NCI Course Details

Join us at one of our CAO Open Day events for Leaving Certificate students where you will be able to chat with our lecturers and talk to students about their course experiences.

• Wednesday, May 13th 2026 - Register Here
• Saturday, June 27th 2026 - Register Here

An essential and hugely beneficial key element of the programme is the strong emphasis placed on supervised professional practice placement in diverse Early Childhood settings.

More than 1,000 hours are specially allocated to supervised placement-related activities. Among other skills, such as observations and ethical practice, application of strategies in learning environments, the placement includes planning and developing curriculum for young children.

The final year provides an opportunity for students to combine their knowledge and skills in a practice-based capstone project.

• NCI has a tradition of working with educators. In CELL we believe that learning is lifelong and starts at birth. NCI has a long history of working with children and families through the Early Learning Initiative (ELI). Much has been learned through this initiative which has supported the development of this programme.
• A well-designed progressive professional practice experience, which allows you to hone your skills in working with children.
• A specialised play lab which allows you to investigate and experiment with resources and teaching materials in a safe environment before introducing them to children.
• The teaching team is multi-disciplinary and brings to our learners Irish and International experts delivering up-to-date core knowledge and practice in early childhood as well as much required building of academic, digital, and technological skills.
• This programme is approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board (instituted to review Level 7 and Level 8 Degree Programmes for the Early Learning and Care Sector) as meeting the requirements of the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines standards.
• View our taster session to get a feel for the course.

Year 1

• Holistic Child Learning and Development*
• Foundations of Early Childhood Education and Care*
• Music, Movement, Art and Drama
• Academic Foundations and Scholarship
• Essential Legislation and Regulation in ECEC*
• Child Health Nutrition and Wellbeing*

*Field visits to diverse early childhood settings will be integrated within all or some of these modules

Year 2

• Core Pedagogies and Curriculum in ECEC
• Dispositions and Dynamics of Behaviour in Children
• Managing your Learning and Academic Practice
• Supervised Professional Practice Placement: Observation and Reflection in ECEC Practice
• Play and Creativity in ECEC
• Diversity and Pluralism in Learning Language and Literacies

Year 3

• Quality Assurance in ECEC Environments
• Early Learning in a Digital World
• Inquiry Learning – Design and Evaluation of Curriculum in ECEC
• Supervised Professional Practice Placement: Application of Strategies in Learning Environments in ECEC Practice
• The Child Family and Society – Stakeholders in ECEC
• Leadership and Governance in ECEC Environments

Year 4

• ECEC Research Methods and Inquiry
• Social, Political and Cultural Contexts of ECEC
• Working in Multi Professional Contexts
• Personal and Professional Identity
• Capstone ECEC Practice based Project

For information on the modules taught on this course view our module descriptors.

Further information on this course can be found in our Student Handbook.

The Bachelor of Arts Honours in Early Childhood Education and Care is a four-year honours degree, awarded by QQI at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications, with exit awards.

Each year has two semesters for a duration of twelve weeks of teaching per semester.

Year 1 includes field visits to early childhood settings and from year 2 students will gain practical experience through supervised professional high quality practice placements.

This course is ideally suited to those who would like to work with or for babies and young children and their families from birth to six in the ECEC sector. This course is also suitable if you would like to work as an early childhood inspector/evaluator, mentor, or curriculum trainer in the ECEC sector.

Minimum entry requirements for the programme are H5 in two subjects, and O6/H7 in four subjects in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent, which must include English and Mathematics. Applicants from a PLC/further education course must have a full level 5/6 award, three distinctions and meet the CAO points requirement. Students with a major award in Early Learning and Care/Early Childhood Education and Care at NFQ level 6 will be eligible for advanced entry into year two of the programme, subject to certain criteria.

For applicants whose first language is not English, please note the English language entry requirements.

For international students, please visit NCI's Your Country section to view the specific entry requirements for your region.

Mature applicants, applicants with a disability or those applying through the DARE or HEAR access schemes can find out more information on the application process.

Please note that exams can be scheduled during the morning, afternoon or evening Monday to Saturday.

QQI Level 5/6 Requirements

Students must obtain a minimum of 3 distinctions and a full award and meet the CAO points requirements to apply for this Level 8 course. 

Visit our QQI Applicants page for further information.

Applicants with a Major Award in Early Learning and Care/ Early Childhood Education and Care at NFQ level 6 may be eligible for an advanced entry into Year 2 of the programme. Advanced entry applicants should email admissions directly for the application link admissions@ncirl.ie or on 1800 221 721.

