Early Childhood Studies (BA top-up)

BA (Hons)

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Key facts

UCAS code

X313 (Abingdon and Witney College) X317 (Solihull College and University Centre) X319 (New College Swindon)

Start dates

September 2025 / September 2026

Course length

Full time: 1 Year

Part time: X319 New College Swindon - please speak to an advisor at the college to make an application

Overview

The Early Childhood Studies one-year top-up course builds on your previous early years study giving you the chance to complete an honours degree. So if you love children and want to work with them, this course will help to get you there.

Studying Early Years gives you the opportunity to work in a wide range of careers, such as:

  • Children's Centre Worker
  • Nursery Nurse
  • Lead Practitioner.

This course is taught at four of our partner colleges:

You may wish to continue your studies through progression to Early Years Teacher (EYT). Or beyond to become involved in research or academia.

To apply for this course you will have completed the foundation degree in Early Years. Or equivalent Level 5 sector-endorsed qualification foundation degree.

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

Home (UK) part time off-campus
£3,785

International full time off-campus
£9,900

Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,700

Home (UK) part time off-campus
£3,850

International full time off-campus
£9,900

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

Home (UK) part time off-campus
£3,785

International full time off-campus
£9,900

2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,700

Home (UK) part time off-campus
£3,850

International full time off-campus
£9,900

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students. 

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Financial support and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

On this course you’ll be going on placements in early years settings; you'll self fund travel to and from your placements.

You’ll also need a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check. This costs about £50. You may also need to pay an extra fee of about £15 to keep your DBS up-to-date.

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Students will have successfully completed the foundation degree in Early Years or equivalent Level 5 sector-endorsed qualification.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

Screening

All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.

English language requirements

Please see the University's standard English language requirements.

International applications

This course is not available to international students requiring a Tier 4 visa at Abingdon and Witney College, Solihull College and New College Swindon. New College Swindon cannot accept international students. 

 

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Credit transfer

Many of our courses consider applications for entry with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors.

If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.

We operate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.

Application process

Full time Home (UK) applicants

Apply through UCAS

Part time Home (UK) applicants

Apply direct to the University

International applicants

Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.