Study the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth - 8)

Study Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth – 8)

Educate, inspire and support young minds in the fundamental early years of life and learning.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth – 8) seeks to equip graduates with the skills to implement considered and purposeful experiences that cultivate young children’s play, learning and development in the twenty-first century. In viewing our graduate teachers and young children as strong, powerful, and rich in potential, the program delivers a sound understanding of the importance of play, early learning curriculum and pedagogies, social and emotional development and a contemporary understanding of documentation and leadership.

As an Initial Teacher Education degree, successful completion of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education enables you to apply for registration with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia.

Fast facts

Course facts at a glance.

Domestic

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International Student

I am not a citizen of
Australia or New Zealand.

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I am a
Domestic Student

I am an Australian or New Zealand Citizen.

I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).

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Prerequisites

None

Assumed knowledge

None

2024 selection rank

70.00

Guaranteed selection rank

75.00

TAFElink

Advanced Diploma or above

Adjustment factors available

Yes

SATAC code

244491

Delivery mode

In person:

– Bedford Park

Online: No

Duration

4 years full-time
(or part-time equivalent)
Deferrable: Yes

Annual indicative fee

2024: $5,400

How are these fees calculated?

Start dates

– March

Additional entry requirements

Student and ATAR profile

Save course

Additional entry requirements

Student and ATAR profile

Save course

Why study Early Childhood Education (Birth -8) at Flinders

Gain the skills employers are seeking with our nationally and internationally recognised transformative curriculum, based on contemporary research understandings of how to prepare effective teachers.
Qualify job-ready to work with children aged birth-8 in birth-5 settings, preschools and the early years of school.
Get a feel for the early childhood settings that you’re most passionate about, with a minimum of three professional placements across long-day care, preschool, kindergarten and school.
Personalise your degree by choosing a specialist curriculum area and multiple elective options.

Your career

Education is a fast-growing sector, with a wide variety of job opportunities and long-term career prospects. Job growth of 17.2% is projected for Early Childhood Teachers over the next five years*

Although the majority of education graduates go on to employment as educators in the public or private sector, some choose to follow other pathways.

*Source: Labour Market Information Portal, Department of Jobs and Small Business. 2020 employment projections for the five years to November 2025.

Potential occupations include:

early childhood teacher
education support officer
long day-care educator
in-home nanny
out of school hours care (OSHC) educator/director.

Potential employers include:

government, Catholic or independent schools
private industry and government settings
childcare or early learning centres
kindergartens or preschools
OSHC.

Professional accreditation/recognition

Upon successful completion you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia.

Graduates looking for employment in other parts of Australia and overseas may be required to meet additional conditions. Graduates can be assured that they will meet the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority employment requirements.

"

The experience I had at Flinders definitely set me up for success in my current career as an early childhood teacher. Just as children can learn so much from Mother Nature, so do we as adults. Flinders’ beautiful natural environments provided me with lots of inspiration, motivation and space to think, learn and reflect. I was provided with endless resources and opportunities to learn and experience, and during placements was very well supported, with course coordinators that listened and helped me every step of the way.

What you will study

First year A typical first year may include:	exploration of the the importance of play for young children’s learning and development and the theories and philosophies that have and continue to influence early childhood education the first year of study sees pre-service teachers embark on their first professional experience placement as they combine theory with practice investigation of children’s early literacy and numeracy understanding, and learn how to assess and document learning.
Second year A typical second year may include:	an opportunity to explore learning through the Expressive Arts including specialised experiences with experts in the field pre-service teachers are introduced to teaching literacy and numeracy in school settings whilst also focussing on pedagogies of belonging and relationships elective topics allow pre-service teacher to design their study pathway in second year.
Third year A typical third year may include:	investigation of teaching through technologies thinking whilst developing further understanding of literacy and numeracy education. pre-service teachers are well prepared for their first 6-week placement topics in inclusive education, early reading, differentiation and family relationships.
Fourth year A typical fourth year may include:	consolidation of learning and preparation for the final teaching placement. pre-service teachers are supported to bring together the varying elements of teaching to meet the Graduate Standard and pass the Teaching Performance Assessments pre-service teachers have a further opportunity to study an elective topic and create a research project that builds on their educational interests.

View study program

Practical experience

The degree provides you with practical experience that prepares you for the workforce.

Undertake extensive professional experience placements (minimum 80 days) in a variety of early childhood settings.
Develop vital practical skills such as relationship building, educational planning, technology use and community innovation.
Learn to engage in transformational, innovative and creative teaching practices.
Develop considered, relational skills for working with children, their families, community members and professional colleagues.

What you'll need

A Working with Children Check, and Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care Certificate must be completed before undertaking a placement in your first semester.

