferable skills such as critical reflection, systematic analysis, communication and collaboration. Through mandatory modules, placements at each year of study, and an optional module in Year 3, you will learn about the nature and development of the child. You will explore the wide range of factors that influence the child, their development and their learning including issues such as: health, relationships, play, the environment, race, gender, power, technology, culture, inclusion and politics. You will become confident with a range of current policy and put your theoretical knowledge into practice through your placements and a range of research based and practice related assessments. Year 1 will support you in orientating to university level study through a range of core modules which include content that is fundamental to the multidisciplinary study of education. You will also undertake your first placement. In Year 2, content becomes increasingly specialised as you put your developing knowledge and skills into practice in your placements. In Year 3, in addition to your Dissertation, mandatory module and placement, you will have the opportunity to select an optional module. Throughout your degree you will develop your knowledge and expertise in Early Years Education by drawing on national and international research and practices and the extensive experience and research expertise of our dedicated tutor team.

Modules

For detailed information on modules you will be studying please click on the 'View course details' link at the top of this summary box.

How to apply

14Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
X310
Institution code:
W76
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Applicants who wish to apply for advanced standing (exemption from part of a programme) based on previous study are considered on an individual basis. Applicants are required to provide transcripts. confirming the module titles and grades they have already achieved, as well as module handbooks and/or programme specifications showing the learning outcomes of the modules completed.

International applicants

We accept a wide range of non-UK qualifications and use UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre) guidelines to confirm their equivalence.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Applicants are required to hold a minimum of 2 x A-level or equivalent qualifications (e.g. 2 x BTEC National Subsidiary Diplomas) and we accept all A-level subjects, including Critical Thinking, General Studies and own-language A-levels. We welcome applicants who have completed the Extended Project (EP/EPQ) and points obtained from this qualification will be included in any offer. In addition, we accept a maximum of 32 points from level 3 qualifications below A2 that are included in the tariff (e.g. AS-levels not studied at A-level, music or dance qualifications). If you are a mature student, your application will be considered on its individual merits and work or other professional experience may be taken into consideration in lieu of other published requirements.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6An overall score of 6.0, including 5.5 in writing is required. If you require Tier 4 sponsorship, you will require a minimum of 5.5 in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
45%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
80%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535* Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535* Year 1
Scotland £9535* Year 1
Wales £9535* Year 1
Channel Islands £9535* Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535* Year 1

*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Applicants to this course are expected to obtain Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to beginning the course at the University. Our Admissions Team will be in contact with further information about when and how to obtain this clearance after an offer has been accepted. Please note, the cost of the check is covered by the applicant (currently £49.50). For further information about any additional costs associated with this course please see the individual course page on the University of Winchester website (www.winchester.ac.uk).
Early Years Education at University of Winchester - UCAS