Overview 2021
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students
View archived years for this course
For years prior to 2015, please view the Course and Unit Handbook Archive
View the current year's course page
In addition, the course will provide leaders in early childhood with competencies in teaching and leadership positions.
This degree program is available internally at Launceston and Cradle Coast campuses and externally/fully on-line from anywhere in the world, full-time or part-time.
Who should undertake this program?
- Child care and educational professionals who would be considering their future as senior staff or directors of child services
- Child care and educational professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge, skills and understandings and obtain a higher qualification directly relevant to their work
- School leavers and others who wish pursue a career in the field of early childhood
This degree program is designed and enacted in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and appropriate employing authorities. At the core of the degree program is the student who is educated to bring to their work:
- The capacity to work effectively in highly diverse contexts; and
- The capacity to be resilient professionals and lifelong learners.
For teachers, strong personal literacy and numeracy skills form an essential part of the attributes and skills needed to be effective in the classroom. They are also necessary to foster the development of these critical, fundamental skills in students, providing the building blocks for future learning.From 1 July 2016, all initial teacher education students will need to demonstrate that they have personal literacy and numeracy skills equivalent to the top 30 per cent of the adult population through meeting the benchmark set by the national literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education students (the test) prior to graduation. The test has been determined, under the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures, to be the means by which a student's personal literacy and numeracy skills are to be assessed..
While some higher education providers will require students to undertake the test during their course, other higher education providers may require successful completion of the test as a pre-requisite entry requirement. The Faculty of Education at the University of Tasmania requires students to meet the benchmark of the test prior to undertaking their final Professional Experience placement.
Course objectives
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) qualifies students to work in early years' contexts from birth to age 8. The degree reflects recognition of the changing nature of early years' education and care. The early years of a child's life are crucial in their development and it is widely known that the quality of education and care that children receive in their early years makes a real difference to their developmental and later outcomes. Research shows that participating in a quality early childhood education program has ongoing benefits for children throughout their schooling and beyond, especially those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), prepares professionals seeking to bridge the gap between childcare and school, thus ensuring that childhood programs are educationally and developmentally rigorous.
Practical experience
Professional Experience Placements
An integral part of your learning in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) are Professional Experience placements - putting into active practice the theory and knowledge you have been studying throughout your degree.
As a student you will participate in a minimum of 90 days (18 weeks) of full-time Professional Experience. Placements are usually scheduled as continuous ‘blocks’ of time ranging from 10 to 35 days, and occur in a variety of educational settings.
Placements are designed to enable our students to become familiar with early childhood education learners and environments. Your placement will involve active observation, interaction, participation and engagement in a range of age-appropriate activities. For Early Childhood placements, students participate in Birth through to Grade 2 environments.
During your placement you will be supervised and managed by a tertiary qualified educator (your Colleague Teacher), and be assessed against Focus Areas within the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Overseas Exchange
The Faculty of Education has a number of exchange partnerships with Universities whose curriculum and teaching our closely aligned with our own. A full list is available at Student Exchange – Outgoing.
Find out more about the University's Exchange Programs at Student Mobility.
Career outcomes
Graduates of Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) are deemed to be qualified to teach in public and private sector schools in all states and territories of Australia by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.
Our graduates work in childcare and early learning centres, and in after-school care from birth through to age 8 throughout Australia and overseas.
Course structure
Entry requirements
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
Scholarships
Domestic Students
Each year, the University offers more than 900 awards, worth an estimated $4 million, to students from all walks of life, including those who have achieved high academic results; those from low socio-economic backgrounds; students with sporting ability; students undertaking overseas study; and students with a disability.
For information on all scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit Scholarships and Bursaries.
Applications for most awards commencing in Semester 1, open at the beginning of August and close strictly on 31 October in the year prior to study.
Domestic Students – HECS Fee Waivers
Fee waivers waive the student contribution amount payable on a Commonwealth Supported Place.
They are sometimes referred to as a HECS Scholarship or HECS wavier.
A Fee Waiver can apply to an individual unit, a semester, a year of study, or the entire degree, dependent on the arrangements agreed to by the University of Tasmania with employers, State government departments, or as offered by the University in specific degree programs.
Education students are encouraged to review their eligibility for the following Fee Waiver programs, whether for personal or professional development:
- Tasmanian Education Sector
- Tasmanian Institute of Sport
- Redundancy Support Fee Waiver Program
- University of Tasmania Alumni
Refer Fee Waivers for the complete range of Fee Waivers and your eligibility.
For all new students, the Fee Waiver application is completed as part of finalising your enrolment, after you have completed your online application for your course.
The closing date for fee waiver applications is the census date applicable to your enrolment.
International Students
There is a large range of scholarships, bursaries and fee discounts available for international students studying at the University of Tasmania. For more information on these, visit Tasmanian International Scholarships.
Additional costs
In addition to course costs, students may be subject to other costs related to study at university including:
- Text books and stationery
- Accommodation
- Student Services and Amenities Fee
- LANTITE
How can we help?
Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.
- Domestic
- 13 8827 (13 UTAS)
- International
- +61 3 6226 6200
- Course.Info@utas.edu.au
- Online
- Online enquiries