Courses
Admissions & Support
Early Childhood Education & Care (Bachelor of Arts, L7, 180 ECTS)
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Status: Apply Now
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Location: Blended
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years: 2
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Fees: Full programme fee is €4,800 (€2,400 per academic year). This programme qualifies for funding via the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) for the Academic Year 2025-2026. Applications to TUS will close on Monday 28th April as the NSLF application process will close on 1st May 2025 through Pobal. Please see Fees section below for further information on eligibility and application process.
Course Overview
This two-year programme is aimed at staff currently working in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector who are looking to advance their careers by achieving a qualification at degree level. The programme aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to fulfill a variety of leadership roles within the Early Childhood Education and Care sector.
Contact Details
What are the entry requirements?
Applicants must hold a QQI Level 6 (or equivalent) qualification which is recognised by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) as meeting the criteria for ‘ECCE Room Leader (Standard Capitation)’. Applicants must currently be working in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector and continue to do so for the duration of the course. To be more specific there is a requirement for students to complete 400 hours of professional practice in Year 1 & 2. A letter of verification from employer stating such is required.
Details of courses meeting the criteria may be found at:
gov.ie – Early Years Recognised Qualifications (www.gov.ie)
Applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis and priority will be given to those who meet the minimum entry requirements.
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Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) – Assessment
Please review the academic entry requirements for this programme.
If you do not hold these academic qualifications but would like your application assessed under RPL please select YES on the online application form and Flexible Learning will be in contact.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Applicants who do not have English as their first language must ensure they satisfy English Language requirements. For entry to undergraduate courses, a score of 5.5 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. For postgraduate courses, a score of 6.0 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their English proficiency meets these requirements.
Course Content
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Professional Practice Education Placement (1)
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Learning through Drama and Storytelling
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Transitions in Early Years
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Health, Nutrition & Wellbeing
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STEAM in ECE
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School Age Provision
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Creating Inclusive Environments
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Professional Practice Placement (2)
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Teaching and Learning through Play
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Supporting Children with Additional Learning Needs
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Positive Behaviour Strategies
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The Reflective Educator
More Information
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The proposed delivery schedule is subject to change.
Modules will be delivered over two academic years in a blended learning format as follows;
Year 1
The proposed commencement date is Saturday 13th September 2025 with a half day induction on TUS Thurles campus.
Monday & Wednesday evenings, 7-9pm (online) commencing Monday 15th September 2025 plus 4 in-person Saturday classes per semester alternating between TUS Moylish & TUS Thurles campuses (Dates TBC).
Year 2
Wednesday & Thursday evenings, 7-9pm (online) commencing Wednesday 17 September 2025 plus 4 in-person Saturday classes per semester alternating between TUS Moylish & TUS Thurles campuses (Dates TBC).
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The assessment strategy for this programme includes both formative and summative elements including:written assignments, projects, portfolios, skills demonstration and examination.
Professional practice placement is a core requirement and can be completed in the participant’s existing place of employment.
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Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 7, 180 ECTS)
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Full programme fee is €4,800 (€2,400 per academic year). This programme qualifies for funding via the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) for the Academic Year 2025-2026. Applications to TUS will close on Monday 28th April as the NSLF application process will close on 1st May 2025 through Pobal. Please see below for further information on eligibility and application process.
The NSLF makes up to a 90% contribution to course fees for participating students for the Sept 25/26 academic year. Our BA in Early Childhood Education & Care (L7) is a qualifying course.
Applications for NSLF for Academic Year 2025/2026 Now Open
The new application process for NSLF for the academic year 2025/2026, opened for applications on 12th March 2025.
NSLF Application Process and Timelines
From Wednesday, 12th March, 2025, applicants wishing to avail of the fund can email Pobal, at NSLF@pobal.ie to request a link to the NSLF Student Portal in order to create an account and upload employment details and complete the new application process.
Applicants who applied for NSLF for the academic year 2024/2025 and were unsuccessful, should make a new application for the academic year 2025/2026 through the NSLF Student Portal. These applicants should login to their NSLF account, upload employment details and complete the new application process.
Applicants will be required to complete a number of pre-requisite tasks prior to completing the application process.
The application process will close on 1st May, 2025.
Rules and conditions for Academic Year 2025/2026
Eligibility for NSLF 2025
Those wishing to make an application must meet the following eligibility criteria for the NSLF:
- Be working with children in a Tusla-registered Early Learning and Care (ELC) or School Age Childcare (SAC) service.
- The service in which the applicant is working in, must have a current signed Core Funding contract with DCEDIY.
- Applicants must have worked within an ELC or SAC service for the six months prior to their application.
- Applicants must have a current application/offer for 2025/26 entry to a Level 7/8 Degree course approved by the Qualification Advisory Board (QAB) that is eligible for NSLF.
- Be a new entrant to an Approved Course for the academic year commencing 2025/2026
(Autumn 2025) - Not be an ELC educator or SAC practitioner currently undertaking the completion of an Approved Course or an equivalent degree.
- Not be an ELC educator or SAC practitioner who has already completed an Approved Course or equivalent degree.
For clarity purposes, at time of application an applicant must not hold (or be undertaking) an Approved Course at level 7 or level 8 in Early Learning and Care.
Selection Criteria for NSLF 2025/2026
Where the demand for funding is greater than the available budget, the selection of successful applicants is based on the following criteria as set out in the NSLF rules:
1. The number of graduates in the applicant’s service, with priority for applicants from services with no graduates,
2. Priority index (Equal Start Index, formerly EPM index), with priority for applicants from services supporting the most disadvantaged children
3. The role of the applicant in a service, with priority for those in lead educator or manager roles.
4. If, after the above prioritisation has been applied and not been decisive, random selection
was applied.Students Who Received NSLF Funding in 2024/2025
Continuing Students (existing students who successfully received NSLF funding for Academic Year 2024/2025 and wish to continue to receive funding for NSLF for Academic Year 2025/2026).
Pobal will contact continuing students directly in early Summer asking individuals to verify their continuing eligibility for NSLF. Once eligibility is confirmed a new Letter of Conditional Funding will issue to the student for the academic year 2025/2026.
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If you are applying for NSLF funding the closing date for applications to TUS is Monday 28th April as the application process for NSLF closes on 1st May. Please see Fees section above for full details on the NSLF application process.
If you are not applying for NSLF funding the closing date for applications is Monday 18th August 2025.
Places are allocated on a first come first served basis. Course will be closed once the maximum number of applicants is reached. Courses run subject to viable numbers.
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TUS Midwest will host an online information evening for the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education & Care (Level 7, Flexible Learning Version) on Monday 19th May from 7-8pm. To register for this event please see Online Information Evening BA in Early Childhood Education and Care (L7, Flexible Learning)