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      Study early childhood abroad

      An in-depth guide to studying early childhood as an international student.

      Find early childhood programs

      Explore early childhood programs abroad

      See other programs in early childhood

      Early childhood degrees abroad

      Early childhood education, also known as early childhood studies, is an education degree that focuses on the teaching of children from birth up to eight years old. It’s an ideal program if you want to work with young children or become a preschool, kindergarten or primary school teacher.

      Studying early childhood education abroad means you can choose from a huge range of teaching colleges and universities. Approaches to education are different all over the world, so studying in another country can give you a unique perspective on early childhood studies.

      If you want to work in a specific country as a teacher, check the requirements first. You may need specific qualifications to work with children, and you may need to do additional courses or tests if you have a degree from another country.

      Early childhood program structure

      Degree programs in early childhood education differ depending on the country and university you attend. Some allow you to become a qualified teacher at the end of the program, and others give you an academic degree without a teaching qualification.

      At bachelor’s level you can study early childhood education as a BA over three or four years. If you’re looking for a postgraduate degree, you can study for an MA, which are usually designed for early childhood education professionals seeking to increase their understanding of the subject.

      Most programs will include work experience and placements where you will be able to put your learning into practice, working with young children in a local preschool.

      Early childhood programs are often named differently by different universities, for example; early years education, early childhood studies or early years teaching. The content of each program will be different too, but typical modules include:

      • Study of play
      • Pedagogy
      • Child safeguarding
      • Early childhood development
      • Contemporary childhood issues
      • Learning theory
      • Child development

      Alternative education degrees

      Best countries to study early childhood

      Best universities to study early childhood

      See all universities offering early childhood programs

      How to study early childhood abroad

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      Early childhood study abroad programs

      Early childhood undergraduate programs

      Bachelor's in early childhood

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        Early Childhood Education - BSc Greenville University, USA

        Program type
        Bachelor's
        Duration
        4 years
        Tuition fees per year
        27,580 USD
        Start date
        January, August
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
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        Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education - BSc Long Island University Post, USA

        Program type
        Bachelor's
        Duration
        4 years
        Tuition fees per year
        35,736 USD
        Start date
        January, September
        Show program overview about Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education
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        Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education - BAEd Arizona State University, USA

        Program type
        Bachelor's
        Duration
        4 years
        Tuition fees per year
        29,834 USD
        Start date
        January, May, August
        Show program overview about Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education
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        Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society - BSc University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

        Program type
        Bachelor's
        Duration
        4 years
        Tuition fees per year
        27,000 USD
        Start date
        January, June, August
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society
      • false

        Unified Early Childhood Teacher Education - BScEd University of Kansas, USA

        Program type
        Bachelor's
        Duration
        4 years
        Tuition fees per year
        26,960 USD
        Start date
        January, June, August
        Show program overview about Unified Early Childhood Teacher Education
      See all bachelor's degrees in early childhood

      Associate in early childhood

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        Early Childhood Education - AASc Fox Valley Technical College, USA

        Program type
        Associate
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        6,600 USD
        Start date
        August, January
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
      • false

        Early Childhood Education - ASc Mount Aloysius College, USA

        Program type
        Associate
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        21,870 USD
        Start date
        January, September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
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        Education - Early Childhood - AAT St. Charles Community College, USA

        Program type
        Associate
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        5,520 USD
        Start date
        January, August
        Show program overview about Education - Early Childhood
      • false

        Early Childhood Education - ASc San Jose City College, USA
        • Blended learning

        Program type
        Associate
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        8,138 USD
        Start date
        January, August
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
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        Education: Elementary and Early Childhood (also special education) - AA Hesston College, USA

        Program type
        Associate
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        28,992 USD
        Start date
        January, August
        Show program overview about Education: Elementary and Early Childhood (also special education)
      See all associate degrees in early childhood

      Pathway in early childhood

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        FdEd Early Childhood Studies - FD University of Hull, UK

        Program type
        Undergraduate pathway
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        14,000 GBP
        Start date
        September
        Show program overview about FdEd Early Childhood Studies
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        Early Childhood Studies - FdA London Metropolitan University, UK

        Program type
        Undergraduate pathway
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        8,850 GBP
        Start date
        September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Studies
      See all undergraduate pathways in early childhood

      Diploma in early childhood

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        Early Childhood Education - UGDip Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada

        Program type
        Undergraduate diploma
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        15,412 CAD
        Start date
        January
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
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        Early Childhood Education and Development - Dip Bow Valley College, Canada

