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
How to study early childhood abroad
-
University & program search
Find the right program for you and your career aspirations -
Application guidance
We'll get you to the right place to start your application -
Visa & travel advice
Get help after application, all the way to your first day at university
Our team of advisors is ready to support you at every step of your study abroad journey.
Our services are 100% free for students like you because we're funded by universities.
Early childhood study abroad programs
Early childhood undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in early childhood
-
Early Childhood Education - BSc Auburn University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
32,220 USD
Fee in university's local currency 32,220 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
-
Teaching (Early Childhood) - BTchg University of Waikato, New Zealand
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
21,316 USD
Fee in university's local currency 28,915 NZD
- Start date
- February, July
-
Early Childhood Education - BSc University of Findlay, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
33,250 USD
Fee in university's local currency 33,250 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Early Childhood Education - BSc Greenville University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
27,580 USD
Fee in university's local currency 27,580 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Early Childhood Education - BSc University of Minnesota Crookston, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,864 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,864 USD
- Start date
- August, January
Associate in early childhood
-
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
-
Early Childhood Education - ASc Mount Aloysius College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
21,870 USD
Fee in university's local currency 21,870 USD
- Start date
- January, September
-
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
-
Education: Elementary and Early Childhood (also special education) - AA Hesston College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
28,992 USD
Fee in university's local currency 28,992 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Early Childhood Education (for Transfer) - ASc Merritt College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
7,950 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,950 USD
- Start date
- August, January, June
Diploma in early childhood
-
Early Childhood Education and Development - Dip Bow Valley College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 16 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
21,273 USD
Fee in university's local currency 26,739 CAD
- Start date
- September, January
-
Early Childhood Care and Education: Infants and Toddlers - UGDip North Island College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,591 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,570 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Early Childhood Education and Care - UGDip Northern Lights College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,685 USD
Fee in university's local currency 13,431 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, July, September
-
Early Childhood Education - Dip Thompson Rivers University, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,997 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,080 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Early Childhood Education - Dip Sheridan College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,310 USD
Fee in university's local currency 17,987 CAD
- Start date
- September, January
Certificate in early childhood
-
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
-
Early Childhood Education with Co-op - Cert Stenberg College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 20 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
6,847 USD
Fee in university's local currency 8,607 CAD
- Start date
- January, April, October
-
Early Childhood Care & Education - Cert North Island College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
13,576 USD
Fee in university's local currency 17,065 CAD
- Start date
- March, September
-
ECE: State Short Early Childhood Education: General - 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
Pathway in early childhood
-
Early Childhood Studies - FdA London Metropolitan University, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate pathway
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,541 USD
Fee in university's local currency 8,850 GBP
- Start date
- September
-
FdEd Early Childhood Studies - FD University of Hull, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate pathway
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
19,839 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,000 GBP
- Start date
- September
Early childhood graduate programs
Master's in early childhood
-
Early Childhood Education - MSc Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,536 USD
Fee in university's local currency 11,536 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy - MSE University of Dayton, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,325 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,325 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
-
Elementary Education - Early Childhood - MEd Southeast Missouri State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,990 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,990 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Early Childhood Education - MEd 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
-
Early Childhood Education - MEd University of Hartford, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
28,115 USD
Fee in university's local currency 28,115 USD
- Start date
- January, September
Doctorate in early childhood
-
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
-
Early Childhood Education, P-3 - EdS University of West Alabama, USA
- 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
Diploma in early childhood
-
Early Childhood Education - OCDip Durham College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 28 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,987 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,067 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Early Childhood Education (Ashtonbee Campus) - OCDip Centennial College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
13,152 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,531 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Early Childhood Education - OCDip Fanshawe College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 11 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,667 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,922 CAD
- Start date
- January, March, April, May, July, August, October, November
-
Education (Early Childhood) - PGDip RMIT University, Australia
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
22,106 USD
Fee in university's local currency 27,840 AUD
- Start date
- February, July
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.
