Early Childhood Education & Care
NCI’s BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care provides a firm foundation in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) to practice in a range of early childhood settings.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
Four Years Full-Time
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Minimum entry requirements for the programme are H5 in two subjects, and O6/H7 in four subjects in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent, which must include English and Mathematics.
Garda Vetting
All applicants will be required to be Garda vetted as part of the admission process.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
NCI operates the bonus scheme for Higher level Leaving Certificate Mathematics. 25 points will be added to an applicant’s points score for Higher level Mathematics for grades H6 and above.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
NCI recognises the LCVP for admission purposes, and results in the Link Modules element of the programme will be considered as follows:
Grade Points
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
This is automatically computed by CAO. The Link Modules may be used as one of the six subjects for overall points calculation but will not be considered as a subject for the purposes of minimum entry requirements.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
NCI welcomes applications from students who are presenting QQI (formerly FET/FETAC) Level 5 and Level 6 awards.
For information on how to apply and minimum entry requirements go to the QQI Students link below.
Careers / Further progression
Career Prospects
On completion, you will possess the skills to work as a room leader or supervisor, working directly with children, as a setting-based practitioner or manager, in advisory, mentorship, training and leadership roles such as Early Childhood Inspectors, Specialists in Better Start.
Government strategies have set out a vision for a graduateled workforce in ECEC and the ECCE Scheme (free preschool years) over the next decade. These strategies include a new funding stream, Core Funding, which includes a graduate premium to be paid to services with graduate room leads for all ECEC age groups, including the ECCE room lead. These changes highlight the opportunities for graduates from this programme.
Further Study Options
Upon successful completion, students may progress to the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Practice in Teaching for Further Education at NCI or the NCI Master of Arts in Educational Practice or other postgraduate programmes. Alternatively, they may progress their studies into specialised graduate study areas such as policy development, play therapy or childhood studies.
Further information
National College of Ireland is committed to providing equal access to education and equal opportunities for mature students. Students who are 23 years of age or older on 1st January can apply directly to NCI for entry to full-time education the following autumn. Applications will be accepted until 31st July. However, this closing date is subject to demand and therefore may change. For this reason and to avoid disappointment, it is advised that applications are submitted as early as possible. Further details can be obtained from the Admissions Office at admissions@ncirl.ie.
NCI also welcomes applicants for advanced entry into the second or third year of our full-time programmes. To be eligible for advanced entry, applicants must have undertaken specific courses and obtained certain results. Applicants should check with their individual institution or College of Further Education to find out to which courses this option is available. To find out more information regarding our advanced entry links, please contact Admissions at admissions@ncirl.ie. You can also contact Karen Campbell, School Liaison Officer at karen.campbell@ncirl.ie.
€4,800 per annum payable by the student. (Fees revised annually).
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
About the Course
NCI’s BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care provides a firm foundation in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) to practice in a range of early childhood settings. The four-year degree programme is fully aligned and recognised as a professional qualification by the Department of Education (DE) and by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth (DECDIY).
An essential and hugely beneficial key element of the programme is the strong emphasis placed on supervised professional practice placement in diverse Early Childhood settings. More than 1,000 hours are specially allocated to supervised placement-related activities. Among other skills, such as observations and ethical practice, application of strategies in learning environments, the placement includes planning and developing curriculum for young children. The final year provides an opportunity for students to combine their experiences and skills in a practice-based/led capstone project.
During the course you will cover a range of subjects to gain a deep understanding of the holistic learning and development of babies and children from birth to six years of age. A specialised Education Play Lab at NCI provides opportunities for ‘hands on’ student learning.
Who is the course for?
This course is ideally suited to those who would like to work with or for babies and young children and their families from birth to six in the ECEC sector. This course is also suitable if you would like to work as an early childhood inspector/evaluator, mentor, curriculum trainer for TUSLA (the child and family support agency), DE or Pobal.
Course Structure and Award
The Bachelor of Arts Honours in Early Childhood Education and Care is a four-year honours degree, awarded by QQI at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications, with exit awards. Each year has two semesters for a duration of twelve weeks of teaching per semester. Year 1 includes field visits to early childhood settings and from year 2 students will gain practical experience through supervised professional high quality practice placements.
Professional Recognition
This degree is recognised by the Department of Education (DE) as Initial Professional Education (IPE), to practice as professional Early Childhood Educators in the Early Learning and Care sector in Ireland. This programme is also on the list of approved programmes by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) Early Years Recognised Qualifications for practice, meeting the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and DCEDIY Childcare Programme Contracts.
Year 1:
• Holistic Child Learning and Development
• Foundations of Early Childhood Education and Care*
• Music, Movement, Art and Drama
• Academic Foundations and Scholarship
• Essential Legislation and Regulation in ECEC*
• Child Health Nutrition and Wellbeing*
*Field visits to diverse early childhood settings will be integrated within these theory modules.
Year 2:
• Core Pedagogies and Curriculum in ECEC
• Dispositions and Dynamics of Behaviour in Children
• Managing your Learning and Academic Practice
• Supervised Professional Practice Placement: Observation and Reflection in ECEC Practice
• Play and Creativity in ECEC
• Diversity and Pluralism in Learning Language and Literacies
Year 3:
• Quality Assurance in ECEC Environments
• Early Learning in a Digital World
• Inquiry Learning – Design and Evaluation of Curriculum in ECEC
• Supervised Professional Practice Placement: Application of Strategies in Learning Environments in ECEC Practice
• The Child Family and Society – Stakeholder in ECEC
• Leadership and Governance in ECEC Environments
Year 4
• ECEC Research Methods and Inquiry
• Social, Political and Cultural Contexts of ECEC
• Working in Multi Professional Contexts
• Personal and Professional Identity
• Capstone ECEC Practice based Project
National College of Ireland
Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1
Tel: Reception (01) 4498500
Course/College Info: 1800 221 721
Email: info@ncirl.ie
Web: www.ncirl.ie