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Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

Become a confident and qualified early childhood teacher with Federation University.You may be working in the early childhood field and want to upskill, straight out of school or changing careers. You will discover how young children learn and how you can develop and support their learnings in these critical early years. This is a hands-on course that will get you into the classroom for a minimum of 80 days of supervised teaching placement so you can put into practice what you have learnt. You will develop the skills to teach in a variety of early education settings which may include kindergartens, pre-schools and long day care centres, including those in special needs settings.A range of scholarships from the Victorian Department of Education and Training are available to help support your dream of a becoming an early childhood teacher, especially if you’re a regional student.The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a pathway into the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education). You may receive 1 year of credit (120 credit points) through this pathway.We provide a number of pathways and options to ensure you can follow your dream of becoming a great teacher. Visit our Become a Teacher website and use our interactive study tool to find your path to a rewarding career in education. 
This course is offered at multiple locations, select your prefered campus to see when it is offered.
Bairnsdale
Ballarat - Mt Helen
Berwick
Federation University Online
Gippsland - Churchill
Wimmera - Horsham
Wonthaggi Bass Coast
Location
Semester 1
Semester 2
Other intakes
Bairnsdale
Semester 1
-
Semester 2
Other intakes
-
Ballarat - Mt Helen
Semester 1
Semester 2
Other intakes
-
Berwick
Semester 1
Semester 2
Other intakes
-
Federation University Online
Semester 1
-
Semester 2
-
Other intakes
Teaching Period 2, 2024
Teaching Period 3, 2024
Teaching Period 4, 2024
Gippsland - Churchill
Semester 1
Semester 2
Other intakes
-
Wimmera - Horsham
Semester 1
-
Semester 2
Other intakes
-
Wonthaggi Bass Coast
Semester 1
-
Semester 2
Other intakes
-
View all semester start dates

This course may be on offer at a partner institution.

Length
3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
(360 credit points = 3.0 EFTSL)
ATAR
Lowest Adjusted ATAR 50.00

Become a confident and qualified early childhood teacher with Federation University.

You may be working in the early childhood field and want to upskill, straight out of school or changing careers. You will discover how young children learn and how you can develop and support their learnings in these critical early years. This is a hands-on course that will get you into the classroom for a minimum of 80 days of supervised teaching placement so you can put into practice what you have learnt. You will develop the skills to teach in a variety of early education settings which may include kindergartens, pre-schools and long day care centres, including those in special needs settings.

Domestic Students, holding a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, who are working in a Victorian Early Childhood Education Centre may be eligible for the Hybrid Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) course as part of the Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships. This Hybrid course allows students to ‘earn and learn’ through financial incentives paid to the employing Early Childhood Centre. For more information click here.

A range of scholarships from the Victorian Department of Education and Training are available to help support your dream of a becoming an early childhood teacher, especially if you’re a regional student.

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a pathway into the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education). You may receive 1 year of credit (120 credit points) through this pathway.

We provide a number of pathways and options to ensure you can follow your dream of becoming a great teacher. Visit our Become a Teacher website and use our interactive study tool to find your path to a rewarding career in education.
 

  • Day care educator
  • Early childhood educator
  • Kindergarten teacher
  • Preschool teacher

Sample structures are just one example of the many options available within your chosen course.  Please contact Federation University for further information on available options.

Please note this is a sample structure only and is not to be used for enrolment purposes.  To enrol, please refer to the information provided to you by Federation University for your individual course structure or view our enrolment information page.

To view current unit information and cost, click on the individual unit name below, or click here to view current unit information and cost for ALL units.

Year 1

Semester 1

LITERACY AND NUMERACY
EDBED1011, 15 credit points
LEARNING AND TEACHING
EDBED1016, 15 credit points
CURRICULUM THROUGH PLAY
EDECE1019, 15 credit points

Semester 2

UNDERSTANDING EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
EDECE1002, 15 credit points
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDECE2019, 15 credit points
WELLBEING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CONTEXTS
EDECE2021, 15 credit points

Year 2

Semester 1

FOUNDATIONS OF LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
EDECE2022, 15 credit points
THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL
EDECE2023, 15 credit points
GUIDING BEHAVIOUR
EDECE3022, 15 credit points
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2
EEZED2723, 15 credit points

Semester 2

PLANNING, SUPPORTING AND ASSESSING
EDECE1020, 15 credit points
NUMERACY AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
EDECE2017, 15 credit points
INFANTS AND TODDLERS
EDECE3029, 15 credit points
FIELD BASED INTERNSHIP
EEZED3723, 15 credit points

Year 3

TK5 Year 3 Summer

NATURE PEDAGOGY
EDECE3018, 15 credit points

Semester 2

CURRICULUM APPROACHES
EDECE2016, 15 credit points
EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE AND LITERACIES
EDECE2020, 15 credit points

Approx. 12 hours per week

Minimum RequirementsApplicants who have not completed secondary education, or undertaken any TAFE or university studies will not be eligible for entry into this program. Applicants in this category should consider a pathway program such as Foundation Access Studies (FAST) Program.

