

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
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No1 in Greece | TOP20 in the UK.
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Practical applications, workshops & simulations.
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Supervised placement.
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Worldwide professional recognition.

Course Information
The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies has been designed by the University of Derby, a TOP20 UK University in Education Studies, according to the Guardian University Guide 2019.
You will gain a thorough understanding of early childhood from birth to eight years, exploring how children develop, learn and think, building the professional skills and knowledge to meet their needs. You’ll look at the importance of early childhood from a broad range of perspectives.
During the course, you will focus on identifying and meeting children’s holistic needs, so you will consider all the challenges and opportunities faced by early years professionals working in a variety of children’s services.
The role of professional and personal development is an important theme for this course. By spending a substantial amount of time on placement, you’ll draw on your own practical experiences with young children to advance your knowledge.
What you will study
Our teaching approach is a combination of theory and practice. Workshop sessions in crafts, music, drama play, and kinetics are delivered in our first-rate facilities and equip you with practical skills to create your own learning material.
Real-world learning lies at the heart of this course. You’ll undertake a placement for one or two days each week, building your skills in working with children and boosting your employability. We liaise closely with nurseries, children’s centres and other early years employers, so you’ll gain practical knowledge of what it is like to work in different settings as well as developing your observational and reflective skills.
You will participate in personal and professional development activities, such as fieldtrips, guest lectures, seminars and voluntary work. You will be encouraged to develop your research skills and present your work in conferences, organised by Mediterranean College, the University of Derby or other national or international organisations.
Why choose this course
- The degree is awarded by the No1 Ranked UK University in Greece and TOP20 in the UK.
- It leads to professional recognition as an Early Childhood Educator or Nursery Teacher.
- It incorporates practical workshop sessions in Crafts, Music, Kinetics and Drama Play.
- Supervised placement is an integral part of the curriculum.
- You gain invaluable experience through our multiple activities: fieldtrips, guest lectures, seminars, voluntary work, participation in conferences, etc.
- You become a bilingual professional,with exceptional academic and career prospects.
- It is a research-oriented programme, giving you the opportunity to present your work in scientific conferences.
Teaching and learning takes place in creative ways: lectures, guest lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, role-plays, presentations, conferences. Assessment does not rely on exams, but rather on coursework, oral & poster presentations, short tests and quizzes and research activity.
The programme includes a compulsory 200-hours work placement with structured supervision. Students can undertake their placement at a combination of settings, such as preschool education centres, nursery schools, after-school activity centres, children museums, NGOs. The School collaborates with a wide network of preschool educational settings. Placement advances students’ professional knowledge and eventually provides access to the labour market.
Courses
Year 1
Study Skills and ICT
This module is intended to develop the students’ skills and confidence in producing academic writing and confident use of the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It will deal with how to collect information from academically appropriate sources and present this in a well-structured manner with indication as to its source. The skills developed in this module are generic ones which will be applicable across all modules. Additionally, the module facilitates self-evaluation of a range of key skills and promotes the development of an action plan focusing on academic, personal and career outcomes. Inherent in this is the development of the skill of critical self-reflection.
The Emerging Practitioner
The module investigates concepts of care and education within the landscape of provision for children and families. It examines a variety of settings and the legislation which underpins practice within them. This module will provide the context for work placement preparation, an opportunity to see observation in practice and promote students responsibility in relation to safeguarding children within the work setting.
Early Language and Communication
Language and communication are central to children’s emotional, social and cognitive development. The ability to express needs, feelings, opinions and questions unlocks the world of understanding, knowledge and relationships for the young child. This module provides students with an understanding of language and communication development in young children and babies, identifies the role of the adult in promoting language and looks at theories of language development. It provides the student with the opportunity to discuss and analyse a range of theoretical perspectives and consider their application to practice.
Play and Creativity in the Early years
The module considers the role of play and creativity within young children’s learning. It will examine a range of theories in relation to how play supports children’s holistic development, and how opportunities for play and creativity can be provided within early years settings. The module will also consider the relationship between current curriculum guidance and opportunities for play and creativity.
The Growing Child
Due to the wide diversity of students in terms of age range, prior knowledge of this subject, experience and ability, an innovative approach to teaching this module has been adopted. It is part taught, and part student led, to enable those less experienced students to gain understanding by their own studies, whilst giving more experienced students the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise. It aims to encourage the development of methods of enquiry in students, and the opportunity to undertake exploratory study and to share information.
Early Emotional and Social Development?
The module begins with an exploration of attachment and how very young children develop an understanding of the attachments which are important to their development. The factors associated with the promotion of well-being and happiness are considered. Different parenting styles are discussed, as are vertical and horizontal relationships. The module provides an opportunity for students to examine research into emotional literacy and concept of resilience and how the findings from this are put into practice.
SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) & Inclusive Practices in the Early Years
The aim of the module is to introduce students to special issues of the learning process, which derive from children’s individual characteristics and needs during the teaching and learning process. Emphasis will be placed on the theoretical analysis of current educational trends related to the early intervention for children with special needs. Furthermore, the module will examine the role of the early years practitioner through the presentation and discussions of several case studies. The module aims to inform students about the issue of differentiated learning and to examine inclusive strategies and practices that can be adopted in the classroom.
English I
Students will develop their general English skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking, and be provided with an introduction to academic English. Students will develop their grammatical, phonological and general and subject specific lexical awareness. By the end of the module students’ language for academic study should be at a mid B2 on the CEFR equivalent to IELTS 5.5.
Educational Activities (Music, Art)
The main aim of the programme is to combine high academic knowledge with practical skills in order to prepare students for their professional career in the field. Based on the above aim, the ‘Educational Activities’ module was developed to help students develop certain knowledge and skills and to train them in order to be able to design and implement creative art education activities. Students attend workshops in music, creative movement, art, crafts and drama. All activities take place at a designated Educational Lab, where students have the opportunity to be trained and also to design and use their own educational material.
Year 2
Children’s Health
This module is intended to develop students’ knowledge of concepts of health as they apply to children in contemporary society, and how this is related to healthy growth and development. Throughout the module a strong emphasis is placed on poverty and its’ resultant inequalities in health, the policy context including children’s right to health and the role of the Early Years Educator in promoting children’s health and wellbeing.
Developing Employability
This module seeks to further students’ personal and professional development, building upon skills learnt in Stage 1, with a particular focus on reflective practice skills. Within the early years sector high value is placed upon the importance of working collaboratively as part of a team, particularly in moving towards securing the highest standards of children’s welfare. This module enables students to review their personal and professional development and the successful and limiting factors which influence working together effectively with children, parents, and professionals from both a theoretical and practice perspective.
Child Protection
This module is aimed at students who are planning to work with children in early years, health, social care and education settings. The purpose of the module is to equip students with knowledge and understanding that will help them to identify children at risk of or suffering abuse and neglect. The module will help students to understand the policies and procedures that will help them fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities effectively. The module also aims to promote understanding of multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working in the field of safeguarding children.
The Early Years Researcher?
The Module is designed to help students plan their own research, develop research skills in a topic of their choice and give the opportunity to study an area of interest to yjem. The knowledge gained will help in the understanding of how practice and theory inform each other. It involves the development of a range of skills, including the ability to study independently. Crucially, the Ethical Guidelines of the University are explored and how they affect students, settings and tutors.
Emerging Literacies in the Early Years
The module considers the role of children’s emergent literacies in an increasingly digital age. It will look at the historical context of children’s literature and how childhood is portrayed within children’s reading material. It will explore the relationship between children’s literacies and current issues in childhood experience and consider how books and digital material can be used to support children’s learning. The module aims to equip students with a deeper understanding of how important aspects of childhood are addressed through image, icon and text illustration as well as writing.
Creative Approaches to the Curriculum 0-8 years
This module explores the central role of creativity in children’s early learning. Students will be encouraged to develop a clear understanding of how creativity can support children to become autonomous in their own learning through decision making and provide opportunities for them to develop individual approaches to learning across the curriculum. This will focus upon creative methods of learning and teaching and students will relate these ideas to the current curriculum and consider implications for their practice.
English II
The module builds on English I and further develops students’ general and academic English skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students will be exposed to more advanced forms of academic English. Students will further develop their grammatical, phonological and general and subject specific lexical awareness. By the end of the module students’ language for academic study should be at a B2/B2+ on the CEFR equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or above.
Educational Activities(Music, Drama, Crafts)
The main aim of the programme is to combine high academic knowledge with practical skills in order to prepare students for their professional career in the field. Based on the above aim, the ‘Educational Activities’ module was developed to help students develop certain knowledge and skills and to train them in order to be able to design and implement creative art education activities. Students attend workshops in music, creative movement, art, crafts and drama. All activities take place at a designated Educational Lab, where students have the opportunity to be trained and also to design and use their own educational material.
Year 3
Contesting Childhood
This module aims to equip students with a critical understanding of childhood; recognising it is a contested phenomenon. It explores competing ideas from history, philosophy, psychology and sociology about the concept of ‘childhood’, children’s development and reflects upon current research findings especially when considering how different groups (or communities) consider notions of ‘upbringing’. It is particularly useful in developing students’ critical thinking skills. The style of presentation is necessarily dialogic and includes individual and small group tasks requiring skills of working together, debate and communication.
The Critically Reflective Practitioner
The term reflection has been interpreted by theorists and practitioners in a number of different ways and is used for different purposes. This module explores ideas and theories about the purpose of critical reflection and its use to practitioners and students in the final year of the early childhood studies undergraduate programme. It enables students to recall, explain, analyse and reflect upon their own professional practice and personal development through the nurturing of critical thinking skills. It provides an opportunity for students to bring synthesis to their academic and practice-based journey and their personal progression.
