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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

    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

    1. University & program search

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    2. Application guidance

      We'll get you to the right place to start your application

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    Early childhood study abroad programs

    Early childhood undergraduate programs

    Bachelor's in early childhood

    • false

      Applied Arts: Early Childhood Leadership - BA (Hons) Sheridan College, Canada

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      4 years
      Annual tuition fee
      17,626 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 22,107 CAD

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Applied Arts: Early Childhood Leadership
    • false

      Child Development: Early Childhood Development - BA California State University, San Bernardino, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      4 years
      Annual tuition fee
      16,722 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 16,722 USD

      Start date
      August, January
      Show program overview about Child Development: Early Childhood Development
    • false

      Early Childhood Education and TESOL - BSc Long Island University Post, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      5 years
      Annual tuition fee
      35,736 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 35,736 USD

      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education and TESOL
    • false

      Early Childhood - BA (Hons) University of the West of England - UWE Bristol, UK

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      3 years
      Annual tuition fee
      18,090 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 13,000 GBP

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood
    • false

      Early Childhood - BA (Hons) Liverpool Hope University, UK

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      3 years
      Annual tuition fee
      15,863 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 11,400 GBP

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood
    See all bachelor's degrees in early childhood

    Associate in early childhood

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      Early Childhood Education - AA Lake Land College, USA

      Program type
      Associate
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      13,500 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 13,500 USD

      Start date
      January, June, August
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Education - AASc Elgin Community College, USA

      Program type
      Associate
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      9,510 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 9,510 USD

      Start date
      January, February, June, August, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Education - AASc Fox Valley Technical College, USA

      Program type
      Associate
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      6,600 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 6,600 USD

      Start date
      August, January
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Education - AASc North Seattle College, USA

      Program type
      Associate
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      9,687 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 9,687 USD

      Start date
      September, January, April, June
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Education - AA Moraine Valley Community College, USA

      Program type
      Associate
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      9,408 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 9,408 USD

      Start date
      January, June, August
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    See all associate degrees in early childhood

    Diploma in early childhood

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      Early Childhood Care & Education - UGDip Coast Mountain College, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      10,772 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 13,510 CAD

      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Care & Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Care and Education: Infants and Toddlers - UGDip North Island College, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      11,617 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 14,570 CAD

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Care and Education: Infants and Toddlers
    • false

      Early Childhood Education - Dip Sheridan College, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      14,341 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 17,987 CAD

      Start date
      September, January
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Education - Dip Okanagan College, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      9,894 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 12,409 CAD

      Start date
      August
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

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

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      12,288 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 15,412 CAD

      Start date
      January
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    See all undergraduate diplomas in early childhood

    Certificate in early childhood

    • false

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

      Program type
      Undergraduate certificate
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      13,606 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 17,065 CAD

      Start date
      March, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Care & Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Education - Cert Elgin Community College, USA

      Program type
      Undergraduate certificate
      Duration
      9 months
      Annual tuition fee
      9,510 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 9,510 USD

      Start date
      January, February, June, August, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Education with Co-op - Cert Stenberg College, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate certificate
      Duration
      20 months
      Annual tuition fee
      6,862 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 8,607 CAD

      Start date
      January, April, October
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education with Co-op
    • false

      Early Childhood Education Teacher - Cert College of the Desert, USA
      • Blended learning

      Program type
      Undergraduate certificate
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      7,368 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 7,368 USD

      Start date
      August, January
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education Teacher
    • false

      ECE: State Short Early Childhood Education: Infant Toddler Care - Cert North Seattle College, USA

      Program type
      Undergraduate certificate
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      9,687 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 9,687 USD

      Start date
      September, January, April, June
      Show program overview about ECE: State Short Early Childhood Education: Infant Toddler Care
    See all undergraduate certificates in early childhood

    Pathway in early childhood

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      Early Childhood Studies - FdA London Metropolitan University, UK

      Program type
      Undergraduate pathway
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      12,315 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 8,850 GBP

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Studies
    • false

      FdEd Early Childhood Studies - FD University of Hull, UK

      Program type
      Undergraduate pathway
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      19,481 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 14,000 GBP

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about FdEd Early Childhood Studies
    See all undergraduate pathways in early childhood

    Early childhood graduate programs

    Master's in early childhood

    • false

      Curriculum and Learning: Early Childhood - MA William Paterson University, USA

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      20,454 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 20,454 USD

      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Curriculum and Learning: Early Childhood
    • false

      Early Childhood (Interdisciplinary Studies) - MA Liverpool Hope University, UK

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      15,863 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 11,400 GBP

      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood (Interdisciplinary Studies)
    • false

      Early Childhood Education (P-3) - MEd University of West Alabama, USA

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      10,494 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 10,494 USD

      Start date
      January, August
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education (P-3)
    • false

      Early Childhood Development, Learning and Intervention - MST Pace University, USA

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      42,975 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 42,975 USD

      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Development, Learning and Intervention
    • false

      Early Childhood Education - MA DePaul University, USA

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      20,960 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 20,960 USD

      Start date
      January, March, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    See all master's degrees in early childhood

    Doctorate in early childhood

    • false

      Early Childhood Education - EdD DePaul University, USA

      Program type
      Doctorate
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      20,960 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 20,960 USD

      Start date
      January, March, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

      Early Childhood Education, P-3 - EdS University of West Alabama, USA
      • Online

      Program type
      Doctorate
      Duration
      3 years
      Annual tuition fee
      22,680 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 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

    • false

      Early Childhood Education - OCDip Fanshawe College, Canada

      Program type
      Postgraduate diploma
      Duration
      11 months
      Annual tuition fee
      12,695 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 15,922 CAD

      Start date
      January, March, April, May, July, August, October, November
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education
    • false

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

      Program type
      Postgraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      13,180 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 16,531 CAD

      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education (Progress Campus)
    • false

      Education (Early Childhood) - PGDip RMIT University, Australia

      Program type
      Postgraduate diploma
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      20,585 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 27,840 AUD

      Start date
      February, July
      Show program overview about Education (Early Childhood)
    • false

      Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood Education - GradDip Massey University, New Zealand

      Program type
      Postgraduate diploma
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      19,270 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 27,330 NZD

      Start date
      February, July
      Show program overview about Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood Education
    • false

      Teaching: Early Childhood Education - GradDipTchg (ECE) University of Auckland, New Zealand

      Program type
      Postgraduate diploma
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      23,889 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 33,881 NZD

      Start date
      January
      Show program overview about Teaching: Early Childhood Education
    See all postgraduate diplomas in early childhood

    Certificate in early childhood

    • false

      Teaching: Early Childhood Education - GradCert Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
      • Online

      Program type
      Postgraduate certificate
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      24,446 USD

      Fee in university's local currency 34,671 NZD

      Start date
      February
      Show program overview about Teaching: Early Childhood Education
    See all postgraduate certificates 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.