Why study with us?
Ranked 20th in the world for education by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020.
Study in acclaimed research institutes including the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the Charles Perkins Centre.
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely for students commencing their studies in Semester 1, 2021.
Some units of study and/or placements relating to this course cannot be delivered remotely or online for students commencing their study in Semester 1, 2021. You will be required to attend in-person on campus from Semester 2, 2022.
Note: The University intends to offer as many units of study as possible in a remote as well as face-to-face learning method of delivery in Semester 1, 2021 and subject to ongoing border closures and public health orders impacting attendance on campus, in Semester 2, 2021. However, some units of study and courses require students to study in-person at the relevant University of Sydney campus/es and host locations for placements and will not be available remotely.
About this course
This degree will give you a professional qualification to teach children from birth to five years in early childhood education settings.
Our innovative teacher education program incorporates introductory and advanced curriculum units, a strong social justice and leadership focus.
You will have 630 hours of work-based placement in early childhood settings that exceed minimum requirements, scope to develop and apply research skills in an honours strand, along with opportunities to develop strong practical and research skills.
You will study specialist units in early childhood education and development, complemented by generalist units in education and professional studies, as well as elective units of study in the sciences, social sciences and humanities offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science, and the University of Sydney Business School.
During your candidature you will undertake professional experience in an early childhood setting with children from birth to three years.
By fourth year you will be competent to teach in an early learning centre using your professional judgement and autonomy.
Your final, fourth-year, 30-day internship will be complemented by a practitioner inquiry research project in which you focus on an area of specialisation.
Depends on your qualification, citizenship status
Prospective domestic students apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for a Commonwealth supported place . Refer to the UAC website for key dates. Separate scholarship deadlines apply, visit the scholarships website for details.
For other useful information, visit our How to apply page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Current students applying to transfer from a diploma to a bachelor's degree must apply through UAC.
Refer to the UAC website . Separate Scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships webpage for details.
Semester 1 (March)
Visit the How to apply page for detailed information on if you need to apply directly to the University or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). If you are a direct applicant, when you are ready to apply select the `Apply’ button on this course page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Closing dates
Direct applicants:
Semester 1 - 31 January of the commencing year.
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships webpage for details.
UAC Applicants: Refer to the UAC website
Semester 1 (March)
For full course details see our Handbook.
Mandatory work component = 630 hours.
This mandatory work component must be completed as part of the award requirements for the course.
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) includes significant professional experience placements in early childhood settings. The placements begin in the second year of the course and the amount of responsibility and duration of the placements progressively increases until the final placement in which students are competent to teach under minimal supervision.
Under normal progression, a student shall undertake and successfully complete all units of study to the value of 24 credit points per semester as prescribed for the course. Students are required to attend all lectures, tutorials and other activities prescribed for their units of study. Except with the permission of the Dean, a candidate must complete all unit of study requirements specified for each year, including professional experience units, before proceeding to the next year.
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
| Year | Sem | Unit of study | |||
| 1 | 1 | Education, Teachers and Teaching | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | Learning through Play in Early Childhood | Junior Arts elective (Table A or S) |
| 2 | Human Development and Education | Health and Wellbeing in Early Childhood | History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education | Junior Arts elective (Table A or S) | |
| 2 | 1 | Educational Psychology | Ethics, Politics and Social Justice | Language and Communication in Early Childhood | Science in the Early Years |
| 2 | Social Perspectives on Education | Creative Arts in Early Childhood | Professional Experience EC 1 | Professional Communication | |
| 3 | 1 | Positive Approaches to Special Education | Mathematics in Early Childhood | Infant-Toddler Learning and Development | Professional Experience EC 2 |
| 2 | Reading and Applying Educational Research (or Education Honours Preliminary) | Creative Arts in Early Childhood 2 | Leading and Managing Qualty EC Services | Professional Experience EC 3 | |
| 4 | 1 | Partnering with Families on the Margins | STEM in Early Childhood | Language and Literacies | Education III Research with Young Children |
| 2 | Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy | Internship Research Project | Early Childhood Internship | Education III Option Unit of Study (or Education Honours Dissertation) | |
Honours is available to meritorious students who complete an alternative set of units of study in Semester 2 of Year 3 and Semester 2 of Year 4. Admission to the honours program is by permission of the program coordinator after the completion of Semester 1 of Year 3. Admission and award requirements for honours in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) are set out in the Resolutions of the Sydney School of Education and Social Work.
Admission to this course is on the basis of the following criteria:
Admission pathways are open to domestic applicants on the basis of equity or other adjustment factors, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. For details, visit admission pathways.
To assist students to make informed choices about their study, the Sydney School of Education and Social Work has identified inherent requirements for coursework-award courses in Early Childhood Education. In order to successfully complete such a course, students must possess these qualities and skills (PDF).
If you’ve already completed university-level or equivalent subjects, you may be able to apply for credit for previous study.
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) is listed under the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) approved qualification list.
Examples include teaching in a range of early childhood (0-5) settings. Early childhood is a high priority for both Commonwealth and state governments in Australia. Qualified early childhood teachers are in high demand.
Our graduates can be found in a broad range of careers and roles, including:
