Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
UndergraduateCUR-ECE-DEG2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Comprehensive pre-service teaching preparation
Enter the valued profession of early childhood teaching and child care. Study core subjects, professional studies and electives to be qualified to teach children aged 0-8 years in early learning centres and in junior school settings.
Entry pathways available with no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online study with practicum placement
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 16 Feb 2025,
- 18 May 2025,
- 17 Aug 2025,
- 16 Nov 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 4 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 29
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
About this degree
On completion of the degree students will be able to:
- apply high-level discipline knowledge, principles and concepts associated with effective teaching of children from birth to 8 years
- draw from theory and research to apply knowledge of the needs of students from diverse backgrounds and across the full range of abilities to enhance learning
- assess student learning and analyse diverse sources of data to support valid judgements of student learning
- plan and deliver effective teaching and learning experiences with demonstrated impact
- use technologies appropriately for learning and teaching
- engage in professional learning and demonstrate capacity for leadership; demonstrate personal literacy and numeracy competencies to the required accreditation standard
- engage in critical and reflective practice based on local, national and international research
- create and manage positive learning environments for all students, including those from diverse cultural backgrounds.
This degree is designed for people seeking to attain an Initial Teacher Education qualification in order to register as a teacher in Australia and any other countries that recognise an Australian teaching qualification. Specifically, this degree provides a qualification for those intending to teach children birth to eight years of age at the early childhood level of education.
Students will develop advanced critical skills, knowledge and understanding concerning best practice in education and in meeting the needs of children. Students will have four opportunities to engage in professional experience in schools and early learning centres, culminating in a final professional placement of a block one full school term in a school environment.
Subjects cater for the different needs of early childhood education pre-service teachers. Subject content prepares early childhood education pre-service teachers for the profession and includes planning and programming, educational leadership, play-based learning, and understanding the diverse needs of children.
Please note that this course is only available to applicants who are residing in Australia for the duration of their degree. As this course doesn’t hold CRICOS registration international students on a Student VISA are not permitted to undertake this course.
Recommended study pattern
The degree has been designed to be sequential and developmental in nature, meaning that students are expected to complete all subjects in each level of the degree before progressing to the subjects of the next level. For example, all level one subjects should be completed prior to enrolling in a level two subject and students should have completed all level one, two and three subjects prior to enrolling in any level four subjects.
The standard full-time study load is two subjects per study period.
Students must complete any prerequisite subjects required and all core and elective subjects must be completed before enrolling in the Internship. Students will need specific clearance from Curtin University’s School of Education prior to enrolment in this subject.
You can download an enrolment planner via the link below that will allow you to determine the recommended sequence of enrolment based on the study period in which you commenced your enrolment. Units will not generally be offered in every study period and may not be available at the time that you wish to study them. Your progression in the course may be impacted if you do not follow the recommended sequence of enrolment. If you wish to enrol in a part-time load then please select one unit from the two listed for each study period.
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) enrolment planner (XLS)
Award requirements
Students must complete all subjects. There are 29 subjects in the Bachelor of Education (ECE). These are comprised of:
- core education subjects
- subjects requiring professional experience placements in a variety of settings, including a final Internship placement of at least 50 consecutive days (1 full term) in a school context
- specified elective subjects
Students must successfully complete all required subjects in the degree prior to undertaking the Internship.
Please note that students can be terminated from this degree if they fail to make satisfactory progress.
LANTITE Completion Requirement
Students are required to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students (LANTITE) prior to completing their degree. The test is managed by ACER and details of the test (for example, sample questions, the Test Window dates, and registration) can be found at: ACER Teacher Education Test. Students are responsible for meeting the costs associated with taking these tests, which are a national requirement applicable to all teaching graduates. Students are expected to have successfully completed the LANTITE between the first and third professional experience subjects in their course.
Choose your subjects
Electives
Students completing the new degree structure (i.e. starting from Study Period 1 2019 onwards), will complete two specified elective subjects. These subjects must be selected from the list specified by Curtin University’s School of Education.
Students admitted to the degree up to and including Study Period 4 2018, will complete three elective subjects, which can be selected from any subject offered through Open Universities Australia. We recommend that students consider taking subjects from the list specified by Curtin University’s School of Education.
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.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
2025 Changes:
EDC163 The Professional Educator will be replaced with EDC181 Communication Skills for Educators.
