Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) (ED39)

Guidelines for enrolment

Enrolment is undertaken on your Study Plan in HiQ. Read the information under the Course Structure tab, note your important enrolment key dates, then access your Study Plan to enrol. More information about Study Plans. Some units are offered in teaching periods that are subject to different key dates to units offered in Semester 1 and Semester 2. In particular, units offered in flexible teaching periods and 6 week teaching periods may have earlier start dates.  All teaching period dates can be found on the QUT Academic Calendar. All teaching period dates can be found on the QUT Academic Calendar.

You have 9 years to complete the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), including any approved leave of absence. If you withdraw from the course without an approved leave of absence and subsequently apply for readmission you will be required to satisfy all course entry requirements, including any additional entry requirements, in operation at the time of your readmission.

Course structures

You will complete a total of 384 credit points of study. The program consists of 360 credit points of core units and 24 credit points of options. You will complete a minimum of 90 days of professional experience in school classrooms, childcare settings and kindergartens.

You will complete a primary specialisation in which you will enhance your knowledge and skills in a national area of priority for a primary school setting. In your program, the primary specialisation comprises four units (48 credit points) of study in English/Literacy.

If you are an out of step student you need to be aware that some coursework units cannot be studied in the same semester as a professional experience unit. Contact the Faculty if you are out of step and require progression advice. 

Advanced standing (credit)

You may wish to apply for advanced standing (also known as credit or exemption) for prior completed studies and other assessable learning outcomes. See more on  Advanced Standing.

If you have completed a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Children's Services, or an equivalent accredited qualification you will receive advanced standing for 96 credit points and can complete the course in 3 years.

Advanced standing based on early childhood work experience is not granted automatically. You are required to submit an application for advanced standing along with a letter from your employer outlining your previous early childhood work experience. The advanced standing application (AS form) is available on the HiQ site.

Advanced standing will not be awarded for the following units:

• EUB471 Professional Experience: Transition to Professional Practice (School)
• EUB471 Professional Experience: Transition to Professional Practice (Kindy)

These are capstone units which are required key experiences including student portfolio, career preparation, reflection and closure. The units are designed to measure your knowledge, skills and ability in relation to the Graduate level of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APSTs) and must be completed by all students.

Blue card

You will need to apply for a blue card because you will be working with children or young people as part of this course. More information is available from the Blue card website.

Professional experience

You should have a course GPA of 4 or higher to undertake a professional experience. You are required to have a course GPA of 5 or higher to undertake a rural, remote or international professional experience.

Students will be required to undertake the majority of their supervised professional experience in Australian settings.

If you fail a unit containing professional experience you are required to repeat all components of the unit.

The final professional experience unit must be completed in the last semester of enrolment in the course. For more information about your professional experience, please visit the  Professional Experiences Website. You can look at the professional experience dates on the Professional Experiences Calender.

Designated units

This course contains designated units which are essential to your course progress and if you do not successfully complete the requirements of these units your progress in the course will be reviewed. Please refer to the unit outlines for more information and/or the HiQ website.

Literacy and numeracy

Overall, you must achieve the benchmarks on the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE)  to satisfy course completion requirements. Successfully achieving the literacy and numeracy benchmark is a requirement to graduate from the course.

You are expected to attempt the Test in your first year of enrolment. Sanctions will apply if you don't sit the test in the timeframe explained on the LANTITE Canvas site.

From 2024, the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) permits recognition of First Nations language proficiency by the relevant cultural authority as an acceptable alternative standard to LANTITE. Students who are proficient in an Australian First Nations language can use this as an alternative in place of all LANTITE requirements. Further information can found on the LANTITE Canvas site.

If you are experiencing issues or have concerns, please contact the Faculty at ciesj.support@qut.edu.au.

Professional recognition

This course meets the professional teaching standards of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership and Queensland College of Teachers, and graduates are eligible to apply for teacher registration. Graduates are also recognised as qualified early childhood teachers under the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority framework.

Applicants seeking teacher registration in Australia may be required to provide evidence of English Language proficiency levels. Further information is available from relevant registering bodies.

Early exit

If you are unable to complete ED39 Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), you can exit with ED29 Bachelor of Educational Studies (288 credit points) on meeting specific criteria.

There is no direct entry to the Bachelor of Educational Studies and this course does not provide eligibility for teacher registration. For further information contact your Course Coordinator.

Pathways to further study

On successful completion of this course you will be eligible to apply for entry into the Master of Education or Master of Philosophy, provided you meet the entry requirements.

Additional costs

There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs. Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.

Study costs

Domestic students may need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

• More information about study costs and paying fees.

QUT You

You may be required to complete QUT You units in your course – find out more about QUT You.