About the course

Our four-year BA Childhood Studies (including foundation year), will be suitable for you if your academic qualifications do not yet meet our entrance requirements for the three-year version of this course and you want a programme that increases your subject knowledge as well as improves your academic skills in order to support your academic performance.

　　This four-year course includes a foundation year (Year Zero), followed by a further three years of study. During your Year Zero, you study three academic subjects relevant to your chosen course as well as a compulsory academic skills module.

　　After successful completion of Year Zero in our Essex Pathways Department, you progress to complete your course with our Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies.

　　From year one you will continue developing your academic skills alongside discovering what drives children’s development, what informs their behaviour and what shapes their identity.

　　The BA in Childhood Studies at Essex is an interdisciplinary degree where we explore the social and emotional worlds of children from birth to 25. It is a wonderful introduction for students wishing to deepen their knowledge about children's live and forge a career in children's education, health and well-being.

　　Are you fascinated by children’s behaviour What drives their development, what informs their behaviour and shapes their identity Do you want to help children with emotional, social, behavioural and education difficulties Why do some children falter through life’s ups and downs, whilst others seem to thrive in adversity and are more resilient Do you want to make a difference to children’s lives If so, this course is for you.

　　Children today face a wide range of new and challenging experiences, including unprecedented access to media, wider cultural diversity, online bullying and larger school numbers. Their early experiences of childhood affect them for the rest of their lives. You can make a positive contribution to these formative years.

　　Childhood studies is a vibrant and exciting field which has expanded in recent years to include knowledge from psychology, sociology and psychoanalysis. This course lays the foundations for a career working with infants and children, whether in education, health care or children’s services. It can also lead to further study in a range of courses from social work or teaching to speech and language therapy.

　　You gain a solid understanding of child development, the ecology of childhood (the place of children in different societies) and consider the way our concepts of childhood shape and condition children’s lives. You will also learn about the direct work with children through undertaking a placement in each year of study where you can begin to make links between theory and practice, in year one this placement can be with children of any age, in year two this is focussed on infant observation. Assessment is mainly by course work. Scholarships - View all scholarships Internships

　　

Start dates and prices

Course fees are indicative and should be used as a guide. Speak to a counsellor to get an accurate price.

　　Duration: 4 Year(s)Fees: Not available

Intake	Location
Autumn (October), 2024	Colchester
Autumn (October), 2025	Colchester

　　

How to apply

Entry requirements for University of Essex

A-levels: DDD, or equivalent in UCAS tariff points, to include 2 full A-levels.

　　A satisfactory enhanced DBS check (including child and adult barred list check) will be required prior to starting any placement(s) for this course, which will commence in Year 1. This will be organised by the University.

　　A satisfactory Overseas Criminal Record/Local Police Certificate is also required, in addition to a DBS Check, where you lived outside of the UK in the last 5 years for 6 months or more.

　　English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 5.5 overall.

　　

English language requirements

　　5.5

　　Overall IELTS band score

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　　TOEFL Internet based overall score: 72.0

　　

Application deadline:

This date isn’t available – speak to an IDP counsellor to get detailed information.

　　

Further information

Career outcomesIf you aren’t eligible for the above entry requirements, you might want to explore pathway options at University of Essex. If you want to find out more, please speak to our counsellors.

　　Pathway options to study at this institution

　　

Reviews and rankings

World ranking

　　301st / 1250

　　THE World ranking32nd / 130

　　Complete University guide

　　

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