Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Undergraduate | 2026

Mode

On Campus

Start date

February

Campus

Magill, Mawson Lakes

Mt Gambier

Whyalla

Duration

3 year(s) full-time

Program code

BTECE

Study as

Full time or part time

Indicative annual fees

Commonwealth Supported

Non-tuition fees

SATAC code

ABP219

ABP221 Mt Gambier

ABP222 Whyalla

Prerequisite

None

Assumed knowledge

None

Entry scores

2025 CUT-OFFS Guaranteed entry score (ATAR-based):80 Guaranteed entry score (Grades-based):A,A,B

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.

Secondary education (Year 12)

Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.

Higher education study

Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.

Work and life experience

Completion of an Adelaide University approved enabling, pathway or bridging program; OR
A competitive result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); OR
Qualify for special entry.

Essential requirements

Prior to undertaking any professional experience placement that involves contact with minors (under 18 years of age), students will be required to provide a successful Working with Children Check (WWCC) with the Department of Human Services. Information on the procedure to be followed for obtaining clearance will be provided with the letter of offer and may be viewed at the Teaching and Education Placements web page. These placements form a compulsory part of the program. A successful clearance is also required for visits to education sites in other courses, to enter any school, pre-school or childcare centre for any reason, including on placement, observation, internships or visits.

Note:

Please note that entry requirements for this degree are provisional and subject to change.

Why Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)?

Early childhood education goes far beyond nursery rhymes, picture books and learning the alphabet. It’s about giving young children the language, confidence, social skills and behaviours to set them up for a lifelong journey of discovery. And the research is clear – quality early childhood education has a positive effect on learning and development throughout the school years (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).

With our Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), you’ll become a resourceful and engaging teacher, ready to inspire the next generation. You’ll learn effective modern teaching techniques, understand childhood development, and discover how to create safe and inclusive classrooms. Graduate classroom-ready, having completed 80 days of placements in early childhood settings.

Overview

Guide young minds at the very start of their educational journey as an inspiring early childhood teacher.

Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) is a future-focused program designed to give you the skills to excel in the modern classroom. You’ll discover how childhood development influences how kids grow and learn. Explore a range of education philosophies and teaching approaches to find your own unique teaching style. Learn how to encourage learning through engaging play-based activities. Create safe, inclusive and culturally responsive spaces that support every child’s learning.

With 80 days of professional placements, you’ll gain practical skills and graduate eligible to work as a teacher in early childhood and care sites, including long day care centres and preschools.

You can also choose to study this program at our regional campuses in Mount Gambier and Whyalla.

Key features

Focus on the learning and development of children from birth to 5 years.
Learn play-based approaches and concepts to teach early literacy and maths skills.
Build practical skills in 640 hours of placement, starting from first year.
Access contemporary purpose-built learning spaces.
Develop culturally responsive and inclusive teaching practices.
Be eligible for registration with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia (TRB) upon graduation.

What you'll learn

The Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) prepares you to become a nurturing and effective early years educator, ready to provide exceptional teaching experiences to children from birth to 5 years.

Over the three-year program, you’ll build skills that go beyond traditional teaching – ensuring you’re adaptable to the evolving demands of modern education. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of childhood growth and development. Develop leadership and advocacy skills, learning to support children and families in diverse and challenging circumstances. Explore the histories and philosophies of early education, investigating both contemporary and alternative approaches. Learn effective methods for teaching and promoting early literacy and numeracy.

In your first year, you’ll learn to plan, implement and document play-based learning activities. Explore how language works, how it develops and how children use it. In the second half of the year, you’ll complete your first 10 days of professional work placement in a real-world setting.

Your second year focuses on teaching early literacy, engaging young learners, and establishing social harmony and respect in the classroom. Learn to create inclusive classrooms that support children of all abilities and backgrounds and explore First Nations perspectives to inform culturally responsive teaching. You’ll also discover how to nurture children’s creative expression through music, dance, drama and visual arts. This year includes a 35-day preschool placement to expand and consolidate your skills.

