The BA (Hons) in Early Years and Childhood Studies programme has an exciting Erasmus Exchange partnership with UIC Barcelona and the University of Adger, Norway.
The degree programme benefits from this Erasmus Exchange in the following ways:
- To help students adapt to the requirements of the EU-wide labour market.
- To enable students to develop specific skills, including language skillls, and to improve understanding of economic and social culture of the country concerned in the context of acquiring work experience.
- To promote cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises.
- To contribute to the development of a pool of well-qualified, open-minded and internationally experienced young people as future professionals.
Students have an opportunity to complete their placement with UIC Barcelona as part of the placement element of SS2032 Practice Preparation and Placement. As places are limited, students undergo an interview and selection process and successful candidates are selected.
Erasmus eGuide
Programme Overview
The BA (Hons) (Early Years and Childhood Studies) is a four-year full-time programme leading to the BA (Hons) Degree (Early Years and Childhood Studies). As an Early Years and Childhood Studies student, you will be exposed to interdisciplinary perspectives from the Schools of Applied Psychology, Applied Social Studies and Education with input from Music, Drama and Theatre Studies, Occupational Therapy and, Physical Education and Sport Studies. Our curriculum places emphasis on academic theory, research skills and professional and reflective practice. Students will be encouraged to build on their unique backgrounds and experiences as they develop personally, professionally and academically across the four years of the programme.
Why take this degree?
EYCS takes a multi-disciplinary approach and offers a fascinating and stimulating course of academic study. You will develop your understanding of childhood, discovering how children develop, learn and think. You'll explore the importance of meeting children's needs and how these needs can be met. You'll consider the challenges and opportunities in children's services, and look at childhood from a range of perspectives. We'll encourage you to use your own experiences in early years to enhance your knowledge and develop your understanding of early childhood.
A range of local and international perspectives are taken including: children's rights, children's health and well-being, pedagogical and curriculum approaches, diversity and inclusion. The degree draws on a range of disciplines such as psychology, sociology and social policy, education and health. We emphasise the links between theory and practice and value the development of professional as well as academic skills and knowledge.
What will I experience?
The curriculum content includes academic theory, research skills and professional and reflective practice. It focuses on a broad range of perspectives on childhood, the child in society, child development, child psychology, early years care and education, and child health.
A key feature of this programme is its emphasis on practical knowledge and the development of professional skills. Supervised work-based placements in diverse childhood-related settings form an integral part of this course. You will undertake a 13 week placement in both Years 2 and 3 of the course and a 2-week on-site placement in Year 4. The professional practice placements take place in various settings (e.g....) and provide opportunities for you to apply the theories you have learned, and to experience working with children under the guidance of expert practitioners.
The course team includes lecturers and researchers who are strongly committed to enabling, empowering and enthusing students to make transformational changes to their own lives and to the lives of children, families and communities.
If you are interested in pursuing a research degree in the School of Education, please note:
(1) Prospective applicants need to familiarise themselves with the research expertise of School of Education staff. A list of academic staff in the School of Education is available here.
(2) Candidates must liaise directly with a potential supervisor by submitting a CV and 500 word outline of a research area using the Research Outline Form . If a potential supervisor agrees that the candidate’s proposed research aligns with the research interests of the School of Education, then a candidate may be invited to submit a thesis proposal (1500 words) using the Higher Degree by Thesis Proposal Form which should ideally be written in consultation with the potential supervisor . The form and success criteria are available here: Higher Degree by Thesis Proposal Form and Success Criteria
(3) The Structured PhD Programme Director will review any full proposal received in addition to which an external opinion might also be sought (particularly in the case of interdisciplinary areas). An interview may be suggested.
(4) On acceptance, the student will be invited to submit an application through the university's online application system UCC Apply
(5) Prospective applicants must not make an application through UCC Apply until steps 1-3 are completed.
