Early childhood scholarships
The Jack and Merleen Sheedy Early Childhood Education Scholarships provide support for changing to a career in early childhood. There are two scholarships available to eligible students commencing QUT early childhood courses.
Graduate success
Fiona shares why she loves early childhood teaching and the little moments that make it such a rewarding career.
Real-world placement
'From the first year of my degree, I participated in a professional experience placement organised by QUT. It was a valuable opportunity to create lesson plans, observe, and interact with children. Engaging in placements prepares me for a career in teaching and enhances my skill set.'
The best start in life
I'm currently working as a teacher in an early years centre supporting the children in their learning and development. I get to see children when they come in as young as six months old to when they're five, and see them grow and become their own little people. Their love for learning starts young and we help support and promote that.
Highlights
- Queensland’s #1 choice for early education courses
- Choose between an accelerated 3.5 year, or standard 4 year duration
- If you have an early childhood diploma and work experience you can become a teacher in 2.5 years
- Gain real-world experience through diverse professional experience placements from your first year of study, organised by QUT.
- Graduate and work in Queensland as an early childhood teacher in early learning centres, kindergartens, and Prep to Year 3 in primary schools
Highlights
- Queensland’s #1 choice for early education courses
- Commencing your studies in semester 1 gives you the option to fast-track your studies, completing a full-time on-campus degree in 3.5 years.
- Complete this 4-year full-time degree in 2.5 years if you have an early childhood diploma and work experience.
- Gain real-world experience through diverse professional experience placements from your first year of study, organised by QUT.
- Graduate and work in Queensland as an early childhood teacher in early learning centres, kindergartens, and Prep to Year 3 in primary schools
Why choose this course?
The early years are a time of rapid growth and development. Early relationships, interactions and experiences provide the foundation for everything that follows - school, work, life. Early childhood teachers make a significant and lasting contribution to a child’s education and lifelong learning. You will be supported by specialist early childhood academics and will experience real-world opportunities that prepare you to teach in early childhood.
Nationally, the number of early childhood teachers required in early childhood education and care services is expected to grow by 21.6% between 2021 and 2026, according to the Australian Government's Job Outlook (June 2023).
This puts you, as an early childhood graduate teacher, in the box seat for leadership in the early childhood education and care sector.
Real-world learning
Professional experience
We organise professional experience placements, supervised by practising teachers, to give you experience in a diverse range of environments including school classrooms, kindergartens and early learning centres. These start from as early as your first year of your course.
Find out more about professional experience
More real world learning
QUT offers a range of opportunities to apply or volunteer for programs and experiences related to your course, including visits to rural and remote schools and communities through the QUT Centre of Learning and Wellbeing Rural and Remote Community Engagement Program.
We also offer opportunities to gain valuable experience overseas. These diverse cultural experiences can enhance your personal development and cultural competence, and show employers that you can deal with change and have initiative, commitment, flexibility, and compassion. You can apply for opportunities to travel overseas for semester exchange or short-term international programs offered in conjunction with our global partners. Your overseas experience may contribute towards a unit in your course. You may also be eligible to receive funding for travel.
Learn from the best
You’ll learn from inspiring and innovative lecturers who are committed to providing a quality experience for the early childhood teachers of the future. Our lecturers have real-world experience in early childhood education and care services and schools and have a wealth of knowledge and advice to set you on the right path.
We’ve been recognised among the nation’s most outstanding teaching and learning programs. In the past nine years, QUT Education has received nine Australian awards or citations for university teaching.
Explore this course
We will ensure you can step into your career with confidence and continue to adapt to ongoing workforce changes and future opportunities. Some key inclusions in the course are:
- a deep understanding of early childhood learning and development
- curriculum and pedagogy knowledge and practices
- creating positive learning environments for young learners
- inclusion and diversity
- building positive relationships with parents, carers, communities and education stakeholders
- digital technologies
- entrepreneurial thinking and leadership
- innovation and creativity
- evaluation, research and assessment
- developing your professional identity
- global perspectives
- resilience.
Visit the student and graduate blog to find out more about what it’s like to study education and where a QUT degree can take you.
We will ensure you can step into your career with confidence and continue to adapt to ongoing workforce changes and future opportunities. Some key inclusions in the course are:
- a deep understanding of early childhood learning and development
- curriculum and pedagogy knowledge and practices
- creating positive learning environments for young learners
- inclusion and diversity
- building positive relationships with parents, carers, communities and education stakeholders
- digital technologies
- entrepreneurial thinking and leadership
- innovation and creativity
- evaluation, research and assessment
- developing your professional identity
- global perspectives
- resilience.
Visit the student and graduate blog to find out more about what it’s like to study education and where a QUT degree can take you.
Professional experience
We organise professional experience placements, supervised by practising teachers, to give you experience in a diverse range of environments including school classrooms, kindergartens and early learning centres.
