Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)

We will ensure you can step into your career with confidence and continue to adapt to ongoing workforce changes and future opportunities. Some key inclusions in the course are: 

• a deep understanding of early childhood learning and development  
• curriculum and pedagogy knowledge and practices creating positive learning environments for young learners 
• inclusion and diversity 
• building positive relationships with parents, carers, communities and education stakeholders 
• digital technologies 
• entrepreneurial thinking and leadership 
• innovation and creativity 
• evaluation, research and assessment 
• developing your professional identity 
• global perspectives 
• resilience. 

Visit the student and graduate blog to find out more about what it’s like to study education and where a QUT degree can take you.

We will ensure you can step into your career with confidence and continue to adapt to ongoing workforce changes and future opportunities. Some key inclusions in the course are: 

• a deep understanding of early childhood learning and development  
• curriculum and pedagogy knowledge and practices creating positive learning environments for young learners 
• inclusion and diversity 
• building positive relationships with parents, carers, communities and education stakeholders 
• digital technologies 
• entrepreneurial thinking and leadership 
• innovation and creativity 
• evaluation, research and assessment 
• developing your professional identity 
• global perspectives 
• resilience. 

Visit the student and graduate blog to find out more about what it’s like to study education and where a QUT degree can take you.

Specialisation for primary teaching

As this course qualifies you to teach to Year 3, you will undertake a primary specialisation as required by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership in literacy. This will enhance your skills in a national area of priority for a primary school setting.

If you want to teach only in prior-to-school early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings and gain a professional early childhood teacher qualification, then you may be interested in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five).

Flexible delivery

At QUT, our flexible courses accommodate busy lives, offering credit for suitable early childhood qualifications and work experience.  

You can complete your course in 3.5 years, rather than 4, with summer semesters, and study on campus or online, with some evening sessions available. Online students join a learning community with expert support and easy access to course content.  

Professional Experience placements can be done in your home region, with schedules provided in advance, and QUT library resources can be mailed to you. During this course, you are required to complete 95 days (equivalent to 665 hours) of professional experience placements.

Credit for diploma studies and work experience 

If you have completed a relevant diploma, you can build on your qualification and receive credit for completed study. Additional credit is offered for relevant work experience. 

You can receive 96 credit points of advanced standing (equivalent to 1 year of full time study) if you have any of the following:

• a Diploma of Children's Services (Early Childhood Education and Care)
• an Advanced Diploma of Children's Services
• an equivalent accredited qualification. 

You can receive 144 credit points of advanced standing (equivalent to 1.5 years of full time study) if you're a domestic student who has completed the appropriate level of early childhood work experience, as well as any of the following:

• a Diploma of Children's Services (Early Childhood Education and Care)
• an Advanced Diploma of Children's Services
• an equivalent accredited qualification. 

Specialisation for primary teaching 

This course qualifies you as an early childhood teacher to teach young children in prior-to-school settings (e.g., kindergarten) and the lower years of primary school (Prep-Year 3).  As part of this degree, you will undertake a primary specialisation as required by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership in literacy. 

Apply for a Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship

The Australian Government is supporting new students looking to start teaching, by providing $40,000 for full-time Bachelor of Education students or $20,000 for full-time Master of Teaching students. 

Round One applications for 2024 have now closed. Round Two applications to start study in 2025 are expected to open in late 2024/early 2025. 

Learn more about the scholarship

Careers and outcomes

As early childhood specialists, graduates are prepared to work as qualified teachers in early learning centres and kindergartens. The early childhood degree also prepares you to teach in Prep to Year 3 in primary school and can allow you to work across Australia and overseas. 

Early childhood teachers develop a range of skills, knowledge and practices as a result of their own unique combination of work experiences and personal qualities. You will be empowered to shape your own career path and explore the many ways to make an impact. You can explore a range of careers, including: 

• childcare centre or kindergarten director 
• education policy and program implementation 
• training and development roles in private and public organisations 
• education and outreach roles 
• developing products for the early childhood sector 
• learning designer 
• entertainment industry roles 
• consultancy 
• education research. 

If you want to teach only in prior-to-school early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, and gain a professional early childhood teacher qualification, then you may be interested in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five).

Professional recognition

This course meets professional teaching standards for the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership and Queensland College of Teachers. Graduates are eligible to apply for teacher registration. Graduates are also recognised as qualified early childhood teachers under the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority framework.