Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE)

The DECE, BT(EC) and BECE have been designed as a coherent nested suite of qualifications, aligned with national regulatory and professional requirements relevant to the preparation of Diploma-qualified early childhood educators and Early Childhood Teachers. Units shared across the qualifications retain common learning outcomes, curriculum and assessment, ensuring academic consistency, while each award reflects increasing breadth, depth, complexity and professional responsibility.

The BECE, at AQF Level 7, is the principal 32-unit qualification in the suite. It extends the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) through an additional year of advanced and integrative study encompassing contemporary childhood studies, inclusive and trauma-informed practice, digital citizenship, educational leadership, educational research and practitioner inquiry, culminating in the Early Childhood Leadership Residency.

Students who complete the first 16 units (2 years) of the BECE and exit at this stage will be awarded the Higher Education Diploma of Early Childhood Education. Students who complete the first 24 units and exit will be awarded the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood). Students who complete all 32 units will be awarded the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.

Alongside progressing through the principal course, students may also be admitted directly into the DECE or BT(EC) nested courses and articulate upward into the next qualification level upon successful completion.

Qualifications for this award will require successful completion of 192 credit points including the units listed in recommended sequence below comprising 32 core units.

Total placement hours: 640 hours (80 days) + 80 WIL hours (10 days) | Total delivery hours: 1098 | Total private study hours: 2688 | Total hours: 4506 | Total EFTSL: 4

Year 1

Trimester 1

• EPPP101 Foundations of Early Childhood Education and Care

• EDLW102 Child Development (Birth-5 years)

• ETPC103 Play and Intentionality in the Early Years

Trimester 2

• EDLW104 Children's Health, Nutrition, Safety and Protection

• ETPC105 Creativity and Curriculum Studies

• EPPP106 Planning and Documenting in the Early Years

Trimester 3

• EPPP107 Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness in the Early Years

• ETPC108 Teaching, Pedagogy and Curriculum for Preschoolers

Year 2

Trimester 1

• ETPC201 Teaching, Pedagogy and Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers

• EPPP202 Partnerships in the Early Years

• EPPP203 Equity and Diverse Learners in the Early Years

Trimester 2

• ETPC204 Behaviour and Responsive Practice in the Early Years

• ETPC205 Curriculum, Philosophy and Pedagogical Practices in the Early Years

• ETPC206 Curriculum Studies: Language and Literacy

Trimester 3

• ETPC207 Curriculum Studies: Music, Dance and Drama

• PRFX208 Professional Experience 1 (Birth to 5 years)

Year 3

Trimester 1

• ETPC301 Curriculum Studies: Health and Physical Education

• ETPC302 Curriculum Studies: Mathematics and Numeracy

• ETPC303 Curriculum Studies: Visual and Media Arts

Trimester 2

• ETPC304 Curriculum Studies: Humanities, Social Sciences and Languages

• ETPC305 Curriculum Studies: Design and Digital Technologies

• ETPC306 Curriculum Studies: Science, Engineering and STEM

Trimester 3

• ELIR307 Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Services

• PRFX308 Professional Experience 2 (3 to 5 years)

Year 4

Trimester 1

• EDLW401 Dimensions of Contemporary Childhoods and Learning

• EPPP402 Inclusive and Trauma-Informed Practice in Early Childhood Education

• ETPC403 Digital Citizenship, Agency and Participation in Early Childhood Education

Trimester 2

• ELIR404 Educational Leadership and International Curriculum Studies

• ELIR405 Policy, Practice and Leadership in Safeguarding Children

• ELIR406 Educational Research and Inquiry in Early Childhood 1

Trimester 3

• ELIR407 Educational Research and Inquiry in Early Childhood 2

• PRFX408 Early Childhood Leadership Residency

Prerequisite(s):

• ETPC105 — (Pre: ETPC103)

• EPPP106 — (Pre: EDLW102)

• ETPC108 — (Pre: EDLW102, ETPC103, EPPP106)

