Bachelor in Science (Early Childhood Education)
General Information
CAO Code
CM020
CAO points latest intake (most recent):
2025 CAO Points: 346
2024 CAO Points: 336
NFQ Level
Level 8
Awarding Body
Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin
ECTS
240 ECTS
Programme Duration
4 years' full time
Mode of Delivery
Classroom-based
Garda Vetting Required
Yes
Programme Placement Information
3 weeks in year 1, semester 2
3 weeks in year 2, semester 2
3 weeks in year 3, semester 2
9 weeks in year 4, semester 2
Professional Accreditation
Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Next Start Date
September 2026
Eligible for Free Fees Initiative
No.
The Bachelor of Science courses are self-funded courses that do not qualify under the Free Fees Initiative. At time of publication, the 2025-2026 tuition fee for these courses is €3000 per annum, payable by the student. This is different to the normal student contribution fee. Contact the Institute directly for details of fees for these courses in 2026-2027.
Students on the Bachelor of Science courses in receipt of fee-only SUSI grants (i.e. where no maintenance element is payable to the student) should be aware that SUSI will only contribute 50% of the tuition fees for those students and students must pay the balance. For the 2025-26 academic year this amounted to €1,500.
Currently, students in receipt of SUSI grants which include a maintenance payment to the student receive 100% of their tuition fees from SUSI.
Programme Overview
The quality of education and care that children receive in the earliest years of their lives has a huge influence on their subsequent education and happiness. In order to enhance existing provision of courses for preparing early childhood practitioners, MIE is delighted to offer this new level 8 degree which is accredited by Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. The flexible delivery of this programme makes it attractive both to those who intend to work in the sector and to those who are already employed there.
What will I study?
Students will study a wide range of courses to help them become knowledgeable, dedicated early childhood practitioners. These include child psychology, play, language and literacy, enquiry-based learning, child care and protection, arts and the early years. You will learn about educators who have influenced the education of young children, including Montessori, Froebel and Vygotsky. You will learn about the Aistear programme and will take education placements in a variety of early childhood settings.
Year 1 - Semester 1
- Curriculum and Pedagogical Perspectives: Dispositions & Play (10 ECTS)
- Field Placement (5 ECTS)
- Literacies in Early Years (5 ECTS)
- Nurturing Pedagogy (5 ECTS)
- Awakening the Senses (5 ECTS)
Year 1 - Semester 2
- Psychology and the Developing Child (10 ECTS)
- International Policy and Practice (5 ECTS)
- Developing Movement & Skills (5 ECTS)
- Foundation in Inclusive Education: Special Education Needs in Early Childhood (5 ECTS)
- Elective (5 ECTS)
Year 2 - Semester 1
- Curriculum and Pedagogical Perspectives: Models of Curriculum and Assessment (10 ECTS)
- Early Mathematical Awareness (5 ECTS)
- Early Childhood Education: Policy and Practice (5 ECTS)
- Well-being and Health Education in Early Childhood (5 ECTS)
- Field Placement (5 ECTS)
Year 2 - Semester 2
- Understanding Childhood in Context (10 ECTS)
- Special Educational Needs (5 ECTS)
- Music, Drama & Integrated Arts (5 ECTS)
- Inclusion and Diversity in the Early Years (5 ECTS)
- Elective (5 ECTS)
Year 3 - Semester 1
- Curriculum and Pedagogical Perspectives: Interactions and Relationships (10 ECTS)
- Inclusion, Culture, Identity and the Self (5 ECTS)
- Inquiry-Based Learning & Environmental Care (5 ECTS)
- Field Placement (5 ECTS)
- Early Literacies (5 ECTS)
Year 3 - Semester 2
- Constructions of Childhood (10 ECTS)
- Inner Landscape of the Child (5 ECTS)
- Legal Context of ECE (5 ECTS)
- Research Proposal (5 ECTS)
- Elective (5 ECTS)
Year 4 - Semester 1
- Dissertation (20 ECTS)
- Curriculum & Pedagogical Perspectives: Learning through Play 1 (5 ECTS)
- Organisation, Learning & Skills 1 (5 ECTS)
Year 4 - Semester 2
- Field Placement (20 ECTS)
- Curriculum & Pedagogical Perspectives: Learning through Play 2 (5 ECTS)
- Organisation, Learning & Skills 2 (5 ECTS)
Elective (5 ECTS) in years 1, 2 and 3
Please note that all options may not be available in each year
- Nutrition and Healthy Eating
- Financial Management in Education
- Early Childhood Education through the Medium of Irish
- Leadership: Theory and Practice
- Creative Technologies in an Early Education Setting
- Effective Communication and Partnerships
- Holistic Education for Early Childhood Settings
- A Rights-Based Approach to Early Childhood
What are my career options?
Graduates typically work in a variety of early childhood education and care settings. They have an opportunity to become leaders of children's learning and quality practices in the early years. Graduates can work in a wide variety of organisations and roles throughout the education sector, and become entrepreneurs, leaders, or managers in the field of early childhood education. In addition to early-childhood-specific content, students will learn essential transdisciplinary skills and dispositions in communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.
What are my further study options upon completion of this programme?
Graduates of the programme at level 8 may continue to further study in the area of education or in early childhood education at masters level. They may also apply for the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching), in MIE or elsewhere.
Minimum entry requirements
Irish Leaving Certificate Requirements
Number of Leaving Certificate Subjects
6
Minimum number of higher level subjects
2 (minimum grade H5)
Minimum grade in other subjects
H7/O6 in four subjects
Minimum grade in Maths
H7/O6
Minimum grade in English
H7/O6
Minimum grade in Irish
N/A
Minimum grade in Other Language (can be Irish or another language)
H7/O6
Minimum CAO Points Requirement
315 points
QQI Requirements
Students with appropriate QQI (Level 5 and Level 6) qualifications, with a minimum of five distinctions, can be admitted on a competitive basis to this course.
The QQI awards accepted can be found here.
Advanced Entry
Students who have successfully completed one or more years in a similar full-time course at degree level may apply for advanced entry to the B.Sc.(Early Childhood Education) programme. Such places are limited and applicants must meet all the minimum requirements of the programme and attend an interview. Contact [email protected] for information.
Mature Applicants
Mature applicants must apply through the CAO by 5.15pm 1st February. A mature student must be 23 years of age or over on 1st January in the year of intended entry. The CAO online application facility for late applicants opens on 5th March and closes on 1st May at 5.15pm.
In mid-March, the MIE Admissions Office will email mature applicants and advise them to complete and return a 'Mature Student Supplementary Application Form'. The closing date will be 31 March. Applicants will be notified of interview dates and times by the end of May. Please note that any offer is typically subject to fulfilling the minimum entry requirements for CM020.
International Students
For information about eligibility for this programme please contact [email protected]. All applicants for our programmes must have a minimum English level. You will find more information about the English Language Requirements in the Study With Us section of the website under ‘How to Apply’.
You can find information about international institute fees and charges in the policies section of our website.
You can also find information on accommodation and student support services in the Student Life section of our website.
All MIE programmes follow the academic year, with all programmes starting in late August/ early September.