Specialisation for primary teaching
As this course qualifies you to teach to Year 3, you will undertake a primary specialisation as required by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership in literacy. This will enhance your skills in a national area of priority for a primary school setting.
Along with careers in early childhood centres and kindergartens, this keeps career paths open to teach from Prep to Year 3 in primary schools.
Flexible delivery
At QUT, we understand life can get busy. That’s why our courses are flexible and responsive to your needs. If you have suitable early childhood qualifications and work experience, you may be eligible for generous credit.
The timing of the course can even vary, depending on how fast you’d like to complete it. If you include 2 summer semesters, you can choose to finish your course in 3.5 years, rather than 4 years.
You can also study on campus or online. Some lectures and tutorials may have evening sessions. If you enter the course with advanced standing, you should seek advice on your course progression and the availability of online units.
If you choose online study, you’ll be part of an online learning community and in regular contact with our expert teaching staff. QUT provides a variety of online learning environments where you will participate fully, receive expert knowledge and guidance, and have easy access to course content.
You can undertake Professional Experience placements in your home region and the schedule will be released well in advance so you can plan ahead. If you need to borrow resources from the QUT Library, these can be posted to your home address.
Credit for diploma studies and work experience
If you have completed a relevant diploma, you can build on your qualification and receive credit for completed study. Additional credit is offered for relevant work experience.
You can receive 96 credit points of advanced standing (equivalent to 1 year of full time study) if you have any of the following:
- a Diploma of Children's Services (Early Childhood Education and Care)
- an Advanced Diploma of Children's Services
- an equivalent accredited qualification.
You can receive 144 credit points of advanced standing (equivalent to 1.5 years of full time study) if you're a domestic student who has completed the appropriate level of early childhood work experience, as well as any of the following:
- a Diploma of Children's Services (Early Childhood Education and Care)
- an Advanced Diploma of Children's Services
- an equivalent accredited qualification.
Real-world facilities
Experience our state-of-the-art Education Precinct at the heart of Kelvin Grove campus. With five levels dedicated to world-class teaching, you’ll have access to imaginatively designed face-to-face and online interactive learning spaces. A centrepiece of the Precinct is the Sphere, a digital LED globe suspended over two floors with a changing menu of innovative visual content.
To prepare you to be an inspiring, innovative and confident teacher for the future, you’ll be able to experiment and innovate in preparation for professional experiences in schools and early childhood centres. The spaces facilitate just the right balance of collaborative learning, interaction and quiet individual research.
Our expert teaching staff will inspire you to push boundaries, be curious and innovate. Qualities you will in turn foster in the students you teach.
Learn more about QUT's Education Precinct
Specialisation for primary teaching
As this course qualifies you to teach to Year 3, you will undertake a primary specialisation as required by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership in literacy. This will enhance your skills in a national area of priority for a primary school setting.
Along with careers in early childhood centres and kindergartens, this keeps career paths open to teach from Prep to Year 3 in primary schools.
Apply for a Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship
The Australian Government is supporting new students looking to start teaching, by providing $40,000 for full-time Bachelor of Education students or $20,000 for full-time Master of Teaching students.Applications for 2024 open soon, with conditional offers to be made by the end of March 2024.
Real-world facilities
Experience our state-of-the-art Education Precinct at the heart of Kelvin Grove campus. With five levels dedicated to world-class teaching, you’ll have access to imaginatively designed face-to-face and online interactive learning spaces. A centrepiece of the Precinct is the Sphere, a digital LED globe suspended over two floors with a changing menu of innovative visual content.
To prepare you to be an inspiring, innovative and confident teacher for the future, you’ll be able to experiment and innovate in preparation for professional experiences in schools and early childhood centres. The spaces facilitate just the right balance of collaborative learning, interaction and quiet individual research.
Our expert teaching staff will inspire you to push boundaries, be curious and innovate. Qualities you will in turn foster in the students you teach.
Learn more about QUT's Education Precinct
Specialisation for primary teaching
As this course qualifies you to teach to Year 3, you will undertake a primary specialisation as required by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership in literacy. This will enhance your skills in a national area of priority for a primary school setting.
Work Integrated Learning
During this course, you are required to complete 95 days (equivalent to 665 hours) of professional experience placements.
Careers and outcomes
As early childhood specialists, graduates are prepared to work as qualified teachers in early learning centres and kindergartens. The early childhood degree also prepares you to teach in Prep to Year 3 in primary school and can allow you to work across Australia and overseas.
Early childhood teachers develop a range of skills, knowledge and practices as a result of their own unique combination of work experiences and personal qualities. You will be empowered to shape your own career path and explore the many ways to make an impact. You can explore a range of careers, including:
- childcare centre or kindergarten director
- education policy and program implementation
- training and development roles in private and public organisations
- education and outreach roles
- developing products for the early childhood sector
- learning designer
- entertainment industry roles
- consultancy
- education research.
Professional recognition
This course meets professional teaching standards for the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership and Queensland College of Teachers. Graduates are eligible to apply for teacher registration. Graduates are also recognised as qualified early childhood teachers under the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority framework.
