Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Course Overview
-
L27 -
Distance Learning -
Full-Time -
1 Year -
16 Sep 2024
Take a 'whole child' approach to the study of children and the issues that affect them and their families.
As part of this course, you’ll:
- Specialise your study through one of two distinct routes - Early Years and Children & Young People
- Choose the Early Years route if you want to focus on applying a critical lens to young children's education and care within a variety of settings
- Choose the Children & Young People route if you’re interested in focusing on critically examining concepts, contexts and practice related to childhood
- Recognise and champion every child. Using the latest research you’ll explore the theoretical and conceptual terrain of childhood to inform and develop your own practice
- Study modules designed to highlight the importance of the child's voice and children's participation
Take a holistic approach and recognise children as active social agents and meaning makers with the ability to both interpret and shape their social worlds.
Diverse perspectives
You’ll explore contemporary issues about children's and young people's social, political, cultural and educational lives in a global context. We have students from a variety of professional backgrounds on the course which encourages diverse perspectives in class discussions.
We draw on ideas from a wide variety of academic disciplines including history, geography philosophy, psychology, sociology and anthropology. You’ll gain a broad and more developed view of the sector and children and young people’s needs.
Flexible learning
You can study this course over one, two or three years. It's delivered through day, evening and Saturday sessions or via distance learning to fit around your working pattern.
Why study Childhood Studies and Early Years at Leeds Beckett University...
- Professionally experienced expert teaching team
- Start on your path in becoming Qualified Teacher Status accredited
- Strong and meaningful partnerships with schools and community organisations
- Part-time study available
- Distance learning study
MA Childhood Studies and Early Years MA Childhood Studies and Early Years student Yvonne talks about her experiences of studying at Leeds Beckett.
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
IELTS
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Teaching & Learning
Distance learning
We understand that full-time study does not suit everyone. That’s why we offer courses which give you the opportunity to decide where, when and how you can get involved in learning. Studying a distance learning course offers the convenience and flexibility to make education work for you. Whether you’d like to fit your studies around childcare, develop your skills while working or, quite simply, want to learn from the comfort of your own home, we can help you gain a qualification at a time and pace that suits your lifestyle.
Like our students on campus, you’ll have the same excellent teaching and learning resources, however you’ll find these online instead of a lecture theatre. Not only are all the modules taught online, but you’ll also have access to an online community and more than 140,000 books and journals in our online library.
Technical requirements for distance learning study are detailed in the full guide. Visit our distance learning website for more information.
We’ll support your learning on this course by a combination of pre-recorded, live lectures, weekly webinars, audio-visual materials, additional online reading and an online learning tutor. Your lectures and webinars will take place in the evenings and you’ll be able to access them from anywhere in the world via Microsoft Teams. If you’re a distance learning student or are studying from outside the UK, we offer occasional webinars and online 1-1 tutorials at times to suit you. All sessions will be recorded and made available to you.
What you'll learn
Develop an understanding of the ways in which discourse works to construct different ways of thinking about childhood and early years. You will learn to identify dominant, competing and contradictory discourses of childhood and the ways in which they are encoded in a range of cultural texts.
Gain the skills to critically assess the work of others, and the knowledge to begin conducting your own research.
Negotiate, plan, conduct and evaluate a research project that is relevant to the theoretical and professional content of this course.
Explore the ways in which childhood has been conceived of by a variety of different disciplines, and the contribution of the social studies of childhood towards advancing our understanding of contemporary childhood.
You will be encouraged to think about children's interests and priorities as expressed through their playful engagements.
Explore the ways that children develop concepts of social identities from early years to adolescence. You will investigate the ways in which social, political and cultural forces influence children's identities and the extent to which identity is assumed or enforced.
What you'll learn
You will be encouraged to think about children's interests and priorities as expressed through their playful engagements.
Explore the ways that children develop concepts of social identities from early years to adolescence. You will investigate the ways in which social, political and cultural forces influence children's identities and the extent to which identity is assumed or enforced.
Conduct a detailed and in-depth study in a topic of your interest.
Explore children's engagement with and participation in cultural phenomenon and cultural texts produced by and for children.
You will be introduced to recent theoretical developments in the field of childhood and early years that have sought to 'reclaim' physical, biological and material aspects of childhood as significant elements of children's experiences of the world.
This module focuses on young children's early language development and communication. You will explore children's linguistic development; language diversity and multimodal communication; and the importance of quality provision and practice at home and in early childhood education and care settings.
Explore how resilience is formed in a student by looking at attachment theory, the effect of cognition and the neurobiology of resilience. You will examine ways other schools have tried to develop the resilience of their students, for example, grit, growth mindset and meditation. You will evaluate the 'trait' vs 'learned skill' of resilience as an argument, audit your own school’s resilience practices and complete an analysis of where your school is in terms of resources, benefits and limitations.
Explore a range of effective, research-based approaches and interventions that promote learning and participation amongst individuals with literacy difficulties and dyslexia in inclusive settings.
Consider a range of effective, research-based approaches and interventions that promote learning and participation amongst individuals on the autism spectrum in inclusive contexts.
Fees & Funding hellooo
£8,250
UK
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £8250. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
£9,846
International 2024
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £9846. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Fees & Funding
£8,250
For students entering in 2024
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £8250. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Optional Costs
- If you choose to study via distance learning, you’ll need access to a computer, the internet, and any necessary course software. Visit the course Teaching & Learning 'Modules, Workload & More' section for more details.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
£9,846
For students entering in 2024
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £9846. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Optional Costs
- If you choose to study via distance learning, you’ll need access to a computer, the internet, and any necessary course software. Visit the course Teaching & Learning 'Modules, Workload & More' section for more details.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Moving on up
Leeds Beckett climbs 40 places in the Complete University Guide 2024
Your future in our hands
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
I'm really passionate about the positive impact education can have on children's lives. Having completed my teacher training, I was keen to learn more about the influence of early years education on a child's development. My masters has allowed me to reflect on the impact I can have on this development as a teacher. I've gained a much better understanding of the factors that can shape a child before they start school and what we can do to help them continue to develop once they do start.
Nick Little
Reception Teacher, Harehills Primary School, Leeds
Dr Sarah Swann
Course Director / Carnegie School Of Education
Career Prospects
If you work with children and young people, this course will help you to progress to managerial or senior leadership level. It is also suitable should you wish to pursue a career working in early years or with children and young people in, for example, youth justice, child and family support, policy development and education, or should you want to pursue a doctoral qualification.
- Early Years Advisor
- Nursery Co-ordinator
- Children's Charity Worker
- Social Worker
Beckett Careers Team
Our careers service is not just there for undergraduates, we support our postgraduate taught and research students too.
Your postgraduate degree will boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're just starting out on your chosen career path, changing careers or moving to the next level, we can provide you with expert advice and resources to help you take the next steps to achieving your goals.
Your Beckett experience
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
what is distance learning?
A great option for flexible learning
Very simply, to study by distance learning means you don't have to be based in Leeds to take one of our courses. Wherever you are and whatever you want to study, it's a great option for flexible learning.
When you choose one of our distance learning courses, you can do just that – study at a distance, at a pace that suits you.
Like our students on campus, you will have the same excellent teaching and learning resources, however you'll find these online instead of in a lecture theatre. Not only are the modules taught online but you will also have access to an online community and more than 140,000 books and journals in our online library.
Our extensive list of distance learning courses means that whether you are from the UK or further afield, changing your career path or looking for that promotion, we have a course that suits your needs.