• ETPC201 — (Pre: EDLW102, ETPC103, EPPP106)

• EPPP203 — (Pre: EDLW102, ETPC103, EPPP106)

• ETPC205 — (Pre: ETPC108 & ETPC201)

• ETPC206 — (Pre: ETPC105)

• ETPC207 — (Pre: ETPC105)

• PRFX208 — (Pre: EPPP101 & ETPC205)

• ETPC301 — (Pre: ETPC105)

• ETPC302 — (Pre: ETPC105)

• ETPC303 — (Pre: ETPC105)

• ETPC304 — (Pre: ETPC105)

• ETPC305 — (Pre: ETPC105)

• ETPC306 — (Pre: ETPC105)

• PRFX308 — (Pre: PRFX208)

• EPPP402 — (Pre: EPPP203)

• ETPC403 — (Pre: ETPC305)

• ELIR407 — (Pre: ELIR406)

• PRFX408 — (Pre: PRFX308; ELIR404)

Corequisite(s):

• PRFX208 — (Co: ETPC206 and ETPC207)

• PRFX308 — (Co: ELIR307 and ETPC306)

• ELIR407 — (Co: PRFX408)

• PRFX408 — (Co: ELIR407)

Domestic Entry Requirements

Admission into this qualification is designed to support equitable access, workforce participation, and student success, while ensuring applicants possess the academic capability, communication skills, and professional suitability required for study within an Initial Teacher Education qualification. Admission requirements have been informed by benchmarking against contemporary Australian Higher Education and Initial Teacher Education provider practices, together with consideration of ACECQA requirements, state and territory teacher registration expectations, and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years old at the time of course commencement. No ATAR is required for admission to the course. Applicants may be admitted to the qualification through one of the following pathways:

• Successful completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12), with a minimum Band 4 in English (or equivalent), or an equivalent qualification

• Successful completion of an AQF Level 4 qualification or higher

• Successful completion of an approved tertiary preparation or bridging program

• Demonstrated capacity for higher education study through relevant professional or work experience

• Successful completion of a vocational qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care, including: Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care together with a minimum of 4 years relevant industry experience; or Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

International Academic and English Requirements

For International applicants, in addition to the above academic requirements, applicants with international qualifications (subject to verification of certified documentation) not delivered in English must demonstrate English equivalency as follows:

• Academic IELTS: Overall score of 6.5 or higher, with no band lower than 6.0 and a Speaking score of at least 6.5

• TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 79 or higher, with minimum scores of Reading 13, Listening 12, Writing 21, and Speaking 23

• Cambridge English (C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency): Overall score of 176 or higher, with no skill below 169 and a Speaking score of at least 176

• Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic): Overall score of 58 or higher, with no communicative skill score below 50 and a Speaking score of at least 58

Applicants intending to seek teacher registration should note that additional English language proficiency requirements may apply under state and territory teacher regulatory authorities.

Placement Requirements

Applicants enrolling into the qualification will be required to meet mandatory professional experience placement requirements prior to undertaking supervised placements in early childhood education and care settings. These may include:

• Working with Children Check (or equivalent state/territory clearance)

• National Police Check (where required for state/territory clearance)

• Evidence of immunisation and health requirements (where applicable)

• Completion of mandatory child protection, safeguarding or workplace compliance training

Failure to meet placement requirements will impact an applicant's capacity to successfully complete the qualification.

Inherent Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate they have the personal and professional attributes consistent with safe, ethical, and effective practice with children. This includes legal and regulatory compliance, ethical behaviour, professional and emotional responsiveness, communication and interpersonal engagement, cognitive, academic and digital capabilities, relational practice, reflective and reflexive practice, sensory awareness and environmental responsiveness, physical capacity, strength and mobility, and sustainable professional engagement. To demonstrate this, applicants will need to complete a questionnaire as part of the application process.

Professional Experience and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) are integral components of this qualification and provide progressively scaffolded opportunities for students to integrate theoretical, curriculum, pedagogical, and professional learning within authentic early childhood education contexts.