- ATAR/selection rank threshold
- 70.00
- Additional entry requirements
- Yes
- Additional entry requirements
- Yes
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2024.
Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?
- Course code
- ED39
- QTAC code
- 404162
- CRICOS code
- 080481D
-
- Online
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 3.5-4 years full-time
- 8 years part-time
- The 3.5 year accelerated program is only available to full-time students commencing in the February intake
-
Part-time on-campus students should note that daytime attendance is required. Some lectures and tutorials may have evening sessions.
- 4 years full-time
-
Part-time on-campus students should note that daytime attendance is required. Some lectures and tutorials may have evening sessions.
- February and July
- February and July
Prerequisites
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature extension, or English as an additional language (units 3 & 4, C)
- General mathematics, mathematical methods or specialist mathematics (units 3 & 4, C)
- At least one of Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Marine Science, Physics, or Psychology (Units 3 & 4, C)
Haven't completed the prerequisite subjects?
You may be able to meet the prerequisite requirements if you've completed equivalent subjects or by completing bridging courses.
How to meet prerequisite requirements
Non-academic entry requirements
You must demonstrate possession of key competencies outlined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as those attributes and motivations common to effective teachers.
To demonstrate this you must complete an online questionnaire to demonstrate your motivation for and understanding of, the course and profession as well as provide two written statements addressing your motivation and suitability to become a teacher, and another address your involvement in personal learning and leadership activities. Details are available from the QTAC initial teacher education webpage.
If you've achieved a satisfactory result for one or more components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) at another institution, the satisfactory result can be carried across with your admission application. You are not eligible to apply for a place in this course if one or more components of LANTITE remains at unsatisfactory after two test attempts for that component.
Overseas qualifications
We will consider equivalent overseas qualifications for admissions purposes. If you have tertiary qualifications from countries where English is not the standard language of instruction, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency.
English language proficiency
We require students to demonstrate they can speak, write, read and comprehend academic English to a specified standard.
Our English proficiency requirements for this course are:
- IELTS (Academic): 6.5 or better overall with no subscore below 6.0
The test must have been completed within 2 years prior to the proposed course start month.
Offer guarantee
If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
If you intend to apply for advanced standing you can view more information and find out how to apply. If you enter the course with advanced standing you should seek advice on your course progression and the availability of units.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2023
The figures listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent ATAR students. The entry thresholds box at the top of this page shows the lowest adjusted ATAR/selection rank required to receive an offer for all applicants for the most recent January QTAC offer round.
Excluding adjustments | Including adjustments | |
---|---|---|
Highest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
88.80
|
Selection rank
88.80
|
Median ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
78.15
|
Selection rank
79.65
|
Lowest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
70.20
|
Selection rank
73.05
|
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
Minimum academic requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
- ATAR/selection rank
- 70.00
Offer guarantee
If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Prerequisites
You must have passed four semesters (Units 3 & 4, C) at an Australian high school level or equivalent:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
- at least one of General Mathematics, or Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
- at least one of Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Marine Science, Physics, or Psychology (Units 3 & 4, C).
Haven't completed the prerequisite subjects?
You may be able to meet the prerequisite requirements if you've completed equivalent subjects, by completing bridging courses or the QUT Foundation program.
How to meet prerequisite requirements
Non-academic entry requirements
You must demonstrate possession of key competencies outlined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as those attributes and motivations common to effective teachers.
To demonstrate this you must complete an online questionnaire to demonstrate your motivation for and understanding of, the course and profession as well as provide two written statements addressing your motivation and suitability to become a teacher, and another address your involvement in personal learning and leadership activities. Details are available from the QTAC initial teacher education webpage.
If you've achieved a satisfactory result for one or more components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) at another Australian institution, the satisfactory result can be carried across with your admission application. You are not eligible to apply for a place in this course if one or more components of LANTITE remains at unsatisfactory after two test attempts for that component.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
IELTS Academic / IELTS Online / IELTS One Skills Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
TOEFL iBT / Home / Paper | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Course requirements
Literacy and numeracy
You will need to successfully complete the National Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students to graduate from the course. You are permitted three test attempts in total for each component as a student at QUT. If you fail three test attempts for each component, you will not be able to graduate. The test will assess your personal literacy and numeracy skills.
Find more information about additional course costs and requirements.
Inherent requirements
There are some essential skills and abilities you'll need to perform to meet the core learning outcomes of your course or unit. They're not something you need to get into the course, but they'll be assessed throughout your course, and they'll be required for you to succeed in your career when you graduate.
Find out more about the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Education.
Blue card
This course requires you to have a blue card so you can participate in work placements and experience.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2025 fees
2025: CSP fees available from September
2025 fees
2025: Available from July
2024 fees
2024: CSP $4,500 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2024 fees
2024: $33,800 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)
QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding academic achievement.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
QUT Real World International Scholarship
A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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