Important for Yr 10 students

Entry requirements (year 12)

Admission criteria for current Year 12 students and recent secondary graduates (the past 2 years)

Units 1 and 2, satisfactory completion in two units (any study combination) of Maths: General Mathematics, Maths: Mathematical Methods or Maths: Specialist Mathematics or Units 3 and 4: any Mathematics;
·        Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any English.

Entry requirements (non year 12)

Admission criteria for applicants with a Higher Education Study

Satisfactory completion of at least one year of tertiary study in a relevant field; andMeets the VCE Maths and English requirement benchmarks.
Or

Successful completion of the Federation University Foundation Access Studies (FAST) program (or equivalent); andMeets the VCE Maths and English requirement benchmarks.Literacy and Numeracy test: If VCE Maths and/or English requirements or equivalent have not been met, a literacy and/or numeracy assessment is required to demonstrate the prerequisite requirements.Applicants required to complete the assessment will be notified.

Successful completion of a TAFE qualification at Certificate III or IV in a cognate or appropriate area, such as Community Services, Education Support, Children's Services, or Nursing; and
• At least one year of experience in a relevant area of education or support service and;
• Meets the VCE Maths and English requirement benchmarks.
OR
• Successful completion of a recognised TAFE Diploma program in a cognate or an appropriate area and;
• Meets the VCE Maths and English requirement benchmarks.
Literacy and Numeracy test: If VCE Maths and/or English requirements or equivalent have not been met, a literacy and/or numeracy assessment is required to demonstrate the prerequisite requirements.
 

English language requirement

Overall IELTS band score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 or equivalent English language test or

Successful completion of a relevant Australian diploma within the past two years with the proviso that students must prove they meet the English language requirement as determined by Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) to be eligible for registration.
 

Extra requirements

Admission criteria for applications with work and life experience

Essential requirements for enrolment orgraduation


Working with children checkCompulsory: Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check for the relevant state prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. For more information see: Federation University Australia WWCC information and Working with Children in Victoria

The application method varies depending on your circumstances, please visit our How to apply page for further information.

VTAC application: Yes

VTAC code: 3700511761 (Mt Helen), 3700711761 (Churchill), 3701811761 (Berwick), 3702311761 (Federation University Online)

Direct application: Yes

Federation University code: TK5

2024 Indicative Fees

Fee Type: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

$4,445 student contribution amount

A Commonwealth Supported Place is subsidised by the Australian Government.  Your fees (student contribution amount) are set on an annual basis by the government and are determined by the discipline area and band of your individual units, not the overall course.  Each unit falls into a band which determines the student contribution.

2024 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range between $4,445 Band 1 to $16,323 Band 4.  To find the Band, EFTSL and contribution amount for each unit, check the Sample Structure or refer to the 2024 unit listing.

Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and the indicative amount should be used as a guide only.  It is based on a typical enrolment for a student undertaking the first year of study in this course.  For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed.  Total cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.

Other fees

You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Fee assistance

You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution.  You may also be eligible to defer payment of your SSAF through a SA-HELP loan.

Scholarships

Our scholarships and grants can help with your study costs.  Explore our scholarships to find an opportunity that's right for you.

Can your studies count towards a degree with us? Use our online Credit Search to get the details on completing your studies sooner.

Pathways to this course:
Candidates seeking alternate entry to this course can consider the below options:Defined TAFE pathway: A defined TAFE pathway program exists for this degree. Please note that additional essential requirements for admission may apply following completion of this pathway. Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care | credit for 120 credit pointsOther TAFE Studies: Apply for a relevant TAFE course, at any TAFE provider, and then apply to articulate into this program. You may receive credit for TAFE studies undertaken, which will be individually assessed upon request, after you enrol in your bachelor level course.University Studies: Consider beginning your teaching studies with our pathway program FAST
Credit will be considered if you have successfully completed higher education or TAFE studies relevant to this degree. Advanced standing will be determined on an individual basis, depending on your eligibility for credit transfer, prior experience and qualifications.Pathways from this course:
Master of Teaching (Primary)

Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

To help you get the most from your online learning experience, it's important that you own or have frequent access to a fast and reliable computer that's ideally not more than two years old.

You will also need frequent access to a reliable high-speed internet connection.  You should expect to use approximately 5GB of data each month, per unit, just for study use.

For further information, visit the Minimum IT requirements for studying online webpage.

A range of student services are available at most campuses. For further information on these services or for course information, please contact us on 1800 333 864.

The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.

All information contained in this course overview including the availability of courses and fees, is correct at the time of being published, however the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Students should check for any amendment prior to enrolment.

CRICOS Provider No.00103D
Please note: This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding to eligible individuals.
National RTO Code: 4909

School department

Education

Course co-ordinator

Susan Emmett