Early childhood education courses
Introduction to Early childhood education
Did you know 90% of a child’s brain development happens before they turn five?
As an early childhood educator, you can help young learners get the best start in life.
Gain the skills you need to flourish in this career. Explore online early childhood education courses that will qualify you to work in childcare centres, kindergartens or primary schools.
We make it easy to compare your options with different universities so you can choose the right path for your future.
What to study to be a teacher
To become a qualified teacher you need a bachelor or masters degree in education.
So what’s the right option for you?
Bachelor degree
Best suits you if:
You have an ATAR of 70 or higher or have done VET studies
Don’t have the right ATAR? No worries
View pathwaysMasters degree
Best suits you if:
You have already completed a bachelor degree in any discipline
Pathways to becoming a teacher
You don't have to put your future on hold if you didn't finish high school, or get the right ATAR.
Start uni with a study pathway today.
No entry requirements
Two options to start
Undergraduate certificates
- Begin your path to becoming a teacher candidate straight away
- Best for aspiring teachers who are domestic students
- Flexibly upskill in as little as six months to open up career opportunities
- Gain a qualification and four subjects to credit toward a bachelor degree
- Access student loans to support your journey
Single subjects
- Best for students who want to start small and try out study
- Flexibly upskill a specific area in as little as 13 weeks
- Earn credit with each subject to count towards a bachelor degree
- Access student loans to support your journey
Continue to a degree with full credits
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
- 100% online study with a flexibly located placement
- Graduate directly from the university
- Become a qualified teacher anywhere in Australia
Discover early childhood education courses
Online early childhood education certificate
Start with no entry requirements, and gain a certificate qualification on the way to completing your degree.
UndergraduateCUR-HTE-CTF
Work towards your future in early childhood teaching
Study 4 core subjects in teaching children—and get entry and credit in Curtin’s Bachelor Degree. Topics include language, literacy, and curriculum. Start thinking about your career as a professional early childhood or primary educator.
100% online
6 months full time or part time equivalent
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Online early childhood education subjects and short courses
Start small with no entry requirements, and gain entry into a Bachelor of Education.
UndergraduateCUR-EDC135
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 26 Feb 2024, 26 Aug 2024
UndergraduateCUR-EDC153
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 26 Feb 2024, 26 Aug 2024
UndergraduateCUR-EDC121
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 27 Nov 2023, 27 May 2024, 25 Nov 2024
Enrolments open until 30 Nov
UndergraduateCUR-EDC105
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 26 Feb 2024, 26 Aug 2024
UndergraduateCUR-EDC163
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 26 Feb 2024, 26 Aug 2024
UndergraduateCUR-EDC145
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 27 Nov 2023, 27 May 2024, 25 Nov 2024
Enrolments open until 30 Nov
UndergraduateCUR-EDC175
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 27 Nov 2023, 27 May 2024, 25 Nov 2024
Enrolments open until 30 Nov
UndergraduateCUR-EDC140
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 27 Nov 2023, 27 May 2024, 25 Nov 2024
Enrolments open until 30 Nov
Online early childhood education degrees
Get ready to make a difference in people's lives and become a teacher by studying a bachelor degree.
UndergraduateCUR-ECE-DEG
Comprehensive pre-service teaching preparation
Enter the valued profession of early childhood teaching and child care. Study core subjects, professional studies and electives to be qualified to teach children aged 0-8 years in early learning centres and in junior school settings.
Online & on-campus
4 years full time or part time equivalent
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
UndergraduateSWI-ECP-DEG
Teach children aged between 6 weeks and 12 years old
Study teaching online to work in childcare centres, kindergartens, and primary schools. You’ll explore theories of teaching and learning, and build practical skills in real learning environments. Teach maths, English, art, music, PE and more.
100% online
4 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateSCU-ECP-DEG
Double your options to work with young learners
From play to personal development, subjects in this degree prepare you to teach young and school aged children. Study the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy. Delve into science and art. Professional placements help you put theory into practice.
Online & on-campus
4 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateSWI-ECT-DEG
Teach art, music, English and maths in early learning
Guide young children through the basics before primary school. Study online and gain experience in work placements. You’ll build practical skills to manage the learning environment. Nurture curious, healthy, and active children. Shape young minds.
100% online
4 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateSCU-ECE-DEG
There’s great career prospects for trained early childhood teachers
Work in childcare centres, preschools and more. You’ll learn how to educate children aged six-weeks-old to six-years-old. Cover literacy, language, and pedagogical approaches. Capture their curiosity. Create healthy learning environments.
Online & on-campus
3 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateLAT-ECE-DEG
Formalise and build on your early childhood education experience
This degree offers a recognised pathway to qualified work in the kindergarten. Get up to speed with the current theory and technology for teaching early years. And through work-based learning, bring it all together in your classroom placements.
Online & on-campus
Approx. 2.5 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateECU-ECE-DEG
Become a professional educator in early learning environments
Meet children’s educational needs in kinder, pre-primary school, and childcare settings. This nationally accredited teaching degree includes the opportunity to pick up a specialisation during Year 4, including Catholic Studies and Special Education.
Online & on-campus
4 years full time or part time equivalent
Online early childhood education master degrees
Progress your career and deepen your understanding of education with postgraduate study.
PostgraduateACU-TEC-MAS
Bring your love of learning to the classroom
Focus on creating a great environment to support childhood learning. Become a passionate advocate for the rights of children. Explore the ways that you can help children to build knowledge, skills and positive attitudes.