For further information or advice regarding this change, please contact Curtin Connect at Ask Connect | Curtin University
2024 Changes:
The following specified electives will be offered from 2024:
- EDC430 Teaching About Jesus in Catholic Schools
- EDC435 Teaching About the Gospels in Catholic Schools
They will replace the following, which will no longer be offered in 2024:
- EDC483 An Introduction to Catholic Education
- EDC485 Prayer and Morality in Catholic Studies
Students who have completed the above subjects will have them counted towards the completion of their degrees.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$4,624
Indicative total fee $18,497
The amounts shown here are 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.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
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Entry requirements
Start small with no entry requirements
Yes, you can get into this degree!
Start with an undergraduate certificate regardless of your ATAR or study history. Here’s how:
Undergraduate certificate
Start with a certificate
Complete an undergraduate certificate in as little as six months. You'll gain a recognised qualification and credit to bring to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education).
View certificate detailsContinue to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Enter the degree with full credit from your certificate. You'll study for the same amount of time as students who go straight into the degree.
Alternate entry requirements
Want to apply for the degree straight away?
To gain direct entry into this degree, you need to meet ONE of the following requirements:
- Complete and pass 4 degree level subjects at an Australian university
- Have a Diploma or Advanced Diploma from an Australian provider
- Have a Certificate IV from an Australian provider AND show evidence of English language proficiency
- Have an ATAR of 70 (or equivalent), with at least Mathematics Applications ATAR (desirable)
- Complete and pass the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) with both Written English (WE) and Verbal and Quantitative (MC) OR a university preparation program from any Australian university.
With the exception of eight open enrolment subjects, this is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
This degree has eight open enrolment subjects, which students may enrol into without submitting an Application Form. These subjects are: EDC135, EDC153, EDC121, EDC105, EDC163, EDC145, EDC175 and EDC140.
Students who successfully complete at least two of these open enrolment subjects will meet the academic entry requirements for admission to the restricted Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) degree. They will still be required to satisfy all other eligibility criteria.
Open enrolment subjects as electives
Students who do not satisfy all of the Eligibility requirements for this degree, or students who do not intend to apply for admission to this degree, may study the Open enrolment subjects as electives. Please refer to the Award Requirements or Electives sections on your degree page for information about the maximum number of level 1 electives you may include in your degree.
Non-academic Entry Requirements for Teacher Entry
For entry to initial teacher education (ITE) courses, you will need to meet both the academic and non-academic entry requirements.
To meet the non-academic entry requirements, applicants must demonstrate they have the key characteristics outlined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as the attributes and motivations common to effective teachers.
To demonstrate this, you will need to complete an online questionnaire as part of your application. The questionnaire must be completed no more than 1 year prior to application.
Completing the online questionnaire
To complete the questionnaire you will require your TISC/OUA/Curtin ID and then follow the link to: Qualtrics Questionnaire
In the online questionnaire, you will be asked several questions to rate your motivation for teaching as well as your involvement in personal learning and/or leadership activities. You will also need to complete two written statements addressing the following categories:
- Category 1: Your Motivation and Suitability for Teaching
- Category 2: Your involvement in Personal Learning and Leadership Activities
Once submitted, you will not be able to log back in and change your responses, so please review your responses carefully before submitting.
Complete the questionnaire, review and then submit. Your responses will appear on the screen. Please download the PDF of these responses to your computer for use in your course.
You will also receive an email confirming completion. Please attach this email to your application.
Assessment
Your responses in this questionnaire indicate the extent to which you meet the desired personal attributes for educators. Your profile in terms of these personal attributes will be considered along with the academic requirements for entry, when determining whether an offer of course admission will be made. You will not receive individual results from this questionnaire, as there is no “pass or fail” mark: your results are considered holistically, in the same way as an interview for a job might be managed.
It is possible that your responses may show that the teaching profession may not be best suited to you right now. If this is the case, you should not consider this to be a personal failure in any way, and you are welcome to contact us to discuss your options.
Academic Entry Requirements
- Successful completion of four degree level subjects (equivalent to half a year full-time study) at an Australian University (separate evidence of English proficiency is not required).
- Successful completion of two of the eight OUA open enrolment subjects: EDC135, EDC153, EDC121, EDC105, EDC181, EDC145, EDC175 and EDC140 AND separate evidence of English proficiency
- Successful completion of four OUA degree level subjects at pass level. (This satisfies English language proficiency requirement.)
- Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) 70 or equivalent.
- English ATAR, Literature ATAR or English as an Additional Language/Dialect ATAR.
- Desirable subject pre-requisites: At least Mathematics Applications ATAR. To determine your eligibility for entry please refer to Interstate Year 12 and IB Students, TISC Tertiary Institutions Service Centre Prerequisites
Successful completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or Advanced Diploma. You may also be eligible for credit toward your university study.