ATAR and Student Profile Information

ATAR and Selection Rank profile

The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2024. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made
N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published

ATAR-based offers only across all offer rounds	ATAR - Excluding adjustment factors	Selection Rank - ATAR plus any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer	97.85	99.35
Median rank to receive an offer	77.13	81.65
Lowest rank to receive an offer	60.95	70.05

Student Profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced study in this course in Semester 1, 2024 including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia. Applicant background groupings are based on educational background, not basis of admission. Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – the number of students is less than 5
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

Applicant background (Semester 1, 2024)	Number of students	Percentage of all students
Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	75	24%
Vocational education and training (VET) study	13	4%
Work and life experience	15	5%
Recent secondary education - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	134	43%
Recent secondary education - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test)	24	8%
Recent secondary education - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration pathways)	30	10%
International Students	18	6%
All students	309	100%

Add Innovation and Enterprise
to your degree

At Flinders University, we recognise that careers are evolving and the workplace of the future will look very different from today.

Whatever undergraduate course you are studying at Flinders, you can add innovation and enterprise electives to your degree to gain new, adaptable and transferrable skills that will equip you for the careers of tomorrow.

Learn More

How to apply

Choose your preferred course.

Check the entry requirements and admission pathways available to you.

Choose other courses to include in your preferences.

Visit SATAC and submit your application online.

Admission pathways

Applicants can apply for this course using Year 12 qualifications, previous higher education study, TAFE/VET qualifications, or through adult entry (STAT/Foundation Studies/tertiary preparation course).

Find the entry path that’s right for you.

Explore our pathways

Additional entry requirements

Applicants must complete a non-academic assessment task known as a Teaching Capabilities Statement as part of their application to demonstrate their motivation to teach, their strong interpersonal and communication skills, willingness to learn, resilience, self-efficacy, and strong organisational and planning skills. This involves a short statement in response to three set questions used to demonstrate suitability for study and work in the teaching profession.

Applicants who select this course as a preference during the application process will be directed to a page to meet this requirement.

Visit the Teaching Capabilities Statement page for further information

Inherent requirements

The Australian Government has introduced the Literacy and Numeracy Test for all initial teacher education (ITE) students to ensure they have the high level of personal literacy and numeracy skills required of teachers.

The test is a national instrument designed to assess elements of an individual's literacy and numeracy skills and will be used to demonstrate that ITE graduates are in the top 30 per cent of the population for literacy and numeracy.

All students graduating from any ITE course in South Australia must have achieved the standard for both the literacy and numeracy components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) to graduate.

For further information, including registration details, please check the test administrator’s website at https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/

There are also important inherent requirements for this course and applicants are strongly advised to become aware of these requirements.

View inherent requirements

Choosing your preferences

When choosing your preferences through SATAC, another Flinders degree you might want to include in your list is the Bachelor of Arts.

How to apply

Select your course.

Check entry requirements.

Check your eligibility for credit.

Apply online

Obtain certified documents.

Submit your application and documents.

View further details

Additional entry requirements

Applicants must complete a non-academic assessment task known as a Teaching Capabilities Statement as part of their application to demonstrate their motivation to teach, their strong interpersonal and communication skills, willingness to learn, resilience, self-efficacy, and strong organisational and planning skills. This involves a short statement in response to three set questions used to demonstrate suitability for study and work in the teaching profession.

Applicants who select this course as a preference during the application process will be directed to a page to meet this requirement.

Visit the Teaching Capabilities Statement page for further information

Inherent requirements

The Australian Government has introduced the Literacy and Numeracy Test for all initial teacher education (ITE) students to ensure they have the high level of personal literacy and numeracy skills required of teachers.

The test is a national instrument designed to assess elements of an individual's literacy and numeracy skills and will be used to demonstrate that ITE graduates are in the top 30 per cent of the population for literacy and numeracy.

All students graduating from any ITE course in South Australia must have achieved the standard for both the literacy and numeracy components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) to graduate.

For further information, including registration details, please check the test administrator’s website at https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/

There are also important inherent requirements for this course and applicants are strongly advised to become aware of these requirements.

View inherent requirements

English language pathways

If you don’t meet our English language entry requirements and need to improve your English language proficiency, you can do so through Flinders University Academy – or our approved English Language Instruction Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) providers.

This means that you can attend the required English language tuition at approved ELICOS providers and gain direct entry into university without an IELTS or TOEFL test.

Find out more

Academic program pathways

If you don’t meet our academic entry requirements, you can still gain entry to Flinders University through Flinders University Academy. With a range of diplomas, foundation and English language courses, students can find a direct pathway into the destination degree of their choice.

Find out more

Course enquiries

Want more information about studying at Flinders University? Contact us to find out more – we’d love to help you decide if Flinders University is the right choice for you.

Course enquiries

For all course enquiries phone or email us or complete the course enquiry form.

1300 354 633

askflinders@flinders.edu.au

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth - 8)

Study Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth – 8)

Fast facts