- Bachelor of Early Years Studies
- Associate Degree of Early Years Studies
- Why study Early Years Childhood Education at NMIT?
- What are the entrance requirements?
- What is the cost of studying at NMIT?
- Where will studying Early Years Childhood Education at NMIT take me?
Complete an Education (Early Years) teacher qualification at NMIT and graduate as a teacher who has:
- Excellent practical skills developed through an extensive placement program
- Knowledge of both contemporary and traditional research and thinking on children from birth to 8 years old
- A sound understanding of the impacts of the global world on children and their families
- Relevant and contemporary skills and attitudes that best support all children’s growth and learning in today’s diverse world.
NMIT is excited to offer industry recognized fully-accredited new undergraduate Education (Early Years) degrees and contribute to what we know are vital years of a child’s life. These degrees, available both full and part time, include:
- The Bachelor of Education (Early Years) - a four year (full-time) dual kindergarten and primary (early years) teacher qualification
- The Bachelor of Early Years Studies – a three year (full-time) kindergarten teaching qualification
- The Associate Degree of Early Years Studies – a two year (full-time) qualification for recognition as a qualified room leader in children’s services.
The suite of 3 degrees is nested within the four year (full time) Bachelor of Education (Early Years). This means that all students are initially enrolled in the four year (full time) dual qualification while having the option to exit after two years (full time) with the Associate Degree or after three years (full time) with the Bachelor of Early Years Studies. Those students completing the four year (full time) course complete the Bachelor of Education (Early Years).
Bachelor of Early Years Studies
The new Bachelor of Early Years Studies is a three-year (full-time) teaching degree that provides the skills and industry qualifications to be employed as a teacher within children’s services. The early years of a child’s life are defined as from birth to 8 years and a NMIT Early Years Studies graduate teacher will be registered as a teacher in kindergartens and within children’s services more broadly.
NMIT Bachelor of Early Years Studies students will learn the importance of the early years of a child’s life and be skilled in supporting contemporary children’s diverse learning, growth and development needs in a range of educational settings within children’s services. They will understand the specific curriculum and educational needs of children in this age range and be skilled in supporting transitions across children’s services and schools. They will be well equipped to work equitably with children and families across diverse backgrounds and contexts to ensure all children are supported to succeed in their early years. They will understand the professional context of children’s services and be able to work as leading teachers within them.
The Bachelor of Early Years Studies has a commitment to the practical application of teaching theory and knowledge and sees placement as an essential component of pre-service teacher education. As a result, the academic program has placement occurring every week of the academic year (2 days per week) beginning in the first semester of the first year and block placements occurring in the second and third years. This placement occurs across a range of early years settings to ensure the student teacher gains vital teaching experience, on-the-ground knowledge of children’s growth and learning and an appreciation of the different service types children experience in their early years. This also ensures the student teacher is rehearsing and building sound strategies for teaching and learning and the academic program remains responsive and supportive of teaching practice on-the-ground. In the three-year program, students will complete 133 days of placement in a program that has a clear commitment to building work-ready teacher graduates.
Associate Degree of Early Years Studies
The new Associate Degree of Early Years Studies is a two-year (full-time) qualification that provides the skills and industry qualifications to be employed as a qualified educator within children’s services. The early years of a child’s life are defined as from birth to 8 years and a NMIT Early Years Studies graduate educator will be registered as a qualified educator within children’s services.
NMIT Associate Degree of Early Years Studies students will learn the importance of the early years of a child’s life and be skilled in supporting contemporary children’s diverse learning, growth and development needs in a range of educational settings within children’s services. They will have a specialization in the infant and toddler years of a child’s life, they will have an appreciation of the specific curriculum and educational needs of children in this age range and understand their role in supporting transitions across children’s services. They will be well equipped to work equitably with children and families across diverse backgrounds and contexts to ensure all children are supported to succeed in their early years. They will understand the professional context of children’s services and be able to work as leading educators within them.
The Associate Degree of Early Years Studies has a commitment to the practical application of teaching theory and knowledge and sees placement as an essential component of pre-service education. As a result, the academic program has placement occurring every week of the academic year (2 days per week) beginning in the first semester of the first year and block placements occurring in the second year. This placement occurs across a range of early years settings to ensure the student gains vital teaching experience, on-the-ground knowledge of children’s growth and learning and an appreciation of the different service types children experience in their early years. This also ensures the student is rehearsing and building sound strategies for teaching and learning and the academic program remains responsive and supportive of practice on-the-ground. In the two-year program, students will complete 82 days of placement in a program that has a clear commitment to building work-ready graduates.