Successful completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV AND separate evidence of English proficiency.
- Successful completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) Written English (WE) and Verbal and Quantitative (MC).
- Successful completion of Curtin’s UniReady Enabling Program
- Enabling degrees completed through other Australian Universities, are equivalent to at least a half a year full-time study and which which meet minimum entry requirements for that institution may be accepted as minimum entry requirements for this degree.
Additional information
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Centre for Aboriginal Studies
- Domestic applicants with overseas qualifications
Applicants need to meet Curtin's English Language requirements. You normally need ONE of the following:
- A 50% minimum in English ATAR, English Literature ATAR or English as an Additional Language/Dialect ATAR (or equivalent)
- Successful completion of at least a half a year full-time (or equivalent) of Undergraduate level studies at an Australian university
- Successful completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or Advanced Diploma·
- Successful completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) Written English (WE)*
- The required score on the International English Language Testing System (Academic)* English proficiency test (or equivalent):
- Listening 8.0
- Reading 7.0
- Writing 7.0
- Speaking 8.0
- Overall score 7.5
*Please note these tests are only valid for two years.
Please refer to the 'Minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements' document at English Language Requirements.
*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes.***
Please note: Curtin School of Education courses embed both theory and professional experience within a unit. Credit for Curtin Professional Experience units requires a complex assessment that includes evaluation of how the unit learning outcomes have been met through both theoretical assessments and school-based application. The school-based application must meet Curtin requirements, which are informed by the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia.
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.
Students must be admitted to an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.
To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: Credit for Recognised Learning (Advanced Standing)
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.
More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning Policy (PDF).
Study method requirements
Professional Experience Placements
All students are required to complete four compulsory professional experience placements as part of designated subjects in the second, third and fourth year of the degree. These placements must be undertaken in a registered school or early learning centre where the language of instruction is English.
Placements must be undertaken on a full-time basis for the number of days shown in a continuous block and students need to plan carefully to ensure they are able to meet this commitment. There is a total of 105 days of professional experience in the degree, which satisfies all States' requirements for teacher registration.
No more than 50% of professional experience days may be undertaken in schools outside Australia. Therefore, students will only be able to complete the first 3-week placement outside Australia and will be required to complete all other placements within Australia.
None of the four professional experience placements can be broken or split into shorter periods.
The third year of the degree includes two professional experience subjects that require a placement in an accredited Early Learning Centre with infants, toddlers and young children (Birth-5 years of age) of 20 days and placement in a school of 20 consecutive days. The Early Learning Centre placement will comprise of a 1 day visit for 5 weeks immediately followed by a block of 15 consecutive days. The final placement of 5 pre-visits and one full school term is the final subject in the degree and cannot be undertaken until all other subjects have been successfully completed. Clearance will be given to enrol in the Internship pending results of all other subjects in the degree.
Students require access to one accredited Early Learning Centre with infants and toddlers (Birth-2 years of age) and three different schools in which to undertake the professional experience placements. Students are expected to be able to travel a reasonable distance to these educational settings in order to undertake their placements. Students cannot complete their professional experience placement in an educational setting where there exists a conflict of interest. For example any setting in which the student or their close family members are employed or attend. Students are not permitted to be paid for a professional experience placement.
Further information about the professional experience placement requirements will be provided to students who have been admitted to the degree. Students who may seek to vary any of the stated conditions and requirements in the various professional experience subject handbooks must contact Professional.Experience@curtin.edu.au prior to enrolling in the subject.
In circumstances where the student is having difficulty securing a placement, the student will need to contact Curtin University as soon as possible prior to the commencement of their practicum pre-visits and placement dates for advice.
To view the Professional Experience Calendars, please see below:
Working with Children Clearances and Certifications
Students will be required to have a current and valid Working with Children Check as required in the state or country in which the placement provider is located. They will also need to meet any other relevant State requirements before engaging in any work with children or professional experience.
If students have any doubt about their eligibility to acquire these clearances they should contact the local Teacher Registration Authority.
Career opportunities
Graduates of this degree will have the skills, knowledge and experience required to teach in early childhood education and care settings. Upon graduating with this degree you will be qualified to teach children from birth to eight years of age. Additional careers include Child Care Coordinator, education administrator or policy development officer.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited in Australia by the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia.
Below is link to the list of state-based teacher registration bodies for reference.
State-based Teacher Registration Bodies (PDF, 30Kb)
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.
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