Early Childhood Studies Top Up with Professional Practice (BA Hons)
Undergraduate, Top-up Degree, September 2025
Key Details
- X31B Course Code
- 1 Years
- TBC Typical UCAS Tariff
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.
This version of our top-up programme is designed for applicants who wish to top-up from a 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
Entry requirements for 2025 entry TBC
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.
Simply click on this Direct Application link to do this.
N.B. will need to enter ‘New User’ account details when first accessing this portal.
Course Fees
The full-time course fee for September 2025 is £9,250 per year.
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).
Additional Costs
Find out more about the other additional costs associated with our undergraduate degrees.
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