Diploma pathway to Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

To be eligible for this course, you must:

• be a domestic student (Australian or New Zealand citizen, or Australian permanent resident)
• work in an early childhood education and care service at least three days a week
• already have a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
• be able to travel to Mt Helen, Berwick or Gippsland Campus.

The program allows eligible participants to finish a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education in 18 months rather than three years.

If you're accepted, you will:

• remain employed or engaged in your early childhood education and care service at least three days per week.
• receive credit from your Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care towards the first year of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
• study Bachelor of Early Childhood Education second and third year units.
• attend classes online and at Mt Helen, Berwick or Gippsland each week.
• be assigned a university mentor who will visit you at your early childhood education and care service 2–3 days per term.
• complete 80 days of work placement (10 days per unit) embedded in your paid employment.

Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? Contact Maya Antoun or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.

You'll also do 10 days of placement per unit. Your placement is embedded in your employment, but for the last two units we recommend you work in a different role or at another early childhood education and care service to broaden your experience.

Year 1

Semester 1  

• ECCOP2001 Play, Learning and Development
• ECCOP2002 Numeracy and Digital Technology

Semester 2 or Summer Semester

• ECCOP2301 Relationships with children, families and community
• ECCOP2004 Art, movement and music

Year 2

Semester 1

• ECCOP2003 Early Childhood Language and Literacies
• ECCOP2302 Diversity and inclusion

Semester 2

• ECCOP3001 Science, Environments and Nature Pedagogy
• ECCOP3002 Ethical Teaching and Leadership

Explore our free student support services if you need help with academic skills, health and wellbeing or career planning, and make sure you check to see if you're eligible for any scholarships or grants.

You'll also have access to additional support to become a early childhood teacher, including scholarships and incentives and mentoring through the Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships (ECTP) program.