In your final year, you’ll develop strategies for teaching reading and mathematical concepts. Learn how to teach science, technology, languages and humanities in ways that help children understand and engage with their world. After completing your coursework, you’ll undertake another flexible 35-day placement working with children from birth to 5 years of age.

Please note, a Working With Children Check (police check) is required for all students to undertake placements and to graduate.

Majors

The Bachelor of Teaching is also available with majors in the following:

Primary
Secondary.

What courses you'll study

Complete 144 units comprising:

114 units from Core courses, and
18 units for all Work integrated learning, and
12 units for Electives

Complete exactly 114 units from the following:

	Course code	Units
Course name Understanding Complexities Impacting Families and Communities in Early Years	Course code EDUC1097	Units 6
Course name Learning about Language in Early Years	Course code EDUC1121	Units 6
Course name Contemporary Issues, Theories and Practices in Early Childhood Education	Course code EDUC2049	Units 6
Course name Arts Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC2081	Units 6
Course name First Nations Peoples, Knowledges and Culturally Responsive Teaching in Early Years	Course code EDUC2105	Units 6
Course name Inclusive Education and Responsive Teaching in Early Years	Course code EDUC2106	Units 6
Course name Learning about Reading in Early Years	Course code EDUC2107	Units 6
Course name Theories of Learning in Early Years	Course code EDUC2108	Units 6
Course name Learning about Literacies and Text Production in Early Years	Course code EDUC2111	Units 6
Course name Exploring Mathematics through Play	Course code EDUC3001	Units 6
Course name Science and Technologies for Young Children	Course code EDUC3002	Units 6
Course name Health and Physical Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3056	Units 6
Course name Humanities and Social Science Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3057	Units 6
Course name Languages Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3058	Units 6
Course name Children's Growth and Development	Course code EDUCX100	Units 6
Course name Early Childhood Education: Contexts, History, Philosophy, Frameworks	Course code EDUCX101	Units 6
Course name Early Numeracy	Course code EDUCX102	Units 6
Course name Play-based Learning, Theories and Pedagogies	Course code EDUCX113	Units 6
Course name Effective Pedagogical Practices and Engaging Young Learners and Guiding Behaviour	Course code EDUCX312	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Learning about Language in Early Years	Course code EDUC1121	Units 6
	Course name Play-based Learning, Theories and Pedagogies	Course code EDUCX113	Units 6
	Course name Early Childhood Education: Contexts, History, Philosophy, Frameworks	Course code EDUCX101	Units 6
	Course name Arts Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC2081	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Early Numeracy	Course code EDUCX102	Units 6
	Course name Understanding Complexities Impacting Families and Communities in Early Years	Course code EDUC1097	Units 6
	Course name Children's Growth and Development	Course code EDUCX100	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 1: Early Childhood Infant and Toddler	Course code EDUC1900	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Theories of Learning in Early Years	Course code EDUC2108	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Effective Pedagogical Practices and Engaging Young Learners and Guiding Behaviour	Course code EDUCX312	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 2: Early Childhood Preschool	Course code EDUC2900	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name First Nations Peoples, Knowledges and Culturally Responsive Teaching in Early Years	Course code EDUC2105	Units 6
	Course name Inclusive Education and Responsive Teaching in Early Years	Course code EDUC2106	Units 6
	Course name Learning about Reading in Early Years	Course code EDUC2107	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Learning about Literacies and Text Production in Early Years	Course code EDUC2111	Units 6
	Course name Exploring Mathematics through Play	Course code EDUC3001	Units 6
	Course name Humanities and Social Science Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3057	Units 6
	Course name Languages Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3058	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Health and Physical Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3056	Units 6
	Course name Science and Technologies for Young Children	Course code EDUC3002	Units 6
	Course name Contemporary Issues, Theories and Practices in Early Childhood Education	Course code EDUC2049	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 3: Early Childhood Birth to 5	Course code EDUC3900	Units 6

