Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

School of Education

If you are passionate about teaching young children and fostering an enthusiasm for lifelong learning, The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Education degree is the ideal choice for you. This four-year degree has flexible full-time or part-time study options available. Our degree will qualify you as an early childhood teacher (ECT) enabling you to work in early childhood education and care services across Australia. Contact us today to be the future of education.

• Why study this degree?

  The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education has been designed to meet the increased demand for early childhood educators. This degree qualifies graduates to work with children birth to five years in early learning settings and prepares them to become reflective and responsive teachers. The program strikes a balance between theory and real world practice. In addition to core developmental and learning areas, students engage in 95 days of professional experience.

  The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education offers students the unique opportunity to complete a Major in Special and Inclusive Education.

  This program is designed to address every facet of the knowledge, skills and experience required to educate and care for young children at an excellent standard. Courses focus on contemporary pedagogies and the characteristics and development of children, their behaviour, their needs for intellectual, physical, language, social and spiritual development. You will learn skills in facilitating play and learning-through-play, and consider the key learning areas in which children develop their skills in early childhood settings.

  Courses also consider cultural sensitivity and awareness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as well as inclusion for all students. Graduates complete a Major in Special and Inclusive Education as part of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. You will also learn about ethical leadership and management of child care centres, equipping you for leadership roles as your knowledge and experience develop.

• Program summary

  Year 1

  • EDUC1032 Contemporary Theories On Child Development And Learning
  • EDUC1027 Inclusion and Diversity In Early Childhood
  • EDUC1033 Understanding & Guiding Children’s Behaviour
  • EDUC1034 Play as Pedagogy
  • EDUC1035 Health, Well-Being & Fundamental Movement Skills
  • EDUC1028 Teaching and Learning in Context
  • EDUC1036 Holistic Care For Young Children
  • CORE1000 Foundations of Wisdom

  Year 2

  • EDUC2046 Foundations Of Language And Literacy
  • EDUC2059 Mathematical development - B-5 years Numeracy and Mathematics
  • EDUC2064 Pedagogical Documentation In Early Childhood
  • EDUC3046 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Culturally Responsive Connections
  • EDUC2068 Scientific and Digital Inquiry In Early Childhood
  • EDUC2066 Catering for Children With Special Needs
  • EDUC2067 Integrating Language & Literacy Through The Arts
  • CORE Elective

  Year 3

  • EDUC3061 Families and partnerships in teaching and learning
  • EDUC3063 Language and literacy 1
  • EDUC3093 The Educational Leader
  • EDUC3054 The Reflective practitioner
  • EDUC3065 Communication needs and challenges in ECE
  • EDUC3064 Early intervention in early childhood contexts
  • EDUC3056 Trends in early learning
  • EDUC3094 Professional Experience 3: Early Childhood Education (3-5 years)

  Year 4

  • EDUC4034 Research ethics with young children
  • EDUC4035 Sustainability and environmental education
  • EDUC4008 Leadership and management in the early years
  • EDUC4042 Autism spectrum in early childhood
  • EDUC4043 Differentiated learning project
  • EDUC4038 Professional engagement (co-requisite with EDUC4056 EC Internship)
  • EDUC4036 Research capstone
  • EDUC4056 Professional Experience Internship: Early Childhood education

  Core Curriculum

  • CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE II: Elective
    • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
    • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
    • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
    • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
    • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

  Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.

• Entry requirements

  Entry requirements NSW

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Prescribed ATAR/Selection Rank*

  OR

  • Equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) score

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

  OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

  *Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing). See here for details.

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required*.

  OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 150 in the Multiple Choice section and 150 in the Written English section*.

  OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under secondary Education section above.

  *STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

  Discipline Specific requirements

  • Applicants to all initial teacher education programs must complete a statement of purpose. This assesses non-academic capabilities important for success in the teaching profession. Assessment of non-academic capabilities for entry into teacher education is a national requirement.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education graduates will be able to:

  1. Explain historical and contemporary theories and practices in early years education;
  2. Outline the influence of a range of social, emotional, cognitive, creative, language, spiritual and physical factors on the design and delivery of early years education;
  3. Review early childhood education to ensure compliance with policy frameworks and curriculum;
  4. Plan, program, and evaluate the delivery of early childhood education;
  5. Communicate and collaborate to design and deliver early years education;
  6. Draw on a range of alternative pedagogical frameworks, curriculum approaches and teaching strategies to guide and engage young learners;
  7. Respond to the individual needs of learners with special / additional needs and who speak languages other than, or in addition to, English;
  8. Create safe, caring, and inclusive learning experiences that support language, social, and emotional development to facilitate successful transitions into future learning;
  9. Partner with family and community members in the planning and delivery of early childhood education;
  10. Engage in critical reflection, advocacy, and research in the development of the professional and professional identity;
  11. Respect and include diverse perspectives, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, in culturally diverse and socially inclusive early childhood education.

• Practical component

  Students are required to complete all practicums (95 days or 760 hours) within the program.

  • EDUC1028: Teaching and learning in context
  • EDUC2046: Foundations of Language and Literacy
  • EDUC3094: Professional Experience 3: Early Childhood Education (3-5 years)
  • EDUC4056: Professional Engagement & Internship (Early Childhood Education)

  To be able to undertake Professional Experience students will require documentation and checks depending on their state.

  NSW students will require Anaphylaxis E-training, Child Protection Awareness, DoE Consent, Mandatory Child Protection, Pre-service teacher acknowledgement and a Working with Children Check.

• Career opportunities

  With a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, you can teach early childhood education in an early childhood education and care service. Career opportunities within the education system include early childhood educator and director of early childhood centre.

• Real-world experience

  Graduates of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education complete 19 weeks (95 days) of professional experiences in a range of settings to prepare them to confidently enter their profession.

• Professional accreditation

  The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education has been submitted for approval to the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

• Opportunities and experiences

  At the University of Notre Dame, we believe that gaining a global perspective is an important part of your university education. We offer various opportunities for students to study abroad and become active global citizens. These opportunities include exchange programs, professional placements, study tours, and volunteer opportunities. Visit Opportunities and experiences to find out more.

• Scholarships

  Scholarships provide financial support to students while they are completing their studies. There are various scholarships available to prospective and current students, across all study levels and campuses.

  These can be funded by Notre Dame, industry, individuals and non-profit organisations, to provide financial assistance to students to support costs associated with study. This could include buying food, paying rent, transport, and household bills, raising children as single parents, being a single-income household, becoming unemployed or caring for a sick loved one.

  Please visit the Scholarships Finder to see which scholarships are available to Undergraduate students.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?
  Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process.

  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session.

  Phone: 1800 878 916
  Email: sydney@nd.edu.au
  Address: 128-140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008

  International students
  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, fill out our Make an Enquiry form, and you can book a session with one of our friendly International Student Advisors.

  Fremantle and Broome

  Phone: +61 8 9433 0873
  Address: 19 Mouat St, Fremantle, WA 6160
  Postal address: PO Box 1225, Fremantle WA 6959

  Sydney and Melbourne

  Phone: +61 2 8204 4229
  Address: 140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008
  Postal address: PO Box 944, Broadway NSW 2007