Name: Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Author: James Cook University

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Nurture the next generation.

Make a real difference and shape the future of your community by guiding the next generation when they need it most. Study with a university that has trained generations of teachers across the region for over 50 years. Focus on your learning not your earning by accessing paid placement opportunities, with over 900 placement partners across Australia. Start your journey today and make a difference where it matters most.

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Shape young lives

Teach from early learning centres and kindergarten to Year 3

Study at your own pace

Online part-time study, one subject at a time

Educating future generations for over 50 years

The trusted leader in educating our educators

Online

Online: January, March, July, September

$4,738⁺

⁺

estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load. Please note this estimate is variable and subject to fluctuation depending on choice of elective subjects.

see fees and scholarships for more

Currently displaying fees for 2026, which are subject to change in following years.

*Course duration varies according to intake, subject load and credit awarded.

Full time not available

ATAR 65

English, General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3/4 C); or equivalent.

Alternate Pathways

313319

What to expect

Make a difference in the lives of young children and begin your career in early childhood education at JCU. Gain professional experience in your first year and complete a total of 120 days of workplace learning over the course of your degree.

Take advantage of JCU’s strong partnerships with childcare centres, kindergartens, preschools, and primary schools to develop your network and build practical job skills.

Develop specialist skills needed for teaching in rural and remote areas and work to improve Indigenous education outcomes. Cover essential areas of child development, learning, behaviour, wellbeing, curriculum and education for the diverse learning needs of the early years.

Gain credit with a Diploma qualification:
Diploma of Early Childhood Education – 8 subjects (or one year full-time equivalent study)
Diploma of School Age Education and Care – 3 subjects (or one trimester full-time equivalent)
Apply for credit at https://www.jcu.edu.au/students/enrolment/study-credit.

All students enrolled in an Initial Teacher Education course must achieve the required standard for both the Literacy and Numeracy Tests for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE).

Additional information

About JCU's Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Are you ready to make a difference in the life of a child? Do you have what it takes to not just pass on information, but offer comprehensive support to a young person in all aspects of life? Your rewarding career in teaching begins with a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) from JCU. Through the early childhood education courses you take at JCU, you will leverage a world-class education into a career that will change lives, including your own.

An Early Childhood Degree Focused on You

You care about children, and you know that the youngest of us are the most vulnerable. You have a passion to prepare for a career guiding young children safely into the next stage of education and development. With your early childhood education degree, you will be positioned to work in schools, preschools, kindergartens childcare centre and anywhere in Australia.

As you earn your bachelor of early childhood education, you will be gaining real-world workplace experience from the very first year. You will be able to make the most of JCU’s connections with some of the best primary schools, preschools and childcare centres in the country. With these connections, you will quickly develop your skills while building a professional network for life.

You want to do more than just pass on facts and information to your future students, and in your own studies you expect more than just theory. Your early childhood degree will equip you with strong practical skills to reach those in rural and Indigenous communities. You will be ready to develop curriculum, build learning strategies and help your students with all aspects of child development.

Early Childhood Education Courses That Lead to Fantastic Careers

This bachelor of early childhood education, Queensland is fully accredited through the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. The program is also overseen by the Queensland Office for Early Childhood Education and Care and the Department of Education, Training and Development and is accredited by the Queensland College of Teachers.

With this kind of expertise behind your studies, you will be poised to register and work with children anywhere in Australia. Wherever you want to go, and whatever level of teaching you want to do, your path is completely open. Your early childhood education course will prepare you for anything.

Not only will you be ready to work directly as a teacher, but you will also be grounded in modern social and environmental sustainability goals. You will be equally at home working in capital cities or in rural and Indigenous communities. Your world class education begins here, and you can even take your training and skills overseas.

An Early Childhood Degree with Great Learning Resources

You will be well supported as you pursue your early childhood teacher course. JCU is committed to student success with small class sizes and lecturers who want to see you finish well.

You will have access to our popular Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), where you can work with students from the same course to revise difficult material, consider different perspectives and discuss ideas together to gain a deeper understanding. You can also sign up for self-study workshops focusing on effective note taking, studying for exams and writing assignments.

Not only will you study early childhood education, you will also gain a strong foundation in everything an educator needs to know to help young children. When you graduate with your Bachelor of Education Early Childhood Education, you will have a comprehensive grasp of maths, statistics and academic reading and writing in addition to your core focus of education.

You will also understand the health and physical education needs of children, how to use technologies in your curriculum and know how to educate effectively in a culturally diverse context.

As you progress, you will stay in regular contact with a skilled learning advisor who will help you develop your learning strategies and professional written communication skills. When you graduate, you will have the confidence and skills to start your career anywhere.

Your Future Starts Here

When you finish your early childhood teacher course, you will begin more than just a career. You will be pursuing a true calling and will reap lifelong benefits. Start your early childhood education degree at JCU and get ready to make all the difference in the lives of Australian children.

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Study online

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) external (online) course is built for students with busy lives. You will study one subject at a time, up to six times a year. Each subject goes for seven weeks, allowing you to focus on a single area of study each time. It also spreads your study load across the year, and you still get 10 weeks of breaks.