Complete 18 units for ALL of the following:

	Course code	Units
Course name Professional Experience 1: Early Childhood Infant and Toddler	Course code EDUC1900	Units 6
Course name Professional Experience 2: Early Childhood Preschool	Course code EDUC2900	Units 6
Course name Professional Experience 3: Early Childhood Birth to 5	Course code EDUC3900	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Learning about Language in Early Years	Course code EDUC1121	Units 6
	Course name Play-based Learning, Theories and Pedagogies	Course code EDUCX113	Units 6
	Course name Early Childhood Education: Contexts, History, Philosophy, Frameworks	Course code EDUCX101	Units 6
	Course name Arts Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC2081	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Early Numeracy	Course code EDUCX102	Units 6
	Course name Understanding Complexities Impacting Families and Communities in Early Years	Course code EDUC1097	Units 6
	Course name Children's Growth and Development	Course code EDUCX100	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 1: Early Childhood Infant and Toddler	Course code EDUC1900	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Theories of Learning in Early Years	Course code EDUC2108	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Effective Pedagogical Practices and Engaging Young Learners and Guiding Behaviour	Course code EDUCX312	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 2: Early Childhood Preschool	Course code EDUC2900	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name First Nations Peoples, Knowledges and Culturally Responsive Teaching in Early Years	Course code EDUC2105	Units 6
	Course name Inclusive Education and Responsive Teaching in Early Years	Course code EDUC2106	Units 6
	Course name Learning about Reading in Early Years	Course code EDUC2107	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Learning about Literacies and Text Production in Early Years	Course code EDUC2111	Units 6
	Course name Exploring Mathematics through Play	Course code EDUC3001	Units 6
	Course name Humanities and Social Science Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3057	Units 6
	Course name Languages Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3058	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Health and Physical Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3056	Units 6
	Course name Science and Technologies for Young Children	Course code EDUC3002	Units 6
	Course name Contemporary Issues, Theories and Practices in Early Childhood Education	Course code EDUC2049	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 3: Early Childhood Birth to 5	Course code EDUC3900	Units 6

Complete 12 units comprising:

12 units from Program electives

	Course code	Units
Course name Dance and Music, Social Dreaming	Course code EDUC2005	Units 6
Course name Developing Number Sense	Course code EDUC2011	Units 6
Course name Arts Across the Early Childhood Curriculum	Course code EDUC4016	Units 6
Course name Artificial Intelligence in Education and Training	Course code EDUC5118	Units 6
Course name Learners in a Digital Age: Innovative Practices	Course code EDUC5119	Units 6
Course name Islamic Education: Principles and Praxis	Course code EDUCX104	Units 6
Course name Geographical Studies	Course code EDUCX108	Units 6
Course name Becoming an Educator with an Arts Specialisation	Course code EDUCX202	Units 6
Course name Catholic Scriptures: An Introduction	Course code EDUCX203	Units 6
Course name Catholic Theology: An Introduction	Course code EDUCX204	Units 6
Course name Design and Production 1	Course code EDUCX205	Units 6
Course name Food Technology 1	Course code EDUCX208	Units 6
Course name Teaching Linguistically Diverse Learners	Course code EDUCX224	Units 6
Course name Teaching and Learning Languages	Course code EDUCX227	Units 6
Course name Historical Studies	Course code EDUCX235	Units 6
Course name Teaching in Rural and Regional Locations	Course code EDUCX309	Units 6
Course name Teaching Learners with Disabilities	Course code EDUCX310	Units 6
Course name Science of People, Society and the Future Planet	Course code SCIE1001	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Learning about Language in Early Years	Course code EDUC1121	Units 6
	Course name Play-based Learning, Theories and Pedagogies	Course code EDUCX113	Units 6
	Course name Early Childhood Education: Contexts, History, Philosophy, Frameworks	Course code EDUCX101	Units 6
	Course name Arts Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC2081	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Early Numeracy	Course code EDUCX102	Units 6
	Course name Understanding Complexities Impacting Families and Communities in Early Years	Course code EDUC1097	Units 6
	Course name Children's Growth and Development	Course code EDUCX100	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 1: Early Childhood Infant and Toddler	Course code EDUC1900	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Theories of Learning in Early Years	Course code EDUC2108	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Effective Pedagogical Practices and Engaging Young Learners and Guiding Behaviour	Course code EDUCX312	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 2: Early Childhood Preschool	Course code EDUC2900	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name First Nations Peoples, Knowledges and Culturally Responsive Teaching in Early Years	Course code EDUC2105	Units 6
	Course name Inclusive Education and Responsive Teaching in Early Years	Course code EDUC2106	Units 6
	Course name Learning about Reading in Early Years	Course code EDUC2107	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Learning about Literacies and Text Production in Early Years	Course code EDUC2111	Units 6
	Course name Exploring Mathematics through Play	Course code EDUC3001	Units 6
	Course name Humanities and Social Science Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3057	Units 6
	Course name Languages Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3058	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Health and Physical Education in Early Years	Course code EDUC3056	Units 6
	Course name Science and Technologies for Young Children	Course code EDUC3002	Units 6
	Course name Contemporary Issues, Theories and Practices in Early Childhood Education	Course code EDUC2049	Units 6
	Course name Professional Experience 3: Early Childhood Birth to 5	Course code EDUC3900	Units 6

