Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status, BA (Hons)
Swansea UniversitySingleton Park Campus, United Kingdom
Course overview
The BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS) offers a holistic and critically informed approach to understanding children from birth through to the age of eight. It will develop your understanding of early childhood as a foundational period, where children are recognised as capable, competent and active members of society. The programme is rooted in inclusive, ethical and rights-based teaching methods that value children’s agency, voice and diverse lived experiences.
As a student on this degree, you will undertake a minimum of 700 hours of professional placement in early childhood settings, structured as two days per week across the programme. These placements are designed to develop your practical competencies, aligning with the National Occupational Standards and Social Care Wales (SCW) requirements, including leadership and management capabilities. Upon successful completion, you will qualify with Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS), enabling you to work with children from birth to eight years, across a range of early years and community contexts, including Leadership and Management in Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development (Theory), which will be integrated into the programme, in alignment with sector frameworks, pending formal recognition by SCW.
Key highlights
- Minimum 700 hours of professional placement in early childhood settings
- Placements two days per week throughout the programme
- Graduate with Early Years Practitioner Status for birth to eight
- Placements aligned with National Occupational Standards and Social Care Wales requirements
- Develops leadership and management capabilities in children's care
- Inclusive, ethical and rights-based approach valuing children's agency and voice
Entry requirements
- A-level: BBB-BCC — Text: BBB-BCC. A level (or equivalent) typical offer: BBB-BCC DBS
- BTEC: DDM-DMM — DBS
- Access to HE Diploma — UK Access: in Humanities or Social Sciences - minimum of 21 Distinctions and 24 Merits at Level 3
- T-level: Merit — T Levels: Merit
- UCAS tariff points: 120 — Mixed Qualifications: 120 UCAS tariff points from 3 highest qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: 32 — International Baccalaureate: 32 points
Scholarships
International Excellence Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded as a discount on tuition fees worth up to £5,000 in the first year of study, with a further £2,000 awarded in Year 2 (for £5,000 awardees only, subject to achieving a 70% average).
Swansea University Sport Scholarship
Financial support (of up to £2000).
Thrive Bursary
The Thrive bursary is a £4,000 reduction in tuition fees for the first year of study, with a progression bursary of £2,000 in subsequent years (applied as a discount off tuition fees).
Up to £4,000
Careers this course leads to
- Early years practitioner
- Nursery practitioner
- Nursery manager
- Early years room leader
- Family support worker
- Play worker
Cost of study
UK/Home: £9,790 per year | International: £19,000 per year
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Swansea University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
Ready to start?
Book a free consultation and we'll map your fastest route to a September 2026 place.