Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
UndergraduateLAT-ECE-DEG2024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Formalise and build on your early childhood education experience
This degree offers a recognised pathway to qualified work in the kindergarten. Get up to speed with the current theory and technology for teaching early years. And through work-based learning, bring it all together in your classroom placements.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online study with practicum placement
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- Approx. 2.5 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 20
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
About this degree
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically analyse research, policies and theories and apply to early childhood education practices.
- Apply theoretical and practical knowledge and skills relevant to early childhood education.
- Create dynamic programs and practices which reflect the diversity of complex early childhood education settings.
- Engage with contemporary issues to generate equitable and sustainable practices.
- Engage actively as ethical and professional agents of change.
- Apply relevant information and communication technologies to create innovative practices.
- Generate and apply inquiry based research to enhance learning.
If you’re an early childhood educator, La Trobe's Bachelor of Early Childhood Education allows you to upgrade your qualification and take the next step in your career.
Enjoy flexible learning that's designed to fit around your work and personal commitments. The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education is delivered entirely online, using virtual classrooms and meeting spaces; video and webinars; online learning modules and mobile learning apps.
This four-year degree includes 180 credit points of advanced standing for the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, as well as relevant work experience. You’ll complete a further 300 credit points to gain the Bachelor’s qualification.
Build your skills and experience through supervised work-based learning (WBL) placements. You can also nominate to complete 50 per cent of the WBL component in your place of employment, subject to the centre meeting the supervision requirements.
Graduate ready to build your career in learning centres, kindergartens, preschools or early intervention programs.
Recommended study pattern
Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in one subject per term. Please refer to theLa Trobe University Handbookto review the full structure.
Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first term as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, students must complete 32 subjects (480 credit points) as follows:
- 20 core subjects
- 12 core subjects (180 credit points of credit for completion of the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or approved equivalent)
- Undertake a minimum of 80 days of professional practice in early learning centres and kindergartens during their studies.
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first term as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Exit points
Upon completion of 240 credit points and compulsory placement obligations, students have the option to exit with an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education (EAECEO).*
*Please note that if you are a past La Trobe student who has discontinued study, or if you have been absent without leave, you are not eligible to apply for an alternative exit retrospectively.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $10,310
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Applicants must have a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent qualification. It is expected that applicants will be working in the field of early learning. If this is not the case, students may be required to seek additional employment opportunities.
Applicants must have a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent qualification to be eligible for admission into the course and credit to the value of 180 credit points will be applied towards the completion of the degree.
Study method requirements
Students are required to undertake a minimum of 80 days of professional practice in early learning centres and kindergartens during their studies.
Career opportunities
Graduates will be well placed to find work in early learning centres, kindergartens, preschools and early intervention programs.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education is approved by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Graduates of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education may be eligible to apply for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as an early childhood teacher. Professional registration may be subject to additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Child Care Centre Managers | $75K to $93K | Up 12.7% |
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers | $75K to $93K | Up 41.3% |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
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