Early Years, Childhood and Family Studies (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  You will start the Early Years Top Up Degree by completing study skills aimed at revisiting or learning the academic skills required at Level 6.  You will then study six modules that have been designed to support you and apply your studies around your area of interest and/or practice.    All the modules, except the dissertation, have two assignments that have been devised to enable you to evidence your knowledge and skills in a variety of ways.

  The modules are:

  • Working with Families and Developing Communities
  • Graduate Leadership
  • Building a Curriculum for Excellence or Contemporary Issues in Childhood and Youth
  • Research and Inquiry
  • Dissertation

  The dissertation module provides you with the opportunity to undertake primary research into your area of special interest.

  For those working in early years you may choose to complete the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioners Competencies. Successful students are awarded a certificate alongside their degree.

  Watch Prof Eunice Lumsden as she talks about her career in childhood, youth and families, what diversity and inclusivity mean to her, holistic safeguarding, why policymakers need to use up to date research, and more.

  Module information can be found on the Award Map

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

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• FAQs

  How will I be assessed on this Early Years, Childhood and Family Studies Top-Up course?

  There are no exams, you are assessed though course work.  These are two assessments per module and a dissertation

  Are there any special features on the Top Up BA Degree in Early Childhood Education?

  Our focus is on providing a high-quality supportive learning opportunities for students who have followed academic or technical pathways.  You will be taught by a range of academics with professional backgrounds in early years, primary education, social work and health.  They aim to provide a robust learning experience that will support students to continue on their lifelong learning journey and open up opportunities for themselves to apply for postgraduate professional programmes, such as teaching, social work and youth work or continue onto a Master’s programmes.

  There is a strong focus on study skills which are embedded at the start of the programme to support all students to refresh or develop the skills required for success at Level 6.

  Students with an Early Years background can complete the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competences.

  How am I taught on the Early Years Top Up Degree?

  This is a distance learning programme that will involve two online taught twilight sessions per week for one year full time students, and one twilight session per week for part time students over two years.  There will also be tasks to support application of learning to the work place.

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