        Program type
        Undergraduate diploma
        Duration
        16 months
        Tuition fees per year
        26,739 CAD
        Start date
        September, January
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education and Development
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        Early Childhood Education - UGDip Douglas College, Canada

        Program type
        Undergraduate diploma
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        18,000 CAD
        Start date
        January, September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
      • false

        Early Childhood Education and Care - UGDip Northern Lights College, Canada

        Program type
        Undergraduate diploma
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        13,431 CAD
        Start date
        January, May, July, September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education and Care
      • false

        Early Childhood Education ESL - UGDip Stenberg College, Canada

        Program type
        Undergraduate diploma
        Duration
        6 months
        Tuition fees per year
        18,500 CAD
        Start date
        March, August
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education ESL
      See all undergraduate diplomas in early childhood

      Certificate in early childhood

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        Early Childhood Care & Education - Cert North Island College, Canada

        Program type
        Undergraduate certificate
        Duration
        1 year
        Tuition fees per year
        17,010 CAD
        Start date
        January, May, July, September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Care & Education
      • false

        Early Childhood Education - Cert Elgin Community College, USA
        • Blended learning

        Program type
        Undergraduate certificate
        Duration
        9 months
        Tuition fees per year
        9,510 USD
        Start date
        August, September, January, February, June
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
      • false

        Early Childhood Education - Cert Stenberg College, Canada

        Program type
        Undergraduate certificate
        Duration
        10 months
        Tuition fees per year
        15,500 CAD
        Start date
        April, September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
      See all undergraduate certificates in early childhood

      Early childhood graduate programs

      Master's in early childhood

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        Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) - MSEd Long Island University Post, USA

        Program type
        Master's
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        44,100 USD
        Start date
        January, September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2)
      • false

        Education and Early Childhood - MA University of Hull, UK

        Program type
        Master's
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        14,000 GBP
        Start date
        January, September
        Show program overview about Education and Early Childhood
      • false

        Professional Counseling (School Counselor Concentration, Early Childhood Through Grade 12 Professional Certification) - MA Texas State University, USA

        Program type
        Master's
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        15,034 USD
        Start date
        January, August
        Show program overview about Professional Counseling (School Counselor Concentration, Early Childhood Through Grade 12 Professional Certification)
      • false

        Early Childhood Education - MA Central Michigan University, USA

        Program type
        Master's
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        15,300 USD
        Start date
        May, August
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
      • false

        Early Childhood Education (PreK- 4) - MSEd Duquesne University, USA

        Program type
        Master's
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        23,112 USD
        Start date
        January, August
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education (PreK- 4)
      See all master's degrees in early childhood

      Doctorate in early childhood

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        Early Childhood Education - EdD DePaul University, USA

        Program type
        Doctorate
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        20,960 USD
        Start date
        January, March, September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
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        Early Childhood Education, P-3 - EdS University of West Alabama, USA
        • Online

        Program type
        Doctorate
        Duration
        3 years
        Tuition fees per year
        22,680 USD
        Start date
        January, August
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education, P-3
      See all doctorates in early childhood

      Diploma in early childhood

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        Education (Early Childhood) - PGDip RMIT University, Australia

        Program type
        Postgraduate diploma
        Duration
        1 year
        Tuition fees per year
        27,840 AUD
        Start date
        February, July
        Show program overview about Education (Early Childhood)
      • false

        Early Childhood Education (Progress Campus) - OCDip Centennial College, Canada

        Program type
        Postgraduate diploma
        Duration
        2 years
        Tuition fees per year
        16,531 CAD
        Start date
        January, September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education (Progress Campus)
      • false

        Early Childhood Education - OCDip Fanshawe College, Canada

        Program type
        Postgraduate diploma
        Duration
        11 months
        Tuition fees per year
        15,922 CAD
        Start date
        January, March, April, May, July, August, October, November
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
      • false

        Early Childhood Education - OCDip Durham College, Canada

        Program type
        Postgraduate diploma
        Duration
        28 months
        Tuition fees per year
        15,067 CAD
        Start date
        September
        Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
      See all postgraduate diplomas in early childhood

      Future early childhood careers

      Early childhood education is a largely vocational degree, however, there are several career paths you could take after graduation, including:

      • Nursery/preschool teacher
      • Primary school teacher
      • Youth worker
      • Child social worker
      • Early years teaching assistant
      • Education consultant
      • Learning mentor

      If you want to become a qualified teacher, make sure you choose a program that includes teacher training. Some programs include a pathway in the second, third or final year that allows you to become a teacher, but you may need certain grades to be able to follow this path.