Send me a PDF copyHighlights
- Learn best practices in early childhood settings, focusing on play-based learning and the role teachers play in enriching and extending play and learning.
- Develop your ability to support children’s agency in learning, promote child rights and strengthen child safety.
- Gain insights into the diversity and evolving nature of contemporary childhoods, families, and communities and strategies to promote inclusive education.
- Strengthen your knowledge of Indigenous Australian histories, cultures and perspectives, and how to create culturally safe and responsive learning environments.
- Increase your personal and professional knowledge to teach children about social, economic and environmental sustainability.
- Build your capability to support children living with the outcomes of complex trauma.
- Consider the role of digital technologies in early childhood learning and teaching.
- Explore professional responsibilities and engage in effective communication and collaboration with families and other child and family services.
- Develop the ability to understand learners with complex profiles and plan curriculum adjustments for inclusive classrooms in early childhood contexts.
Highlights
- Learn best practices in early childhood settings, focusing on play-based learning and the role teachers play in enriching and extending play and learning.
- Develop your ability to support children’s agency in learning, promote child rights and strengthen child safety.
- Gain insights into the diversity and evolving nature of contemporary childhoods, families, and communities and strategies to promote inclusive education.
- Strengthen your knowledge of Indigenous Australian histories, cultures and perspectives, and how to create culturally safe and responsive learning environments.
- Increase your personal and professional knowledge to teach children about social, economic and environmental sustainability.
- Build your capability to support children living with the outcomes of complex trauma.
- Consider the role of digital technologies in early childhood learning and teaching.
- Explore professional responsibilities and engage in effective communication and collaboration with families and other child and family services.
- Develop the ability to understand learners with complex profiles and plan curriculum adjustments for inclusive classrooms in early childhood contexts.
Why choose this course?
Establish the groundwork for lifelong growth and well-being by studying a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five). This course is designed for those motivated to become an early childhood teacher in early childhood education and care settings.
Those that already hold a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (or an equivalent qualification) and have at least two years of work experience in early childhood education and care are eligible to complete their degree in as little as 1.5 years.
This course equips you with the skills and knowledge to make a profound impact in an evolving field, where QUT has been preparing specialist early childhood teachers for more than 100 years, and our graduates are known for their early childhood expertise.
This degree will help you develop skills, such as policy development, engagement in education and training, delivery of learning programs and advocacy work in other child and family contexts. Upon completion, you will hold a professional early childhood teacher qualification, setting you up for a rewarding career in early childhood education and care settings. If you’re interested in teaching in ECEC settings as well as prep to year 3 in primary schools, then study QUT’s Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).
Pathways
This degree also provides a pathway to further qualifications and career opportunities in education. Graduates from the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education who later wish to teach in schools will be eligible for entry into the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary programs).
Why choose this course?
Lay down the foundation for lifelong development and well-being by studying a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five).
This course equips you with the skills and knowledge to make a profound impact in an evolving field, where QUT has been preparing specialist early childhood teachers for more than 100 years, and our graduates are known for their early childhood expertise.
This degree will help you develop skills such as policy development, engagement in education and training, delivery of learning programs and advocacy work in other child and family contexts. Upon completion, you will hold a professional early childhood teacher qualification, setting you up for a rewarding career in early childhood education and care settings.
If you’re interested in teaching in ECEC settings as well as prep to year 3 in primary schools, then study QUT’s Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).
Pathways
This degree also provides a pathway to further qualifications and career opportunities in education. Graduates from the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education who later wish to teach in schools may be eligible for entry into the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary programs).
Real-world learning
The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five) requires a total of 81 days of professional experience. This is made up of:
- 55 days professional experience, including 15 days working with young children from birth to 3 years, and at least 40 days working with children in a kindergarten setting; and,
- 26 days work integrated learning project
There is opportunity to complete one professional experience placement and all work integrated learning projects at your current place of employment, provided the setting meets agreed conditions to ensure the quality and integrity of supervised professional experience.
