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Bachelor degree · university
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
This degree prepares students to teach babies, toddlers and preschoolers, and at some providers children into the early school years.
- How long it takes
- 2.5 to 4 years
- full time
- Entry ATAR
- From 50.25
- Lowest offered at Deakin University, 2026
- How you can study
- Online or on campus
- Leads on to
- Early Childhood Teacher
- $99,100 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 9 providers
- 4 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- a genuine interest in how young children learn and grow
- patience and a calm manner with children
- good communication skills with children and families
- a willingness to reflect on your own practice
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
Bachelor or Undergraduate Certificate?
The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education is the higher level. The Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education sits at a lower level. Both cover early childhood education.
See the courseWhere this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Early Childhood Teacher
Early childhood teachers plan and run play-based learning programs for children from birth to about five, in the years before formal school starts.
What else you need
Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Median pay$99,100
In demand
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
Where you can study this course
There are 9 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Deakin University (opens in a new tab)
Deakin University
Melbourne Burwood, Warrnambool, VIC
4.4from 2,192 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 50.25 lowest
- (60.1 median, 2026)
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
What students like
- Lecturers are approachable, supportive and knowledgeable
- Support services are helpful for students
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Course page for Melbourne Polytechnic (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
Preston, VIC
3.7from 485 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
- Website for Southern Cross University (opens in a new tab)
Southern Cross University
Gold Coast, QLD
3.4from 183 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 60 lowest
- (65 median, 2024)
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Fee
- $4,736 a year
- (Government-supported place)
Victoria University
City Flinders, Footscray Park, Werribee, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
- Website for La Trobe University (opens in a new tab)
La Trobe University
Online
4.3from 1,101 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly and supportive
What to weigh up
- Admin and support can be slow to respond
- Some find courses light on practical content
University of South Australia
4 campuses, SA
4.3from 216 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 64.1 lowest
- (73 median, 2024)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
Box Hill Institute
Box Hill, Lilydale, Lilydale/Box Hill, VIC
3.0from 372 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
The University of Notre Dame Australia
Sydney - Broadway, NSW
5.0from 2 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
- Child development and learning
- Play based learning
- Curriculum planning
- Inclusive education
- Health and wellbeing
- Working with families
Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose.
How is it different from Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education?
The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education is the higher level. The Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education sits at a lower level. Both cover early childhood education.
How is it different from Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education?
The Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education is a graduate certificate, while this is a bachelor degree. Check entry requirements with each provider.