National College of Ireland has implemented a Bring Your Own Device policy for all courses. Specifically, students are expected to successfully participate in lectures, laboratories and projects using a portable computer (laptop/notebook) with a substantial hardware configuration.

The recommended configuration is as follows:

Processor:

• Intel 11th Gen or newer, Core i3 / i5 /i7 or Ultra 3 / 5 /7
  Or
• AMD 5000 Series or newer, Rzyen 3 / 5 /7

Random Access Memory (RAM):
16GB or greater

Storage:
SSD (Solid State Drive) 256GB or greater

Wireless Card:
802.11 n/ac/ax capability

Recommended Operating Systems:
Windows 11
Later Version of MAC OS should also be fine.
Chromebook’s are not recommended.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure their computer is functioning correctly and that they have full administrator rights. NCI cannot provide support for these personal devices.

Student Laptop Loan Scheme

A Laptop Loan Scheme is available for eligible students to assist them in completing their chosen course.

This programme is approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board (instituted to review Level 7 and Level 8 degree programmes for the Early Learning and Care sector) as meeting the requirements of the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines standards.

A core and highly valuable component of the programme is the strong emphasis on supervised professional practice placement across a variety of Early Childhood settings. Students are required to complete placements that span the full early childhood age range, from birth to five years, and engage with children from diverse backgrounds. 

To ensure a broad and meaningful experience, placements must take place in a range of settings, including infant, toddler, and preschool environments. In the final year, students are also encouraged to consider placements in non-practice contexts such as policy development agencies, research centres, City and County Childcare Committees, and regulatory bodies. 

Over 1,000 hours are dedicated to supervised placement activities, which include curriculum planning, observation, ethical practice, and the application of pedagogical strategies in real-world learning environments. Field visits are integral in Year 1, while supervised placements are central to Years 2 and 3. Year 4 culminates in a practice-based or practice-led capstone project, allowing students to synthesise and apply their accumulated knowledge and skills. 

Download the Placement Booklet for further information.

On completion, you will possess the skills to work as a room leader or supervisor, working directly with children, as a setting-based practitioner or manager, in advisory, mentorship, training and leadership roles such as Early Childhood Inspectors and Specialists in Better Start.

Government strategies have set out a vision for a graduate-led workforce in ECEC over the next decade.

These strategies include a new funding stream, Core Funding, which includes a graduate premium to be paid to services with graduate room leads for all ECEC age groups. These changes highlight the opportunities for graduates from this programme.

Upon successful completion students may progress to the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Practice in Teaching for Further Education at NCI or the NCI Master of Arts in Educational Practice or other postgraduate programmes.

Alternatively, you may progress into specialised graduate study areas such as, policy development, childhood studies or therapeutic applications of play, for example, play therapy.

All incoming students on the BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care programme are required to undergo Garda Vetting. Garda Vetting is a mandatory requirement for programmes that include professional placement or engagement with children or vulnerable persons.

For CAO applicants, Garda Vetting is completed once students have registered and commenced the programme. Upon registration, students will receive instructions on how to engage with the Garda Vetting process in line with current National College of Ireland procedures and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012–2016. 

Students are required to engage with the Garda Vetting process promptly, submit all required forms and documentation, and complete all stages of the process within the specified timeframes. Guidance and support throughout the Garda Vetting process is provided by Student Services. 

International students, or students who have lived abroad for six months or longer since the age of 18, are required to complete Garda Vetting. In addition, these students must provide police clearance certificates (or equivalent documentation) from any country in which they have resided for the specified period, as outlined in NCI’s Student Vetting Policy. Guidance on acceptable documentation and timelines will be provided by Student Services. 

Please note: Students will not be permitted to commence professional placement or any practice-based elements of the programme until Garda Vetting has been fully processed and approved. Failure to complete Garda Vetting within the required timeframe may result in delays to placement and progression on the programme. 

For queries, please contact studentservices@ncirl.ie. 

2025 CAO Points Guide :* 230

*For each course we have given a guideline based on our points over the past 3 years. This is a guide only, points vary each year.

The CAO course code is NC030.

Did you know you can apply for a Sports Scholarship at NCI?

Watch this video to hear from our current sports scholars Stephen Achukwu (basketball) and Adam Leonard (football):

The BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care is a self-funded course that does not qualify under the Free Fees Initiative.

The fee for this course is €4,800 per annum, payable by the student.

Students on this course may qualify for the Student Grant Scheme.

How to Apply

If you are an international student interested in applying for this programme, please click here.

International Student Fees

Please note that effective from September 2026, the programme fee for International students is €12,000 per year.

For more information on international fees, please visit International Fees & Funding and International Scholarships.

Learn more about studying at NCI as an international student.