Degree Pathways for Early Childhood Education and Care Professionals

Our evening delivered BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care is ideal for those aspiring or already working in the sector who wish to continue their studies to a QQI Level 8 degree.

The programme has a strong placement component and therefore requires a full-time commitment. 

The evening classes (Mondays and Wednesdays) provide opportunities for you to develop your pedagogic knowledge and share your experiences with others. You will also develop skills and sector insights that you will be expected to apply in practice. The final year involves completing a capstone project on your chosen specialist topic.

What is the programme about?

With a strong practice component, and a multidisciplinary teaching team the programme is specially designed for students interested in pursuing a career in holistic Early Learning and Development environments. Specifically, the programme helps deepen values, knowledge, and skills in Early Childhood Education and Care. It aims to strengthen professional identities and empower Early Childhood Educators. 

Why study ECEC?

There are several reasons to study early childhood education and care at NCI, from career prospects to personal Interest. If you're trying to decide whether this course is right for you, the reasons we have outlined may help you understand the benefits of joining this programme. 

Structure of the programme

The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care is a 4 Year programme with Exit awards. Students with a QQI level 6 Major Award in Early Learning and Care or Early Childhood Education and Care may be eligible for advanced entry into Year 2 of the BAHECEC programme. 

The course is available to study in the daytime and in the evening. For the evening course, classes are delivered on Monday and Wednesday evenings with some Saturday morning classes over two semesters of the academic year. The evening delivery of the programme is convenient for learners to work and study.

You can find further information on the course pages: