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Bachelor of Education - The Early Years (Honours)

Shape the minds of tomorrow. Make a positive impact on your students' lives. Form strong connections with the community.

For personalised assistance with UOW courses, please reach out to our Future Students Team:

Our team is available during Australian business hours, 9 am to 5 pm.

For other UOW contact details, click here.

For personalised assistance with UOW courses, please reach out to our Future Students Team:

Our team is available during Australian business hours, 9 am to 5 pm.

For other UOW contact details, click here.

If you’re planning to study at UOW immediately after finishing your HSC, International Baccalaureate (IB), or an interstate equivalent, you can apply for Early Admission to this course. Applications can be submitted via the UOW Early Admission website during the designated period, usually June – August each year.

Students can also apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

If you’re a non-school leaver (e.g., completed Year 12 previously and/or have a TAFE qualification or equivalent), you can apply directly to UOW.

Before applying, please review the requirements, intakes, and deadlines for your chosen degree.

International students are encouraged to apply with the support of an approved UOW agent. An agent can help navigate the application process and ensure that you submit all necessary documentation. For your nearest agent, please see our agent list.

Alternatively, if you would like to apply directly (without an agent), you can start the process through our Apply Online portal. Please note, some applicants will not be eligible to apply directly and will be prompted to apply via an agent.

International students who are studying an Australian Year 12 qualification in or outside of Australia may choose to apply through UOW Early Admission, and/or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Need help?

Contact the UOW Future Students Team:

For more details about this course

Australia: 1300 367 869. International: +61 2 4221 3218

Student ?
Year ?
Campus
Wollongong
Delivery ?
Flexible, On Campus
Duration
4 years full-time, or part-time equivalent
Starts
  • Autumn 2025
Code
UOW: 341

Overview

Students wishing to undertake the Honours program must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Education - The Early Years.

The honours program is an alternative option for students wishing to undertake research during their fourth year of study. Entry is based on application and merit.

Early Years education enriches learning in children from birth to five years by giving children the opportunity to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for lifelong learning. It focuses on the significance of early education to foster children’s health, development and wellbeing.

Throughout the degree you will spend up to 16 weeks teaching in Early Childhood Education and Care Centres and two weeks in the Community and Family sector, complementary to the mentoring experience within the Professional Partners in Practice program. This will give you invaluable sector experience and professional connections that will enhance your employment pathways and opportunities.

See the course handbook for more information. 

Working closely with two supervisors, you will undertake a major project during the program, you will undertake special experiences for research work either in the field or that examine other aspects of education. The degree will culminate in the production of a thesis or other project work that disseminates your research findings and the results from your project and research inquiry.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake exchange, study abroad and international cultural immersion programs.

See more

Careers

  • Early Childhood Teacher
  • Education Centre Manager
  • Family Day Care Operator
  • Education Program Coordinator
  • Education Policy
  • Management Positions in Government
See more

Accreditation & professional recognition

The Bachelor of Education - The Early Years is accredited through the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Admissions information

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. The procedures governing admission are defined in UOW's Admissions Procedures, and the UOW College Admissions Policy.

For specific advice or to ask any questions regarding an application, please contact the UOW Future Students Team.

  • Recent Secondary Education

    If you are a current high school student in Australia, or you’ve finished high school recently, your admission to UOW will likely be based on your Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or International Baccalaureate admissions score (IBAS). 

    Other high-school qualifications UOW considers for entry include: 

    • GCE A-Levels
    • New Zealand NCEA Level 3
    • Overseas senior secondary qualifications comparable to Australian qualifications 

    Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.  

    See UOW Admissions for more information. 

    Selection Rank adjustments

    Adjustments are used to increase your Selection Rank. Factors such as the subjects you are studying, the location of your school, or your eligibility for equity and access schemes may be taken into consideration. Find out more about UOW's adjustment factors.

  • Work and life experience

    Admission to UOW is primarily based on your academic qualifications, with work or life experience generally not considered. If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, we recommend exploring recognized pathway programs, such as those offered by UOW College or the TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC).

    For more information, please refer to the UOW Admissions Information page.

Compulsory Work Based Placement
This course contains approximately 88 days of compulsory work-based placements, completed over 18 weeks (totaling 616 hours, at 34 hours per week) throughout the degree.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

    UOW's Woolyungah Indigenous Centre's Indigenous Admissions Program (IAP) offers an alternative pathway for Indigenous Australians aged 17 and over who are seeking entry into an undergraduate course at UOW. Upon completing the IAP, applicants will be considered for admission based on an interview and assessment of both academic and non-academic qualities. For further details, including the application process, please contact Woolyungah Indigenous Centre.

  • Domestic applicants with overseas qualifications

    If you have completed or partially completed studies at an approved university or tertiary institution, you may be eligible for entry to UOW. You'll need to provide academic records, and your course must be at least one-sixth complete. Non-English documents must include an official English translation. For more information, contact the UOW Future Students Team.

  • English language proficiency

    All UOW courses are taught in English and require varying levels of proficiency. If English is not your first language, you must meet the University’s English Language Requirements, which differ by course.

    Accepted international test results include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge, and OET for specific health-related courses.

    Alternatively, you can fulfill the requirement by completing an English course at UOW College.

  • Workload

    Full-Time Study Load

    As a full-time student, you can expect to commit around 48 hours of study per week. This includes class time and independent study. You may need to factor more time for examination study and practical work & placements.

    Part-Time Study Load

    For part-time students, study hours will vary based on the number of units taken, with similar expectations for class and independent study.

    For more details on course workloads, please refer to the UOW Handbook.

  • Record Check

    New enrolling students will be required to complete the new online Working with Children Check and clearance must be obtained prior to attending Professional Experience.

    Please note: Professional Experience is a compulsory component embedded in our undergraduate and Master of Teaching courses. Therefore it is an expectation that students who participate in these courses are capable of meeting the demands of navigating their own way to, from and around the Professional Experience contexts (e.g. school sites). It needs to be noted that the off-campus environment is beyond the control of UOW.

  • Credit for Prior Learning

    If you have completed prior studies or relevant professional experience, you can request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

    Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous study or work experience related to your chosen subjects.

    UOW values lifelong learning and recognizes various types of prior learning, regardless of how or where it was obtained. For more information, refer to UOW's Credit for Prior Learning page.

More detail

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available. For eligible domestic students, Australian government funding will contribute towards your tuition fees. The remaining proportion, known as a student contribution, will depend on when you begin study (enrolment year) and study area. Read more domestic student fees and CSPs.

  • Autumn Session, 2025 at UOW

    Application Deadline: See important dates for more information
    Orientation: Check your campus details
    Session: 03 March - 27 June 2025

  • Autumn Session, 2026 at UOW

    Application Deadline
    Applications must include all required documents to be considered complete. If submitted late, your application may be reviewed for a future session if a decision cannot be made in time for your preferred session. 

    ApplicationDate
    Domestic (UAC Early Bird)30 September, 2025
    International9 December, 2025
    Domestic (direct)31 December, 2025
    Domestic (UAC final round)29 January, 2026

    Session Details
    For more detailed information like enrolment cutoffs and exam periods, see key dates. 

     Date
    OrientationCheck your campus details
    Session start2 March, 2026
    Census date31 March, 2026
    Mid-session recess20 - 24 April, 2026
    Session end25 June, 2026

    Indicative enrolment

    The tables below contain information on the 2024 commencing student cohort, which indicates the likely profile of students for 2025.

    Student profile

    This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at UOW for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at UOW in 2024.

    Student profile table
    Applicant background 2024 intake 2024 intake (%)
    Higher education study 69 25%
    Vocational education & training study 189 69%
    Work & life experience 0 0%
    Recent secondary education
    ATAR Only 0 0%
    ATAR plus additional criteria 0 0%
    Other criteria only (non-ATAR) 13 5%
    International students <5 <5
    All students 273 100%

    < 5: Number of students is less than 5
    N/A: Data not available for this item
    N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)

    ATAR profile

    This table relates to all students selected on the basis of ATAR alone or ATAR in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ATAR-based admission.

    ATAR profile table
    ATAR profile of ATAR-based offers in 2024 ATAR Selection Rank
    Highest rank to receive an offer <5 <5
    Median rank to receive an offer <5 <5
    Lowest rank to receive an offer <5 <5

    < 5: Less than 5 ATAR-based offers made
    N/A: Data not available for this item
    N/P: Not published (less than 5 ATAR-based offers made)

    More information

    For more information about UOW admission pathways, see UOW Admission Information.

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