Career outcomes

You will graduate with a qualification recognised by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and the Teacher Registration Board of South Australia. This means you’ll be able to register and work as a teacher in early childhood and care sites, including long day care centres and preschools. You’ll even be able to start working in early childhood settings from the end of your second year, while completing your studies.

Industry trends

In 2023, the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care released its Final Report into early childhood development in South Australia. The report details an ambitious vision to position South Australia as a nation leader on early childhood development by:

Reducing the number of children starting school with developmental challenges
Offering up to 30 hours of preschool per week for 3 and 4-year-olds who need the most development support
Constantly translating new scientific knowledge into action
Leading the national policy conversation on the early years.

Our Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) has been formulated with these recommendations in mind, designed to prepare you for the future needs and requirements of the industry.

Accreditation

Adelaide University is working through relevant approvals for program accreditation ahead of students commencing in 2026.

Ready to apply?

Find your program

Discover the programs and explore the opportunities.

Explore our programs

Check the requirements

Look out for any prerequisite or assumed knowledge courses. Some degrees may have additional entry requirements.

Consider your preferences

To prepare for your future and to maximise your success consider adding additional preferences.

How to apply

Applications are open for Australian students to study at Adelaide University in 2026.

Not sure if you'll meet the entry requirements? Adelaide University offers a range of pathway options to help you start your study journey.

Explore Pathways

Ask Adelaide University

When is the last date to apply?

What campuses and facilities does Adelaide University have?

When will my studies commence?

Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?

What scholarships are available?

View all FAQs

Your study experience and support

Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.

You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.

Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.

Student services

We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:

Career advice and mentoring services
Personal counselling
LGBTQIA support
Academic support
Fees and finance help
Security services
Accommodation services
Common rooms
Prayer rooms.

You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.

Your campus

You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.

This program is offered at our Magill, Mount Gambier and Whyalla campuses.

Study hours

Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment

During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:

Case studies
Essays and assignments
Examinations
Group projects
Internships and placements
Practicals
Presentations
Reports and project documentations
Research projects
Workplace and classroom contributions.

Explore Adelaide University

Accommodation options

Considering calling Adelaide home? Explore accommodation options to find a place that's right for you.

Find out more

Life in Adelaide

Discover why Adelaide is one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Find out more

Ebenezer Place shopping and cafes, bikes, bicycles

Scholarships

Our scholarships can provide the helping hand you need to transition into university life.

Find out more

Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)