Your future with a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies degree

A career or further study – the choice is yours
Two babies interacting
Wherever you want to end up, BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies is a great place to start.
The range of opportunities to work professionally with young children is expanding all the time. From family support work or early years education to specialist roles and management positions, this course will give you a great grounding from which you can build your career in the sector. By developing your interpersonal skills, practical experience and understanding of ethical issues, you’ll boost your employability in early years graduate professions.

It’s the combination of academic knowledge and practical skills that makes graduates from this course stand out from the crowd.

Some of the many potential careers your degree could help you achieve:

  • ?Early years sector leader/educator

  • ?Voluntary sector practitioner/manager

  • ?Research assistant

  • ?Lecturer in Further Education (with progression into Higher Education)

  • ?Family liaison worker (e.g. for the police or Homestart)

  • ?Safeguarding officer

  • ?Outdoor learning co-ordinator

  • ?Family event organiser

  • ?Health service advisor

  • ?Special Educational Needs Coordinator

  • ?Voluntary worker abroad

  • ?Children and adolescent mental health advisor/officer

  • ?Family link officer (e.g. for the prison service)

  • ?Local government advisor

  • ?Graduate schemes

Progressing to postgraduate study

Take your learning and your career further by making the most of our rewarding postgraduate opportunities.
If you choose further study, one possible progression route is our MA Education programme which offers a structured pathway for professional development in general education, including optional module choices, and specialist pathways. Full-time or part-time study modes are available for this programme.
Other postgraduate opportunities open to you are listed below.
Children playing with bubbles - image courtesy of Getty Images
 

Graduate insight: what are they doing now?

Graduate Hannah Lunnon talks about her experience of working for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMS) and how her career path has developed. She also gives advice on how choosing the right sort of part time work whilst studying can enhance your CV.
After completing his degree Charles Shrimpton is studying for a PGCE at Plymouth with a teaching career firmly in his sights. Watch his interview where he answers questions about the course and gives his advice to someone considering studying for the degree.
Graduate Katie Simms explains how the University experience has helped her get her foot securely on the career ladder:
“Being at University has given me so much more than just the degree. It gave me the confidence to go out and try my best for my first job interview...and it has paid off!”
Katie now has a graduate job with Children's Services in North Devon.
Katie Simms - Early Childhood Studies graduate