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Shape the minds of the future and play a pivotal role in a child's development. The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) will qualify you to teach across the Australian Curriculum in the Preparatory Year to Year 6 in Australian primary schools and in early childhood settings such as long day care settings, kindergartens and pre-prep.
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) is an initial teacher education course and qualifies you for professional registration which is administered in Queensland by the Queensland College of Teachers. You will demonstrate evidence of meeting the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Career Stage) throughout your course.
In addition to building the professional knowledge and skills required to teach effectively, the course is designed to foster dispositions for engaging in and contributing to the teaching profession through a commitment to ongoing professional learning.
Incorporating supervised, assessable professional practice blocks in each year of the course, you'll have numerous opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in practical ways to prepare you for employment.
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) also includes specialisations in English providing you with 'in demand' knowledge and skills. If you're located within the Rockhampton Diocese, you can also undertake a specialisation in Catholic Education allowing you to be accredited to teach in a Catholic School.
Discover more about our early childhood education degree, available online and on-campus, with a fast-track option if you get started mid-year. Click 'Explore Study Experience' for more information.
As a graduate of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) you will be qualified to teach in primary school settings from Prep to Year 6 and in specialist early childhood contexts, including childcare and kindergartens throughout Australia.
As a graduate of this course, you may also continue your studies with our range of postgraduate education course that are available for registered teachers.
The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.
You must complete 33 units (192 credits):
You will study the first 33 units listed below.
A Catholic Education Strand is also available if you are seeking an option to gain accreditation to teach in a Catholic School. The Catholic Education Strand teaches the curriculum for Rockhampton Diocese of Catholic Education and entry to the strand is via an application process, which is to occcur in the second year of the course. Applications are welcomed from students within this Diocese which stretches from Mackay to Bundaberg and west to Longreach. Online students may also apply. If you are studying outside the immediate geographical area of the Rockhampton Diocese can also apply but to be accepted you must be able to complete Professional Practice 3 and Professional Practice 4 within a school within the Diocesan region.
If you choose this strand, you will replace four of the 33 units you would study in the standard stream with:
You can view more details about these units at the bottom the list below. Refer to the Course Planner below to view when you will study each unit in both the standard and Catholic Education strands.
To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and the term you will study each unit, check out our course planners.
Graduates of this course are recognised as early childhood teachers (ECT).
Graduates are eligible to apply for provisional registration as a teacher upon completion of the course.
Supervised Placement as per EDFE14021 Unit Profile
Supervised Placement as per EDFE13032 Unit Profile NB: If students are in the Catholic Education Strand, they complete this unit instead: EDFE12044
Supervised Placement as per EDEC11027 Unit Profile
Supervised Placement as per EDFE11038 Unit Profile
Supervised Placement as per EDFE11039 Unit Profile
You will have ample opportunities to apply your skills and knowledge to authentic teaching scenarios. Enjoy 105 days of planned teaching practice in early childhood learning sites, kindergarten settings and schools. Placements are embedded in each year of your course as professional practice blocks.
| Year | Professional Practice Unit and Duration |
| 1 | Professional Practice 1 - Introduction to Teaching (EDFE11038)
Early Childhood Pedagogies (EDEC11027)
|
| 2 | Professional Practice 2 (ECE) – Kindergarten (EDFE11039)
|
| 3 | Professional Practice 3 (Primary/ECE) - Managing the Differentiated Classroom (EDFE13032)*
If you choose the Catholic Education Strand, you will complete Professional Practice 3 - The Catholic School Placement (EDFE12044)* instead. |
| 4 | Professional Practice 4 - Engaged Teaching and Learning (EDFE14021)*
|
*You will need to have met the requirement of "Standard Achieved" in both components of the LANTITE to be eligible to register for these placements.
From July 2025, the Australian Government has established a new Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for eligible students to help manage the costs associated with undertaking a mandatory placement (also known as a practicum or work- integrated learning). Learn more about CPP.
If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies.
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
View the student and course profiles for this course and learn about CQU's Undergraduate Profile for Term 1, 2025 via our Institute Profile.
CQU offers a range of alternative entry pathways to help you get started. If you don’t meet the entry requirements, there are options available, depending on your background and previous experience.
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies.
You must complete both components of the LANTITE with a result of “Standard Achieved” to be eligible for graduation and acquire provisional teacher registration. The LANTITE is administered nationally by the Australian Council of Education Research (ACER) and you must attempt both tests in your first year of study.
The Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) permits recognition of First Nations language proficiency by the relevant cultural authority as an acceptable alternative standard to LANTITE. Students who are proficient in an Australian First Nations language can use this as an alternative in place of all LANTITE requirements.
The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one full-time academic year (eight units over two terms) for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the Cost per Unit spreadsheet available on our Understanding Course Fees webpage.
Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Fee estimates for the following year are expected to be available in September each year.
This course has Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available, and as a domestic student, you'll be offered a CSP, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees.
Learn more about paying for university.
From July 2025, the Australian Government has established a new Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for eligible students to help manage the costs associated with undertaking a mandatory placement (also known as a practicum or work- integrated learning).
Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations.
We believe a quality education can be for everyone – regardless of background, location, or life circumstances. That's why we offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries that can give you a helping hand with a range of expenses and enhance your employability.
Check what you need to do to apply to study this course.
Prior to applying, take a look at important application dates and learn about our admission considerations, such as information for domestic students with overseas qualifications, indigenous support, and elite athlete, coach and performer support. You should also check out the adjustment schemes that might be available to you and how to access them. You can also explore our offer information to learn more about what happens after you've submitted an application and how to respond to an offer to study with CQU.
When applying through a tertiary admissions centre (TAC) you can use the relevant TAC code below to search for a course or add it to your application preferences.
CQUniversity acknowledges Traditional Owners and Custodians and pays respect to the Elders of all First Nations peoples of Australia.CQUniversity Australia is a trading name of Central Queensland University
ABN: 39 181 103 288
RTO Code: 40939
CRICOS: 00219C
TEQSA: PRV12073