By completing six subjects per year, you can complete a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) in 5 years. There are also options to accelerate completion in 4 years.

Consult the handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment,and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession.

Career Opportunities

JCU Education (Early Childhood Education) graduates have a nationally accredited degree that enables them to be employed across Australia.

Graduates can pursue careers in education in schools, preschools, kindergartens, and childcare centres.

This course is nationally accredited through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) in association with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Graduates are eligible for teacher registration in Australia.

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) is fully accredited with ACECQA, which is the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.

Admissions transparency data

Entry score threshold

These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Block 1, 2025. Entry scores are based on the most recent Block 1 intake and are updated in June each year. Meeting the threshold doesn't guarantee admission.

ATAR/Selection Rank: 65.00

Entry score range

This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) for Block 1, 2025. The table includes offers deferred to Block 1, 2025, which may have been assessed using the entry score threshold of an earlier year.

External

	Without adjustments	With adjustments*
Highest	<5	<5
Median	<5	<5
Lowest	<5	<5

^{Notes:
<5 – indicates less than 5 OP/ATAR-based offers made.}
^{* Refer to Adjustment Factors}

Find out more about who you might study with by viewing this course’s student profile.

Adjustment factors

James Cook University applies bonus ranks under the Regional Preference Scheme and QTAC’s Educational Access Scheme (EAS). Learn more about JCU’s adjustment factors.

Handbook

Visit the JCU Course and Subject Handbook.

Fees and scholarships

The Indicative First-Year Fee represents the approximate cost of studying full-time for one academic year (24 credit points) in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
This figure should be used as a guide only.
Actual fees will depend on:
- The specific subjects you choose to study.
- Your individual study load.
For detailed information, please check your student contribution amount (per subject) on our Commonwealth Support Fees and Payment options page.
Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change by the Department of Education and JCU.

Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships

Full-time domestic students in this course are eligible to apply for the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship. These consist of yearly payments of $10,000, for the expected full-time duration of your degree. For undergraduate students, this is four years, or a total of $40,000, and postgraduate students receive $20,000 over two years. If you choose to complete your final professional placement in a government school located in a remote area, you may also be eligible for an additional $2000 payment.

Successful applicants are required to make either a four-year (undergraduate) or two-year (postgraduate) commitment to teaching in a government school. You must fulfil this commitment within 10 years.

Fees

Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD4,738

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Learn more about fees and financial support

Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD4,738.00

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Learn more about fees and financial support

Pathways to JCU

JCU Prep provides a pathway into this course. Enrolling in this flexible program will enable you to meet entry requirements including subject pre-requisites and ATARs. Introductory academic subjects are also available to prepare you for tertiary study.

Successful completion of some Certificate III, a Certificate IV or AQF Diploma qualifications can also be used as a pathway into this course.

Explore our list of guaranteed entry courses to see if you are eligible through your prior qualification.*

Some courses require that additional subject prerequisites are met. These prerequisites may include subjects such as English, Mathematics or Science. Subject prerequisites are detailed in the Handbook above.

Contact our friendly JCU Future Students Team to find out more.

_{*Excludes entry into the Bachelor of Advanced Science, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, and Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours).}

How to apply

Note the course QTAC code for the location you've chosen. You'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.

Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.

All applicants for initial teacher education courses (pre-service teachers) must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria.

Important application update

Applications to study the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) for 2025 and beyond no longer require the completion of a Teacher Personal Statement (NARTE).

Applicants for 2025 and beyond should also note that General Science is no longer a prerequisite for this course.

English language requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the following English language proficiency requirements:

An overall score of 6.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with no sub-score less than 7.0 for Speaking and Listening and no sub-score less than 6.0 for Reading and Writing.

If you do not meet the English language requirements you can apply to study a University-approved English language program.

ATAR score is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.

Ready to start your teaching journey?

Take the next step toward a rewarding career where your passion shapes the future. With real classrooms, real communities, and real impact at JCU.

Start your application Ask a question Download brochure

Student

Tabitha McCann

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

I like the flexibility of JCU's external study options as I work full time. The course offers placements in early childhood education and schools, providing experience with different communities and age groups. The hands-on experience is more than any other university I've studied at.
International Student

Kathri Thanthri Hewage Nipuni

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

If you're passionate about working with children JCU is the place to do it, because the support that you can gain from the university is just beyond words. I transferred from JCU Singapore to Townsville and the children in Far North Queensland are friendly and the lecturers helpful and supportive.
Alumni

Bianca Rogers

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

I felt the help was there if it was needed and that’s what I loved about my course and about JCU. Even when studying the course online, you will be supported. Making sure students have that level of comfort is a strength for JCU.
Lecturer

Dr Marcia Thorne

Education

Learning online about early childhood education is stimulating and rewarding. Subjects are full of interactive components and hands-on activities. Our students learn science experiments that are colourful and fun. Art and dance bring out your creativity. With intentional teaching we put play into learning.
Employer

Jan Cooper

Principal, Annandale State School, Townsville QASSP President

Principals greatly value the close liaison between JCU Education and schools. This liaison ensures that pre-service teachers receive authentic and effective professional experience placements in schools. JCU Education graduates are well-prepared academically and practically for their demanding careers as educators.