Children’s Voices: Listening and Experiences
Children live different lives according to the context in which they are located. This module aims to provide a framework for exploration of these (in some respects) unique experiences without judgement and in full recognition of the validity of diverse lives. The course addresses issues of children’s rights and citizenship in modern contexts globally and its content includes ‘ways of asking’, different languages through which children can feel confident to express their feelings and experiences, hopes, fears, aspirations etc. Practitioner’s roles and approaches are clearly key to this process as well. This relatively new area is, arguably, part of a new thinking about children as active participants in interpreting and making meanings of their world(s).
International Perspectives in Early Childhood Education and Care
The aim of this module is to raise critical thinking in relation to contemporary academic debates about childhood, children and children’s services, drawing on practice from across the world. It recognises that there are significant differences in practice, exploring their origins and justification. The module encourages students to ask whether these differences in approach are important. Through examination of the policy and practice in a range of countries, specific aspects of provision are contrasted with the United Kingdom. As we live in a competitive international environment, this module examines the premise that it is becoming increasingly important to be aware of alternatives and to see early childhood from a global perspective. The module explores a range of provision from across the world and requires a critical consideration of how specific international provision can inform personal and professional attitudes and practice.
Independent Study
This module is designed to enable students to bring to bear upon a personally chosen field of study a range of skills developed in the course to date in order to identify an aspect of practice in relation to the care and education of younger children which they have studied or researched in considerable. This will provide a distinctive and unique aspect to their degree qualification and will represent a field of knowledge and understanding which may be developed further in practice, postgraduate study or research.
Admission Requirement
This course is right for you, if you are a high school graduate of any discipline, who aspires to work with children, either as an educator, or in social and childhood welfare services.
The minimum English language requirement for the Greek-taught course is equivalent to IELTS 4.5 (B1) and for the English-taught course equivalent to 6.0 (B2). If you do not possess an official English language certificate, you can sit the College’s internal placement test.
Moreover, you’ll be asked to submit a reference letter from a tutor, and you’ll be called for an academic interview with the programme leader.
If you are a holder of an IEK/ HND diploma or a University or College student in a relevant discipline, you may be granted advanced entry, through recognition of prior learning.
Application & Enrolment
We use a rolling admissions policy, so we accept applications throughout the calendar year until all available places are filled. To that end, we urge you to submit your application in time.
We also offer multiple fee payment methods, individual payment plans and bursaries based on academic, athletic and socio-economic criteria.
Contact us today and find out more about this course and the available bursaries and funding opportunities. Our admissions advisors will provide you with all necessary information and will guide you though the application and enrolment process.
Degree recognition
Your degree is recognised in Greece as professionally equivalent to degrees awarded by Greek state universities. It is also recognised by the UK NARIC as academic and professionally equivalent to any UK degree.
Here you can view a professional recognition ministerial decision for one of our graduates.
Click here for more information on the degree recognition procedure by Greek authorities.
Postgraduate study
An Education degree allows you to choose among a variety of postgraduate and specialist courses. You may opt for a Master’s in Education or shift towards Management or Psychology. At Mediterranean College you have the following options:
- MA Inclusion and Special Educational Needs & Disability (ISEND)
- MA Education: Leadership & Management
- MA Education (TESOL): Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- MSc Counselling & Psychology in Educational Settings
Alternatively, you can choose an accredited CPD course offered by Mediterranean Professional Studies:
- Advanced Professional Diploma Special Education Needs
- Advanced Professional Diploma Intercultural Education
Career prospects
As an Early Childhood Studies graduate, you possess the knowledge and skills to undertake teaching roles in nurseries and kindergartens, in private or public schools. Also, you can work in various other educational settings:
- Special education facilities
- Childcare units
- Children’s creative activities centres
- Playgrounds and camps
- Counselling centres (for families/children)
- Non-Governmental Organisations
- Educational units of museums and cultural centres
Testimonials
I would describe my course in the graduate programme as a unique and valuable experience, at both educational and personal level. The specialisation in the field of learning disabilities was the goal and the means was personal work and proper guidance from notable and valuable fellow-teachers. The completion of this journey combines the happiness of personal satisfaction and the joy for the beautiful moments I spent with new colleagues who...
Violeta Pavgerou, MA Education: Special Educational Needs & Disability
With the education I received from Mediterranean college and my wise professors, I am now ready to explore and teach, not only in schools but my children one day! Thank you for the wonderful years I!!!...
Tran Mychie, BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
NOTHING WORTH HAVING COMES EASY... The road to get the Master degree was not easy ... With effort, help and moral support from my family and my beloved friends and fellow students, I managed to complete my graduate studies. HARD WORK + DREAMS + DEDICATION = SUCCESS ...
Panagiota Kokkinou, MA Education: Special Educational Needs & Disability