The nested suite incorporates two supervised Professional Experience units and, for BECE students, a capstone Early Childhood Leadership Residency. Students complete a total of 80 days of supervised Professional Experience across PRFX208 (birth to 5 years) and PRFX308 (3 to 5 years), before undertaking the Early Childhood Leadership Residency (PRFX408) — 80 hours of authentic WIL within an approved educational leadership context.

The Early Childhood Leadership Residency is distinct from supervised Professional Experience and does not contribute additional days to the 80-day requirement. Rather, it provides an advanced capstone experience through which students integrate and extend professional learning in educational leadership, governance, practitioner inquiry, mentoring, advocacy, quality improvement, and graduate readiness.

Students can review the criteria that may impact their course progression here. For placement-related information, please refer to the Student Handbook. A range of support services are also available, including academic and non-academic support resources to help you throughout your studies with the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.

Students are not required to purchase textbooks or e-books. Note that AE provides comprehensive digital library access at no additional cost, including: ProQuest eBook Central, SAGE eBooks, ProQuest Sociology Collection, EBSCOhost, and Early Childhood Australia publications. Reference available student support (24/7 helpline, Learning Resource Specialists, eLearning Support Officers) for navigating digital materials.

Acknowledge will be seeking professional accreditation from ACECQA for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.

Graduates of the BECE will be prepared for professional practice as Early Childhood Teachers (ECTs), subject to applicable professional recognition and state or territory teacher registration or accreditation requirements. The BECE further extends graduate employment and professional progression opportunities through advanced capabilities in educational and professional leadership, safeguarding leadership, policy and advocacy, research and practitioner inquiry, mentoring, governance, and quality improvement, supporting graduates to contribute to leadership, professional learning, organisational improvement, and broader professional and sector contexts in addition to professional practice as ECTs.

Graduates may work within diverse early childhood education, care, community, professional, and leadership contexts, including:

• Early childhood education and care services

• Kindergartens and preschools

• Long day care services

• Integrated child and family services

• Inclusive education and support services

• Community and early intervention programs

• Government and non-government organisations

• Policy, advocacy, curriculum, and professional support contexts, where appropriate to the graduate's qualification, experience, and role requirements

Depending on the qualification completed, professional recognition, experience, and employer requirements, graduate employment and professional progression opportunities may include:

• Diploma-qualified Early Childhood Educator

• Early Childhood Teacher

• Educational Leader

• Centre Director or Service Leader

• Inclusion Support Educator or Practitioner

• Curriculum and Pedagogy Advisor

• Family and Community Engagement Officer

• Early Childhood Consultant or Advisor

• Early Years Policy and Advocacy Officer

The nested qualification structure supports workforce participation, professional mobility, leadership development, and lifelong learning by providing defined qualification outcomes and opportunities for further study and professional progression. Graduates may also pursue further study and professional learning in areas including education, educational leadership, research, policy, and related child and family disciplines.

Applicants can apply to have their prior formal study, non-formal learning, and extensive professional experience assessed for credit against the learning outcomes of specific units within the degree. This is detailed and guided by the Awarding Credit Transfer (CT) and Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) in Higher Education Programs Policy and Procedure.

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be granted for up to 50% of the course*.

*Professional placement units are not eligible for credit transfer or RPL in ACECQA-accredited courses.

Domestic Students

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is a Commonwealth Government loan available to eligible students enrolled in AE Courses in order to help pay all or part of their tuition fees.

FEE-HELP is available for all Units of Study for eligible students.

Details about HELP loans including eligibility requirements and repayment of a HELP debt can be found on the Fee-help website.

The current FEE-HELP Information Booklet can be downloaded here.

If you have any questions about applying for FEE-HELP please contact: https://www.studyassist.gov.au/financial-and-study-support/fee-help

International Students

Indicative total tuition fee: TBA

Administration fee: TBA

View fee list here. - TBA

TBA

All of AE’s Student facing Policies and Procedures can be found here.