Why study Education (Early Years) at NMIT?
NMIT Education (Early Years) degrees provide a commitment to the success of students within the course and to developing graduates who are ready to work in today’s diverse and contemporary world. NMIT offers:
- Contemporary and industry recognized Education (Early Years) degrees
Building knowledge and skills for today’s and future teachers working in diverse and global communities - Program with multiple entry and exit points
Students can enter after VCE, via a Diploma in Children’s Services or as Mature Age and can exit with a qualification and differing employment options after 2, 3 or 4 years of study - Development of work ready graduates
Over 6 months of supported placement experience in diverse partner early years services in the four year program - Dual Teaching Qualifications
o After four years of study graduates receive dual teacher registration for teaching in early childhood and primary (early years) settings
o After three years of study graduates receive registration as a kindergarten teacher - Personalised learning
Smaller class sizes so you can know your teaching staff (and they know you) - Established first year transition to tertiary study program
Committed to building study skills in a supported environment - Committed to making theory relevant to practice
Students are on-campus and on placement each week of the academic year and all subjects have a placement focused assessment task making theory directly relevant to practice - Local tertiary option filling gap in the Northern suburbs
A contemporary Education (Early Years) course located in the Northern suburbs. The course is located at NMIT's Preston campus.
What are the entrance requirements?
Standard entrance requirements include:
- A minimum study score of 25 in one of the VCE (or equivalent) Units 3 and 4 English group of subjects.
- Standard in Mathematics equivalent to satisfactory completion of VCE (or equivalent) Units 1 and 2 Mathematics (excluding foundation maths).
- All successful applicants will be required to have a clear Working with Children Check prior to commencing the course.
NMIT also offers special and alternative admission requirements for the course:
- Relevant industry experience: defined as professional engagement in the early years industry for a minimum of two years; capacity to undertake work at degree level as demonstrated through participation in an interview and selection process, including English and numeracy testing; and demonstration of personal attributes suitable for teaching.
- Diploma of Children’s Services and relevant industry experience: defined as professional engagement in the early years industry for a minimum of one year; capacity to undertake work at degree level as demonstrated through participation in an interview and selection process, including English and numeracy testing; and demonstration of personal attributes suitable for teaching.
- Mature-age students will need to demonstrate their capacity to undertake work at degree level as demonstrated through participation in an interview and selection process.
- Existing qualification: applicants with an existing qualification of either a Diploma of Children’s Services or an Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services may be eligible to apply for advanced standing or credit towards the course.
Applicants may be able to seek recognition for prior learning where work or qualifications of an advanced and related nature have been undertaken.
Applicants who do not meet the entry requirements for this course may be able to participate in additional studies to develop proficiency in English, numeracy, ICT and academic literacy.
What is the cost of studying at NMIT?
Students can enrol in NMIT’s bachelor degree courses for four years full-time, or have the option of enrolling part-time.
The degree programs are fee for service and cost AU$12,000 a year. However all courses have the option of FEE-HELP for eligible students. No additional fees are charged beyond the tuition fees for the compulsory components of any higher education courses.
The tuition fees are calculated based on full-time study. Part-time fees per year depend on subjects chosen (part-time study is only available to domestic students).
Fee Help
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible fee paying students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. To be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan for a unit of study you must be: An Australian citizen, OR the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa who will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit, OR the holder of a permanent visa enrolled in a bridging course for overseas-trained professionals who will be resident of Australia for the duration of the course, OR a pre-2005 PELS student who is the holder of a permanent visa and meets the PELS eligibility requirements.
This information is taken from the FEE-HELP website www.goingtouni.gov.au which provides full details of the FEE-HELP system.
Where will studying Early Years Education at NMIT take me?
Education (Early Years) graduates will have knowledge of children from birth to early adolescence, with specialist expertise in the growth, learning and education of infants, toddlers, preschool children and primary school children in their early years (Prep – Grade 2).
These degrees, available both full and part time, provide the following qualifications:
- The Bachelor of Education (Early Years) - a four year (full-time) dual kindergarten and primary (early years) teacher qualification
- The Bachelor of Early Years Studies – a three year (full-time) kindergarten teaching qualification
- The Associate Degree of Early Years Studies – a two year (full-time) qualification for recognition as a qualified room leader in children’s services.