Through these professional experience placements, you will connect theory, research and practice and expand your professional knowledge and skills to support and extend children's learning while also learning about the role of teachers as leaders in creating and sustaining effective environments for collaboration and teamwork. Our expert teaching staff will inspire you to push boundaries, be curious and innovate, learning dispositions that you will in turn foster in the children you teach.
Explore this course
Recognising the impact of the early years on children's learning, development and wellbeing, there is growing demand for degree-qualified early childhood teachers to teach in prior-to-school early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings across Australia and overseas. This degree is your opportunity to be in demand and make a difference to the lives of children aged birth to five years before they begin their schooling journey.
As part of this course, you will;
- Learn best practices in early childhood settings, focusing on play-based learning that enhances children’s strengths, interests, and self-regulation.
- Understand the challenges and opportunities in promoting children’s rights and safety and learn to advocate against harm and exploitation.
- Gain insights into the diversity and evolving nature of contemporary childhoods, families, and communities.
- Develop skills to lead, plan, implement, and evaluate health practices in early childhood settings, balancing individual children’s health needs.
- Use socio-cultural and sociological theories to understand students’ diverse backgrounds, and address Indigenous Australian education.
- Consider the role of digital technologies in early childhood learning and teaching.
- Explore professional responsibilities and engage in effective communication and collaboration with families and other child and family services.
- Develop the ability to understand learners with complex profiles and plan curriculum adjustments for inclusive classrooms in early childhood contexts.
Careers and outcomes
On completion of this degree, students will be able to:
- teach in prior-to-school early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, including kindergarten/preschool, long day care, and family day care
- become an educational leader responsible for leading educational programs and practices in an ECEC setting
- take on other service leadership roles such as director in an ECEC centre or coordinator in a family day care or outside school hours care service.
Professional recognition
Upon graduating from this course, you will hold a professional early childhood teacher qualification that is recognised nationally by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
This course will not lead to primary or secondary teacher registration. Students looking to attain accreditation to teach in primary schools may also consider the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) or Bachelor of Education (Primary) courses. Alternatively, graduates can apply for entry into the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) and Master of Teaching (Primary) programs.
Possible careers
- Early childhood specialist
- Early childhood teacher
- Kindergarten teacher
- Preschool teacher
- ATAR/selection rank threshold
- 70.00
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2025.
Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?
- Course code
- ED34
- QTAC code
- 404012
- CRICOS code
- 116650B
-
- Online
- Kelvin Grove
- 1.5 - 2 years full-time
- 3 - 4 years part-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
Entry requirements
You must have:
- A Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (or equivalent) completed in 2016 or more recently
If you completed your diploma earlier than 2016, you must provide evidence with your QTAC application of at least two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience in early childhood education and care gained in 2021 or more recently.
If you do not have a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (or equivalent), or if your diploma was completed earlier than 2016 and you do not have the required work experience, you will need to undertake the three-year program Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five) (QTAC code 404016).
Automatic advanced standing (credit)
If admitted to the diploma entry program you will automatically receive one year of advanced standing which will entitle you to complete the degree in two years (full time).
Applicants with work experience
If admitted to the diploma entry program and you have:
- completed your diploma in 2016 or more recently and at least two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience in early childhood education and care; or
- completed your diploma earlier than 2016 and at least two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience in early childhood education and care gained in 2021 or more recently
you can receive an additional 48 credit points of advanced standing. This allows you to complete the course in one and a half years instead of two. You will need to lodge an Advanced Standing application and provide an official statement of service from your employer after you receive your offer.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2024
As this is a new course, Semester 1, 2024 information is not available.
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
I completed secondary school in Australia
- ATAR/selection rank
- 70.00
Minimum English language requirements
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Blue card
This course requires you to have a blue card so you can participate in work placements and experience.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2026 fees
2026: Fee available from October
2026 fees
2025 fees
2025: CSP $5,500 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2025 fees
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
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