Early Childhood Studies Top Up with Professional Practice (BA Hons)
Undergraduate, Top-up Degree, September 2025
Key Details
- X31B Course Code
- 1 Years
Early childhood, the quality of education, provision and care, and the roles and responsibilities of all those involved with young children, parents and families together have a significant influence on children’s achievement and life chances. There is growing recognition that early childhood and children’s experiences must be supported by a highly qualified workforce.
The programme is specifically designed for students interested in working with young children. It offers a course that provides breadth and depth in key aspects relating to childhood, child development, education and care but also integrates a wider thematic approach which includes families, communities, multi-agency working, social policy, inclusion and diversity, research and health. It will develop your knowledge, skills, understanding of these, and your generic transferable skills through course content, learning and teaching strategies, assessment, research, and experiences of early years settings and organisations.
Modules run in parallel and require students to engage with a range of learning and teaching modes using e-learning as well as face-to-face contact with tutors.
The Professional practice route is designed for applicants who wish to top-up from a Foundation degree that does not have ‘full and relevant’ status as designated by the DfE, or an appropriate Level 3 qualification.
You will also be required to undertake a placement across the duration of the course.
If you possess an appropriate Level 3 qualification or are topping up from an ‘full and relevant’ degree please visit our other page top-up route page.
Assessment is through a wide range of methods. These include essays, research reports, case studies, group and individual presentations, and portfolios. Teaching and learning strategies include lectures, seminars, discussion and debate, presentations, guest speakers, workshops, an e-learning environment, visits and directed activities.
There are a wide range of career opportunities for graduates in the field of early years. This includes working in Children’s Centres, schools, nurseries, Social Services, Local Authority support teams, and charitable organisations. Early Childhood graduates have pursued Early Years Teacher Status or a teaching career via a PGCE to gain qualified teacher status (QTS).
Newman University is located in Britain’s second city – Birmingham. With one of the youngest city populations in Europe, it is a vibrant and dynamic place to study.
Studying at Newman University, you have the advantage of being near to the city, but living in, or commuting to peaceful and comfortable surroundings on campus.
Dining out
Birmingham has lots of wonderful places to dine out with a range of different cuisines. Places where you can dine out include; Brindley Place, Mailbox and Hagley Road (just 10 minutes’ from Newman).
Entertainment
Whether you like to go to; the theatre, gigs or clubs, or enjoy: sports, shopping visiting art galleries or exhibitions – Birmingham will not disappoint and you will be spoilt for choice!
Location
Getting around Birmingham is easy via train, bus or by car. Birmingham has excellent transport links to the rest of Britain, making it easy for those weekend getaways!
Why not explore the city for yourself by visiting one of our Open Days?
Want to find out more about Birmingham? Then take a look at some Birmingham City Secrets.
Entry Requirements
UK home students
Applicants should have 120 credits at Level 4 and 120 at Level 5, e.g. a relevant HND, a Foundation Degree in Early Years which is recognised as ‘Full and Relevant’ by the DfE, or a relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification.
The top up award is designed for Early Years Foundation Degree graduates or equivalent who already hold a relevant level 3 Early Years qualification, or a Foundation Degree classed as ‘Full and Relevant’ by the DfE, to enable them to progress to level 6 to achieve an Hons degree in Early Childhood Studies.
Please contact Admissions for confirmation of suitability of qualifications.
You will need a letter from your employer confirming you have current and valid enhanced DBS in place or you will require a new DBS if the letter can’t be provided. For more information on your DBS application please click here.
UK Applying Direct Option
You can apply direct to Newman University for this course if you have not previously applied to Newman University through UCAS and you are not applying to any other universities.
N.B. will need to enter ‘New User’ account details when first accessing this portal.
International students
This course is not open to international students. For any further information on related courses please get in touch with our International team who will be able to advise. Email international@newman.ac.uk or telephone +441218160449.
Course Fees
UK home students
The full-time course fee, for UK home students, for September 2025 is £9,535 per year.
International students
For detailed information on course fees for international students, please visit our International Students page.
Additional Costs
Find out more about the other additional costs associated with our undergraduate degrees.
The University will review tuition fees and increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, in subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases would be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments).
Modules
Please be aware that, as with any course, there may be changes to the modules delivered, for information view our Changes to Programmes or Module Changes page.
Timetables: find out when information is available to students
Additional Information
General Academic Regulations: Terms and Conditions for students attending our courses