Education - Early Childhood Education

Mature applicants are those aged 23 years, or above, on 1 January in the year of entry. All candidates (presenting with EU/Non EU qualifications) applying on the grounds of mature years should apply ONLY through the CAO by 1 February.

For many DCU courses, mature application assessment is based on the CAO application and in some instances, an assessment and/or interview. ‘Other’ experience, apart from performance in examinations, may be taken into consideration - this may be work experience, further studies, or other such experience deemed to be relevant to the application. Interviews will take place in April either in person or remotely.

For more information, please contact the Mature Student Officer, orla.stafford@dcu.ie or dcu.ie/mature-students
For general and admission enquiries, please visit dcu.ie/registry/ug-admissions

There are many different ways to enter DCU. While candidates are primarily assessed on the basis of their second level examinations, other assessments are in place for mature students, students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, students with disabilities/specific learning difficulties and transfer students. The university is committed to welcoming students from countries worldwide. For Undergraduate Admissions - General Information please go to: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/undergrad.shtml

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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

Why DCU?
− The BECE will prepare you for a career working as a professional in the growing area of early childhood education

− The BECE develops graduates who are critical and creative thinkers, skilled in working with young children and their families, who are strong researchers and advocates for early childhood

− You will study with internationally recognised experts in early childhood education helping you become a professionally qualified educator

− Develop new friendships and social networks as you learn with your peers in large-group lecture situations, in workshops and seminars with small groups, individually in tutorials and through professional practice (placement)

− You will develop your areas of practical and academic interest through elective modules

− You can opt to study abroad in Year 3 on an Erasmus programme

− Professional practice (placement) will take place each year of this course

About You
Do you want to make a difference to the lives and educational futures of young children (birth to 6 years)? Are you interested in working with children with special needs, with children and families or in support and early intervention organisations? Then follow your passion and become a professional early childhood educator. The BECE course will enable you to become a skilled professional leader in the field of early childhood. Prepare yourself for a range of career possibilities in early education at home and abroad.

Understanding: Early Childhood Education (BECE)
Early childhood is a growing field, with increasing state investment which acknowledges the importance of learning and development in the early years.

This course will equip you to take a leadership role in curriculum or management within the early childhood field. Working with young children and their families, supporting their education is rewarding and makes a real difference to children’s lives. Our BECE degree will enable you to succeed by developing your skills, knowledge and understanding of:

− Children’s wellbeing, development and learning (birth to 6 years)

− Curriculum planning, implementation and assessing learning

− Learning through play, indoors and outdoors

− Supporting creativity and thinking through early maths, technology, art, music and literacy

− Being a professional, using initiative, preparing for leadership and management opportunities

− Understanding the wider social and legislative context and its impact on children and families

− Working inclusively with a broad range of children, families and other professionals

Course Structure
All students take required early childhood education and care modules and spend approximately 1000 hours on professional practice placement and related activities over the duration of the course.

Each year of the BECE has a different focus. In Year 1, you will cover the core information needed to understand young children and how they develop. A range of supports are available to help students settle in academically and socially to DCU. Year 1 builds the knowledge and pedagogical foundation for the course.

Year 2 focuses on the early childhood environment and its impact in supporting young children's’ learning and development. You will learn how to create settings that support and challenge young children.

Year 3 explores diversity, equality, inclusion and social justice as it relates to young children and their families.

You will discover how to support and engage with the rich cultures, languages, traditions and needs of a diversity of children and their families through respectful relationships. In Year 3 you will have an Erasmus option to study for a semester in places such as Belgium, Hungary and Norway.

Year 4 focuses on leadership, ethics and research. You will complete a dissertation in an area of professional interest. You will also select from a range of relevant specialisms to deepen areas of interest that may be relevant for your future careers.

Year Abroad
Studying abroad provides a wonderful opportunity to experience the culture of another country. If you meet certain criteria and wish to go abroad you will spend Year 3 studying at one of our partner universities, in Belgium, Hungary and Norway. For more information, please visit dcu.ie/placement/study.

Placement in Educational Settings
Throughout the course, you will apply your learning when out on professional practice (placement). You will undertake professional practice each year in semester 2 in a range of educational settings: full day care (Crèche); sessional (pre-school, Montessori, playgroup, Naíonra); special needs schools; specialised early intervention programmes; privately run preschools; and policy settings such as voluntary organisations and government departments or agencies. You will work with children from a variety of linguistic, social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. You will also work with children who have special educational needs.

What Will I Study?
Year 1
Child Development 1 | Child Protection and Legal Frameworks | Creativity 1 (Art) and 2 (Music) | National Frameworks for ECE (Ireland) | Play and Learning 1 | Wellbeing, Health and Nutrition 1 | Critical Social Studies 1 | Issues in Professional Learning and Practice | Professional Practice

Year 2
Child Development 2 | Critical Social Studies 2 | Contemporary Curriculum Approaches in ECE | Language and Cultural Diversity | Special Educational Needs | Drama and Socio-Dramatic Play | Technology in Learning | Wellbeing, Health and Nutrition 2 | Issues in Professional Learning and Practice | Professional Practice

Year 3
Children, Families and Communities | Children’s Participation in ECE | Current Issues in ECE | Inquiry-Based Learning | Psychological Perspectives: Young Children’s Thinking and Learning | Early Mathematics Learning | Outdoor Play and Learning | Language, Literacy and Culture 1 | Issues in Professional Learning and Practice | Professional Practice

Year 4
Assessing Early Learning and Development | Leadership in ECEC Settings | Partnerships in ECE | Philosophy and Childhoods | Specialisms / Elective Modules | Transitions and Change in Early Childhood | Dissertation 1 and 2 | Professional Practice

Contact Details
Tel: +353 (0) 1 700 9048
E: marlene.mccormack@dcu.ie
E: studenthelp@dcu.ie
Visit Us Online dcu.ie/DC001

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