Course Title: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education
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Early Childhood Education (ECE) generally refers to education before the start of primary school attendance (0-6 years in Ireland). Services include pre-schools, Naíonraí, specific intervention centres such as community support preschools, Barnardo's childcare services, Focus Ireland support services, crèches, child-minding and after-school groups.
The early years are well recognised by legislators, policymakers, educationalists and researchers as a critical period in children’s learning and development.
The ECE professional needs to understand many facets of the child’s learning and development and the role of early education and care in promoting the best outcomes for children.
This course is approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board (instituted to review Level 7 and Level 8 degree courses for the Early Learning and Care Sector) as meeting the requirements of the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines standards.
Study Abroad Opportunities
You can apply to take part in an Erasmus exchange in the Year 2.
Work Placement
There is a work placement of 100 hours in Year 1, 300 hours in Year 2 and Year 3 and 100 hours in Year 4.
Leaving Certificate Requirements
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Minimum Number of |
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Subjects |
Higher |
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6 |
2 H5's |
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Minimum Grade in |
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Maths |
English OR Irish |
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O6/H7 |
O6/H7 |
QQI/FET Requirements
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QQI/FET Award Required |
Additional Requirements |
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Level 5:
One of the following awards:
Level 6:
Full award in a relevant discipline
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A distinction in 6 modules is required |
In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/qqi
Mature Applicants
Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/mature
Additional Requirements
TU Dublin students must undergo Garda Vetting. They must complete the required documentation, including a full list of all previous addresses, in order for clearance checks to be made. Currently, Irish addresses are vetted by the Garda Vetting Bureau at no cost to the student.
First Aid training is mandatory for all First-Year students on this course. It will be arranged by the School at a cost of approximately €100 per student. Please note that first aid fees are not covered by SUSI grants.
English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.
Graduates work as practitioners and managers in early years settings such as crèches, day nurseries, preschools, after-school services, special education services, early-start classrooms and family centres, as well as in project development and management positions in the Health Service Executive, county childcare committees and public and voluntary organisations.
- Childcare Management
- Child & Family Support Worker
- Working with children who have additional needs
- Childcare Supervisor – Housing Association
- Course Co-Ordinator – QQI Levels 5 & 6 Childcare
- City/ County Childcare Committee
- School Completion Officer
- Tusla and Early Years inspector
- Community Work
- Research
- Policy Development
- NGO’s and statutory organisations
Click on the link below to view an indicative timetable for this course. Timetables are subject to change and up to date timetables will be provided to students on commencement.
View Sample Timetable
Semester 1
- Principles of Pedagogy [Mandatory]
- Psychology and Child Development [Mandatory]
- Child Health & Nutrition [Mandatory]
- Introduction to Art in Early Education [Mandatory]
- Drama in Education [Mandatory]
- Supervised Practice Placement: Developing as an Early Childhood Educator [Mandatory]
- Skills Development [Mandatory]
- Professional Practice in Early Childhood Education [Mandatory]
Semester 2
- Psychology and Child Development [Mandatory]
- Child Health & Nutrition [Mandatory]
- Drama in Education [Mandatory]
- Supervised Practice Placement: Developing as an Early Childhood Educator [Mandatory]
- Understanding Social Policy [Mandatory]
- Professional Practice in Early Childhood Education [Mandatory]
- Aistear and Early years curricula [Mandatory]
Semester 1
- Child Development in Context [Mandatory]
- Inclusion in Early Years Practice [Mandatory]
- Supervised Practice Placement: The Skilled Early Childhood Educator [Mandatory]
- Drama, Music and Movement [Mandatory]
- Language, Literacy and Numeracy [Mandatory]
- Sociological Foundations [Mandatory]
Semester 2
- Research Methods in the Early Years [Mandatory]
- Art in Early Education 2 [Mandatory]
- Supervised Practice Placement: The Competent Early Childhood Educator [Mandatory]
- Inclusion in Early Years Practice 2 [Mandatory]
- Cultural and Linguistic Diversity [Mandatory]
- Outdoor Learning [Mandatory]
- Study Abroad Option for students going on Erasmus exchange programme [Mandatory]
Semester 1
- Mental Health during the Early Years [Mandatory]
- LAW [Mandatory]
- Research Methods: Documenting Young Children's Meanings [Mandatory]
- Working with Families & Communities [Mandatory]
- Supervised Practice Placement: The Reflective Educator [Mandatory]
- Pedagogical and Practice Documentation [Mandatory]
Semester 2
- Mental Health during the Early Years [Mandatory]
- Sociology of Education and Inequality [Mandatory]
- Supervised Practice Placement: The Reflective Educator [Mandatory]
- Perspectives on Early Childhood Education: Issues in policy, practice and research [Mandatory]
- Child Safeguarding [Mandatory]
- Pedagogical and Practice Documentation [Mandatory]
- Leadership & Mentoring Skills [Mandatory]
Semester 1
- Digital Childhoods [Mandatory]
- Early Years and School-Age childcare – Pedagogy and Curriculum [Mandatory]
- Research methods [Mandatory]
- Therapeutic Skills with Young Children and Families [Mandatory]
- Creativity in Early Childhood Education [Mandatory]
- Children's rights and advocacy in the early years sector [Mandatory]
- Supervised practice placement 4 [Mandatory]
Semester 2
Advanced Entry was not offered to this course in 2024. We are currently closed for Advanced Entry Applications. The courses that will be open for advanced entry will be listed on the CAO website in January 2025. For information on how to make an Advanced Entry application, please visit our CAO Hub.
In Year 1 & 2 of the course I kept busy by joining the Volunteering Society and took part in Outreach trips in Malawi, Africa with the organisation Wells for Zoe. It was an unforgettable learning experience and I have great memories from it. In Year 3 we were given the opportunity to visit the Outdoor Preschools in Norway, and it was so much fun. During my 3 years in TU Dublin, the tutors were very knowledgeable and were always really helpful.
I left TU Dublin with my degree, great memories and the best friends. Since graduating, I first worked as a Senior Nursery Nurse in an ECCE and Afterschool room, and was then promoted to Deputy Manager, and I love it… Holding a degree in Early Childhood Education is so valuable; you can see it is what childcare providers are really looking for these days so the degree has really set me off on the right road for my career.