Early Childhood Studies (Top-up)

Why study this course?

This is a top-up version of our Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) degree. A top-up degree is the final year (Level 6) of an undergraduate degree course and is for those who have a foundation degree, Higher National Diploma or equivalent qualification, or those wishing to study the final year of their degree in London.

Convert your Higher National Diploma or Foundation Degree to a full bachelors degree in one year with this top-up degree programme. The focus of the course is the study of the play, development and learning of children from birth to six years old. The course emphasises the links between theory and practice and highly values the development of professional and academic skills and knowledge.

More about this course

As well as offering flexible study options, our Early Childhood Studies (Top-up) degree includes assessed practice, which means tutors visit and appraise you in professional settings. This appraisal combined with our entry requirements are important steps towards gaining a license to practice.

The course draws focus on the study of children's play, development and learning from birth to six years old in a sociocultural context, as well as the implications this has for practice in early childhood settings. The course emphasises the links between theory and practice, and highly values the development of professional and academic skills and knowledge.

This degree will equip you to implement effective practice with children and families in a range of situations and to act as an advocate for their rights and wellbeing. The early childhood studies course team includes writers and researchers at the forefront of the field who are passionately committed to enabling, empowering and inspiring you to make transformational changes to your own life and to the lives of children, families and communities. We do this by valuing your individual experience and existing knowledge, embracing different opinions, ensuring that issues of equality and social justice underpin our work, engaging in continuous critical reflection and working with integrity, energy and enthusiasm.

Want to experience university life in the world's greatest student city (QS 2025)? Then look no further.

London Metropolitan University is proud to be ranked first in the UK for the difference it makes to students’ lives (Guardian University Guide 2026). Dedicated to preparing graduates for the ever-changing job market, their courses are modern and vocational, with an emphasis on teaching transferrable workplace skills. Whether you're an artist or an engineer, you'll receive career-relevant teaching from industry experts, with clear paths for progression.

You've also got the best of both worlds – a buzzing campus community, and the excitement of life in London. There's always plenty going on at London Met for you to get involved in. You can meet like-minded people at a society, by becoming part of a sports team, or engaging in volunteering.

Register your interest now, to unlock the experience of a lifetime at London Met.