Early years education
Higher Education courses fall into three types:
Higher National Diploma (HND) - two years
Foundation Degree - two years
Degree - three years
All of the above can often be taken on a part-time basis (obviously taking longer). Subjects on offer, relevant to Childcare students, include:
- Child Care Practice
- Child Health
- Child Nursing
- Child Mental Health
- Child Welfare
- Children and Young People
- Childhood Studies
- Childhood Guidance and Counselling
- Conductive Education
- Early Childhood Studies
- Early Years
- Education
- Education Studies
- Learning Difficulties
- Playwork
- Primary Teaching
- Psychology and Child development
- Teaching
Qualifications required
For university entrance it is necessary to have a level 3 qualification (e.g. National Diploma) and the grades you need will be specified by the university or college for the course you are interested in. More competitive courses will be higher, as will more popular universities. The better your grades, the more choices you will have! You must also have GCSE English at C or above to study at this level, and for some courses maths. and science will be necessary as well because of the course content. Mature students are considered on merit.
For many of the above courses you will need a period of relevant work experience, shadowing or voluntary work in a relevant setting. Try to arrange this in your first year or over the summer.
Applying for a course
Full details will be given later in the year, and help will be available from tutors. The main application period is from September to December in your second year, but you need to start planning much earlier, because open day visits start in March.
See also How to apply >
Help and advice
Please contact the Higher Futures representative at your local college or university.
Contact your Higher Futures representative >