Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) (Mount Gambier), University of South Australia (UniSA). 2025 information for Australian students

This degree is only available to Australian students

You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:

Australian or New Zealand Citizen
Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders)

Australian students

Start Date
February
July

Campus
Mt Gambier

Duration
3 year(s) full-time

Mode
On-campus/Online

Program Code
MBXC

SATAC Code
474095 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry Requirements
Selection Rank (Guaranteed): 70.00 (for 2025)
TAFE/RTO (Guaranteed): DIP
View full entry requirements

Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education

Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent

AND
- Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
OR

Higher education study
- Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
OR

Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma or above
OR

Work and life experience
- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Essential requirements for admission
Applicants are advised that a successful Working with Children Check (WWCC) with the Department of Human Services is required for all preservice teachers prior to undertaking any professional experience placement or site visit that involves contact with minors (under 18 years of age). These placements form a compulsory part of the program. Information on the procedure to be followed for obtaining clearance can be found on the Professional Experience Placement website.
Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

Aim

The Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) aims to prepare graduates who demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, professional practice and professional engagement, and who are innovatively responsive to the changing and challenging demands of being educators in the 21st century. The program equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to promote effective and inclusive learning in a range of educational settings from birth to five years. This is achieved through theoretical and practical studies spanning professional studies (specific learning area curriculum and pedagogical studies), education studies (addressing current educational foci), and through a curriculum specific specialism suited to the early years. Our graduates understand the complexities of early childhood educational communities and the ways in which they can effectively contribute to learning environments aligned to their Early Childhood qualification. This is achieved through theoretical and practical studies spanning professional studies (specific learning area curriculum and pedagogical studies) and education studies (addressing current educational foci).

Content & Structure

The Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) is a three-year degree. Students will complete 108 units of study comprised of courses that are specific to teaching children from birth to five years and their transition to primary schools. Graduates will have a broad and coherent body of knowledge in professional experience, professional and discipline-specific curriculum studies and education studies. They will develop an in-depth understanding of the underlying principles, concepts and pedagogical practices in curriculum development and teaching for learners from birth to five years. Students will also develop skills in leadership and advocacy, and how to support children in families and communities in challenging circumstances.

Study at the new Adelaide University in 2026

The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia are combining their strengths to create a new university for the future, Adelaide University, opening in January 2026.

From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

Apply now to study with Adelaide University in 2026.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Contemporary Contexts of Early Childhood Education	EDUC 1100	4.5	Note(s): 1
Foundations in Learning and Teaching 1: Learning through Play	EDUC 1102	4.5	Note(s): 1
Professional Experience 1: Introduction to Educators' Practices (Birth-3 years)	EDUC 1044	4.5	Note(s): 4,5
Children's Development: Conception to 3 Years	EDUC 1041	4.5	Note(s): 1
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
English Curriculum: Language	EDUC 1112	4.5	Note(s): 2
Design and Technology Education	EDUC 1018	4.5	Note(s): 2
Children in Families and Communities	EDUC 3001	4.5	Note(s): 1
Foundations in Arts Education	EDUC 2054	4.5	Note(s): 2
SECOND YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
English Curriculum: Reading	EDUC 2058	4.5	Note(s): 2
Health and Physical Education	EDUC 2006	4.5	Note(s): 2
Humanities and Social Sciences Education	EDUC 2056	4.5	Note(s): 2
Elective		4.5	Note(s): 3
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Early Years Placement	EDUC 3091	4.5	Note(s): 4,5
Teaching and Learning in Aboriginal Education	EDUC 2061	4.5	Note(s): 1
Mathematics Education (Early Childhood)	EDUC 3089	4.5	Note(s): 2
Foundations in Learning and Teaching 2: Creating Positive Learning Environments	EDUC 2078	4.5	Note(s): 1
THIRD YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Science and Mathematics Education 2 (Birth to 5 years)	EDUC 3074	4.5	Note(s): 2
Professional Experience 3: Informed Planning (Pre-school)	EDUC 3081	9	Note(s): 4,5
Reconceptualising Early Childhood Education	EDUC 3069	4.5	Note(s): 1
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Science and Mathematics Education (Junior Primary)	EDUC 2097	4.5	Note(s): 2
English Curriculum: Text Production	EDUC 3062	4.5	Note(s): 2
Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood	EDUC 4193	4.5	Note(s): 1
Inclusive Education	EDUC 3055	4.5	Note(s): 1

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
Elective Courses
Teaching Children with Disabilities	EDUC 4100	4.5
Teaching in Rural and Regional Locations	EDUC 4208	4.5
Brain Development in the Early Years	EDUC 3065	4.5
Teaching Linguistically Diverse Learners	EDUC 1087	4.5
Arts Across the Early Childhood Curriculum	EDUC 4216	4.5
Dance and Music: Social Dreaming	EDUC 2076	4.5
Drama and Visual Arts: Story Landscapes	EDUC 3078	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. Accreditation requirements mandate that students undertake supervised professional experience of no less than 80 days in a formal education setting. Students in the Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) will undertake a minimum of 20 days of professional experience placement in a birth to 3 years child care setting and 60 days in a preschool 3 to 5 years setting towards meeting industry requirements as part of the minimum required 80 days. There must be a minimum of 10 days in Australian early childhood settings with children aged birth to 35 months and a minimum of 30 days in Australian early childcare with children aged 3 until they go to formal schooling.

2. Graduates of the program will be considered early childhood teachers (birth - 5 years) by ACECQA.

Notes

1. This course is part of the Education Studies component of the program which comprises 9 courses (40.5 units).

2. This course is part of the Curriculum Studies component of the program which comprises 10 courses (45 units).

3. Students select one 4.5-unit course from the 'Electives' list above. Alternative courses may be approved by the Program Director.

4. This course is part of the Professional Experience component of the program which comprises 3 courses (18 units).

5. These courses combined meet ACECQA's requirement of 80 days of placement (a minimum of 10 days Birth-35 months, with the remainder in a 3-5-year context).

6. Students who wish to pursue a career as a Junior Primary teacher should consider transferring to the 4-year Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours) (L/MHEC). Applicants will be required to complete a Teaching Capabilities Statement.

7. Students in this program are not required to complete the LANTITE or the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment.

Professional accreditation and recognition

This program has been approved by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an Early Childhood Teaching Qualification for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law.