Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at Ikon Institute of Australia is a four-year degree that prepares you to teach children from birth to eight years old. You study how young children learn, how to plan and run a curriculum that fits their development, and how to work with families and communities. The course covers child development, play-based learning, literacy and numeracy in the early years, and the social and emotional foundations that shape a child's start to school. You also learn about the Australian Early Years Learning Framework and how to document and assess children's progress against it.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You normally enrol in a few units at a time across semesters or trimesters, and you need to pass a required total of credit points to graduate. This degree runs over four years, which is longer than a standard three-year bachelor because it includes teacher education requirements and supervised professional experience. Expect a mix of lectures, tutorials, workshops and practical subjects where you plan learning experiences and reflect on what you observe. The later years usually include a capstone or research unit where you pull together what you have learned, often through a project tied to a real early childhood setting.

Professional experience and skills

Work-integrated learning is a core part of early childhood teaching degrees in Australia. You complete supervised placements in early learning centres, kindergartens and the early years of primary school, working alongside qualified educators and taking on more responsibility as you go. By the end, you should be able to observe children and plan experiences that stretch them, manage a room, talk with parents about their child's development, and meet the professional standards expected of a registered teacher. You build skills in communication, behaviour guidance, inclusion of children with additional needs, and working within the regulations that govern early childhood services.

Who it suits and what to check

This course suits people who want to work with young children and are ready for a hands-on, people-focused degree. It also suits educators already working in the sector who want to gain a teaching qualification. Teaching is one of the fields where English requirements are higher, so international applicants should check the exact IELTS or equivalent score Ikon asks for, and also the separate English threshold the Department of Home Affairs sets for the Student visa. On a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 102713G. Always confirm entry requirements, placement arrangements, accreditation and fees on the official page before applying.

• Early childhood teacher in long day care, preschool or kindergarten services
• Early years teacher in the first years of primary school
• Room leader or educational leader in an early learning centre
• Family day care coordinator or occasional care educator
• Early intervention assistant working with children with additional needs
• Curriculum or resource developer for early childhood organisations
• Playgroup facilitator or community early years worker

Graduates work across the Australian early childhood sector, including not-for-profit and private early learning providers, state and territory preschools, and primary schools. Depending on where you work, you may need to register with the teacher regulatory authority in that state or territory and hold a Working with Children Check.