Early Years Education (Top Up)
This Early Years Education (Top Up) course is the perfect option for those who have a keen interest in current pedagogical research into Early Years education.
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UCAS Code
X301
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Newport
Campus Code
C
International students: £17,600*
UCAS Code
X301
Start Date
September 2026
Location
Newport
Campus Code
C
Fees
Home students: £9,790*
International students: £17,200*
Course Overview
The BA (Hons) Early Years (Top Up) course explores best practice in early childhood education from around the globe, with a focus on developing critical thinking skills, theoretical knowledge and gaining real-world experience in local education settings.
Why study this course?
What you'll study
The modules you will study throughout the duration of the course are as follows:
This module provides you with the opportunity to explore one key area of Early Years pedagogy within the context of early childhood development and care. The module will explore the creative and critical approaches available in secondary research, which will be reflected in the teaching methods. At the end of the module, you will be required to write a report on your chosen area, which will also evidence your understanding of what makes research valid, reliable and ethical. There will be support given for the report, including 2.5 hours individual supervision.
This bespoke module will be delivered by the Centre of International English based at USW and will run for the full year. Students will be taught key aspects of academic vocabulary used throughout the degree, with specific focus on subject specific terminology and theory. As well as support for written work, there will be a focus on the development of spoken academic language and delivery of presentations. The module is delivered by experienced professionals who have extensive experience of working with students for whom English is an additional language.
In this module students will explore how children acquire language and number skills from birth to 7. It will explore current research in the field of neuroscience and use this, established theory and critical research to develop understanding of best practice in learning and teaching.
This module focuses on best practice in early childhood education from around the globe. It considers international views on education, the challenges faced in a number of different countries and the different approaches taken to early years education. Different experiences of childhood around the world will be examined.
This module will develop your critical understanding of definitions of effective learning and learning behaviour. Students will develop a theoretical understanding of the pedagogy that supports effective learning, while at the same time exploring and examining potential social, emotional and economic barriers to learning. Understanding will be supported through the evaluation of theoretical models on behaviour.
We regularly review our courses to keep pace with changing skills and employer needs. If a review leads to significant changes, we’ll contact you to explain what’s changing for the coming year.
Teaching and Assessment
The course uses different methods of assessment which are mostly coursework based.
Alongside taught provision and online support, students are expected to engage with 200 hours of independent research for the Research in the Early Years module. For the remaining modules, as well as taught provision, students are expected to engage in 100 hours of independent study and 60 hours of directed study.
Where appropriate, guest lecturers and specialists will be invited to share their experiences in education.
Assessment is coursework based, so there are no exams. There a variety of assessments – including presentations, portfolio work, reports and reflections. All assessments are marked in line with university policy.
In the second semester, students will be given the opportunity to undertake a placement in a local educational setting. This will be for two weeks. This will be arranged by the placement officer and will be within easy travelling distance of the student’s accommodation.
On the Early Years degree, you’ll learn in a dedicated teaching space designed specifically for working with children aged 0–7, equipped with specialist resources that bring learning to life. You’ll also have access to the cutting-edge Hydra Suite, where virtual reality technology opens up exciting, immersive ways to explore and enhance your learning experience.
Course Leader
Philippa Watkins
Philippa Watkins is the Course Leader for the BA Education programme. She began her career as a secondary school English teacher, working in several schools and serving as Head of English for four years before moving into higher education. She has a keen interest in storytelling and creativity and has contributed to research that has explored and evaluated how both can be used to facilitate effective learning and wellbeing. She brings her classroom expertise into her teaching, using creative approaches to support, inspire, and enhance student learning.
Entry Requirements
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
How to applyContextual admissions policyAsk us a questionTypical qualification requirements
Students must be able to show recognised prior learning up to level 5 to be offered a place on the course.
Additional Requirements:
An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child Workforce and Child Barring List and subscription to the DBS Update Service is required. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants)
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.
International studentsPre-Sessional EnglishEnglish language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Fees and Funding
per year
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Enhanced DBS
Students will be expected to pay for a DBS or certificate of good behaviour from their home country. The DBS fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee
Cost: £64.74
Personal stationery and academic resources
Students will need a small budget for personal stationery and academic resources.
per year
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Enhanced DBS
Students will be expected to pay for a DBS or certificate of good behaviour from their home country. The DBS fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee
Cost: £64.74
Personal stationery and academic resources
Students will need a small budget for personal stationery and academic resources.
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How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS
You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).
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Apply direct
Early Years Education (Top Up)
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Full-time, 1 years
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September
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Newport
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Apply direct
Early Years Education (Top Up)
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Full-time, 1 years
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September
-
Newport
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If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
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