Childhood Studies (Top Up)
The emphasis of our Childhood Studies degree is on exploring childhood from a global perspective to develop or strengthen your understanding of factors that affect a child’s holistic development, health and wellbeing.
How to apply Apply through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to us/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/03-courses/youth-and-community-work/youth-and-community-work-childhood-studies-top-up-placeholder-01.jpg)
UCAS Code
L531
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
International students: £17,600*
UCAS Code
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
Course Overview
The BSc (Hons) Childhood Studies is a relevant course for a wide range of professionals who work with children and families.
This course equips graduates to deliver the roles required in Wales and UK, which cover childhood as a whole, particularly since much attention has been given to the changing lives of young people in the last decade.
What you'll study
Year 3 students (top up) will study 2 x 20 credit modules and 2 x 40 credit modules.
Plans for delivery will be to timetable 60 credits in term 1 and 60 credits in term 2.
You’ll explore the factors that shape children and young people’s development, health and wellbeing. You’ll consider areas including relationships, family life, nutrition, technology and social influences, developing your understanding of how child centred approaches can support positive outcomes.
You’ll explore how learning environments can support children and young people to engage, develop and achieve. You’ll examine learning theories and inclusive approaches, while developing your understanding of leadership, management and change in education.
You’ll develop the skills to support the health and wellbeing of children and young people. You’ll explore how to identify needs, plan effective support and evaluate approaches, using research and evidence to improve practice.
You’ll explore the changing world children and young people grow up in and the factors that shape their experiences. You’ll consider issues including inequality, inclusion, safeguarding and digital technology, using research and evidence to understand contemporary childhood and inform your practice.
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.
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
This is a top-up degree. You must be working in a relevant area of childcare and possess a total of 240 credits - 120 at Level 4 and 120 at Level 5. Equivalent work-related qualifications are also acceptable. Those who are unable to demonstrate the relevant academic credits may be eligible for Accreditation of Prior and Experiential Learning (APEL) considerations.
Additional
The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C/Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
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
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.
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.
/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/18-campaign-assets/built-to-shape-futures/campaign-built-to-shape-futures-58868.jpg)
/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/01-campus-and-facilities/12-campus-spaces/campus-spaces-cardiff-library-pod.jpg)
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).
-
Apply direct
Childhood Studies (Top Up)
-
Full-time, 1 years
-
September
-
Pontypridd
-
-
Apply direct
Childhood Studies (Top Up)
-
Part-time, 2 years
-
September
-
Pontypridd
-
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.
/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/07-student-life/72-students-union/student-life-students-union--52621.jpg)