Program Overview
The Early Years Education at University College London (UCL) is a MA programme in Education over 12 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of education. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Early Years Education programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 12 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 7
- Tuition: GBP 15,525 (Tuition (Full programme)) — International students; GBP 7,145 (Tuition (Full programme)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: London, United Kingdom
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Early Years Education programme are prepared for diverse careers in education:
- Teacher / Lecturer
- Educational Consultant
- Curriculum Designer
- School Administrator
- Education Policy Researcher
- Training Specialist
Program Curriculum
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The course can be studied full-time within one academic year.
The Early Years Education MA has four compulsory modules:
- Early Childhood Education
- Researching Early Years and Primary Education
- Contemporary Issues in the Early Years
- Dissertation/ Report/ Dissertation Portfolio: this course offers various options for students to demonstrate their expertise, including completion of a dissertation, report, or dissertation portfolio, each designed to reflect and enhance their academic and professional development.
You will also select one optional module. Each module should be completed in one term and have assignments in different formats. If you choose to do a report, you'll need to select two optional modules instead of one.
Students will receive full support from the course team to help them choose the option that best fits their interests. They can select from the following:
- Dissertation: this involves carrying out original research on a specific topic related to early years education.
- Report: this option focuses on providing a detailed analysis or evaluation of a particular issue in early years education
- Dissertation Portfolio: this showcases a collection of work that highlights their skills and knowledge in early years education.
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The course can be studied part-time (2 years). Part-time students typically complete the course as below:
Year One
Early Childhood Education 30 credits
Contemporary Issues 30 credits
Leadership/optional 30 creditsYear Two
Research Methods 30 credits
Dissertation/ Report/ Dissertation PortfolioThe Early Years Education MA has four compulsory modules:
- Early Childhood Education
- Researching Early Years and Primary Education
- Contemporary Issues in the Early Years
- Dissertation/ Report/ Dissertation Portfolio: this course offers various options for students to demonstrate their expertise, including completion of a dissertation, report, or dissertation portfolio, each designed to reflect and enhance their academic and professional development.
You will also select one optional module. Each module should be completed in one term and have assignments in different formats. If you choose to do a report, you'll need to select two optional modules instead of one.
Students will receive full support from the course team to help them choose the option that best fits their interests. They can select from the following:
- Dissertation: this involves carrying out original research on a specific topic related to early years education.
- Report: this option focuses on providing a detailed analysis or evaluation of a particular issue in early years education.
- Dissertation Portfolio: this showcases a collection of work that highlights their skills and knowledge in early years education.
-
Students on a flexible basis can complete the MA over a period of time, between 2 and 5 years and the selection of the module is a combination of the teaching offer and student's choice.
The Early Years Education MA has four compulsory modules:
- Early Childhood Education
- Researching Early Years and Primary Education
- Contemporary Issues in the Early Years
- Dissertation/ Report/ Dissertation Portfolio: this course offers various options for students to demonstrate their expertise, including completion of a dissertation,
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A minimum of a second-class Bachelor\'s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required. Appropriate experience of working with young children is desirable.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Special. Only the IELTS or a pass to the required standard in the Institute of Education\'s pre-sessional English (PASHE) course are accepted. If taking IELTS, applicants must obtain an overall grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in the reading subtest and 6.0 in the writing subtest.
English Proficiency: IELTS 7 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 15,525 (Tuition (Full programme)) — International students; GBP 7,145 (Tuition (Full programme)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: GBP 15,525 (Tuition (Full programme)) — International students; GBP 7,145 (Tuition (Full programme)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 7
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact University College London (UCL) directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About University College London (UCL)
University College London (UCL)
London, UK
University College London, which operates as UCL, is a public research university in London, England. It is a member institution of the federal University of London, and is the second-largest...
University Profile- Start Date September 2026
- Language English
- Duration 12 months