Online & on-campus
2 years full time or part time equivalent
PostgraduateCUR-MTE-MAS
Master the art of teaching children
Master advanced critical skills for teaching the needs of 21st century learners. Consider culture and diversity and draw on theory and research. Learn to lead and practice professionally in schools. Manage early childhood education and care centres.
Online & on-campus
2 years full time or part time equivalent
PostgraduateSCU-MTE-MAS
Specialise in and teach early childhood or secondary education
Become an unforgettable teacher. Start by choosing your specialisation, then explore the relevant learning environment and curriculum. Professional placements develop your classroom confidence. Advanced theoretical knowledge gives you an employment edge.
Online & on-campus
2 years full time or part time equivalent
PostgraduateUSQ-ELT-MAS
Teach children in supportive learning environments
Add this approved early childhood teacher qualification to your bachelor degree–and become a registered teacher in just 18 months! Discover how to teach children from birth to eight years. Explore how they learn. Create supportive environments.
Online & on-campus
2 years full time or part time equivalent
PostgraduateACU-TER-MAS
Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary) / Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
Spread the world of God in the classroom.
Combine your passion for education with a specialisation in teaching religion. Build on your knowledge and skill in teaching children with the basic certification and fundamental knowledge you need to engage children in religious education.
Online & on-campus
2 years full time or part time equivalent
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Early childhood education study FAQs
An early childhood education course will qualify you to work with children from birth up to the age of five. Most of the courses available through Open Universities Australia are approved by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). This means you can register as an early childhood teacher in your state or territory after graduating.
We recommend checking the course description carefully for full details about professional recognition.
You will learn how to confidently lead young children in an early education environment. You can expect to cover:
- Child development for educators
- Diverse childhood behaviours
- Environment management techniques
- Curriculum and lesson planning
- Play-based teaching methods
- Early years teaching approaches for major disciplines including humanities, mathematics, science and visual arts
Throughout your course, you will also go on placements in early childcare settings. These placements are compulsory if it’s your goal to become a registered early childhood teacher, and a wonderful opportunity to put everything you’ve learnt into practice.
You will support young children during one of the most important stages of life, when they are only just developing their social skills, emotional behaviours, and attitudes to learning. What could be more fulfilling than that?
Not only is early childhood education an incredibly rewarding career—it’s also a very secure one. Following a government pledge to boost childcare subsidies, more parents will have the financial means to return to the workforce, meaning the demand for qualified childcare workers is becoming stronger than ever. In fact, government estimates suggest at least 10,000 new early childhood teachers will be needed by 2026.
Think about what career outcome you’d like to achieve, and how long you’d like to spend studying.
If you’re brand new to childcare, you can start your journey with a diploma-level qualification. Courses at this level qualify you to work in support roles and can be a steppingstone to further study.
If you have your sights set on becoming an early childhood teacher, consider a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. Some courses at this level combine early childhood and primary school teaching, which will double your career opportunities as a graduate.
Postgraduate courses (graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and masters degrees) are designed for those who already have a degree in another discipline, and would like to make a career change. You will require a graduate diploma or above to register as a teacher.
Most degrees in early childhood education have an ATAR of 60 to 70. However, you don’t need an ATAR to get into an early childhood course through Open Universities Australia.
We have a unique arrangement in place with our university partners that allows you to bypass entry requirements on undergraduate courses. Instead, you can enrol instantly in online early childhood subjects that are open to everyone. Once you successfully complete these subjects, you will meet the academic requirements for a full degree.
Chat with us to find out more about how this works.
It depends on the course that you choose, and whether you study on campus or online. Here's a general guide:
TAFE level
- A diploma is equivalent to 12 months of full-time study
Undergraduate level
- An associate degree is equivalent to 2 years of full-time study
- A bachelor degree is equivalent to 4 years of full-time study
Postgraduate level
- A graduate certificate is equivalent to 6 months of full-time study
- A graduate diploma is equivalent to 12 months of full-time study
- A masters degree is equivalent to 2 years of full-time study
When you earn your early childhood education course online, you have more freedom to complete your course at a pace that suits you. Many of our students choose to take just one subject at a time so they can gain work experience in the industry.
Graduates can apply for roles in early learning centres, kindergartens, pre-schools and childcare centres. Depending on your course, you may be eligible to register as an early childhood teacher with your state or territory’s teaching body.
Specific roles you could explore include:
- Early childhood education and care worker
- Family day care provider
- Early childhood teacher
- Kindergarten teacher
- Early childhood teaching director
Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.
Chat with us to find out more.
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
Am I suited to early childhood education?
Cast your mind back to the people who guided you through your early years. What did they do that shaped you?
There are a few key qualities that are ideal if you’re looking into an early childhood education and care course.
- Do you have a love of learning?
To inspire a love of learning in others, you must love learning yourself. During an early childhood degree, and throughout your career, you’ll be tasked with understanding the psychology behind young minds so that you can help them develop. - Are you patient and calm?
Being able to keep cool as a cucumber in a variety of classroom situations is key. Children feed off the energy of those around them. If you’re a patient person by nature, this could be the place for you to shine. - Do you enjoy organisation and planning?
Planning activities and lessons that inspire young minds is important in this profession. Complete an early childhood education online course, and you could put your knack for organisation to good use.
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