Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
AA11
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Course summary
- Develop knowledge of theories, concepts and principles related to children and childhoods
- Study child development, therapeutic approaches and adverse childhood experiences
- Put learning into practice by working with children and families on real-world placements
- Apply theory, research and evidence as you develop as a critically reflective practitioner
We champion applied learning – partnering with over 600 schools and colleges to help you put your learning into practice. This course will support you to develop knowledge, understanding, skills and experience to be able to progress into a variety of in-demand roles or onto a range of postgraduate routes in education, health and social care.
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
How you learn
Course View
Hear firsthand from our staff, students, and graduates about their experiences teaching and studying BA (Honours) Children and Childhoods at Sheffield Hallam University.
You’ll be taught by academics with specialist knowledge and expertise in a range of areas – from psychology and early years to teaching and counselling. You’ll collaborate with your tutors to model and create inclusive teaching and learning strategies and environments, and be supported to challenge accepted ideas and practices. You’ll also be joining a wider learning community of students and academics across the Sheffield Institute of Education.
Because we partner with so many schools and colleges in the region, you’ll have every opportunity to gain experience and network with leading educational providers.
You learn through:
- Diverse learning, teaching and assessment methods
- On-campus lectures
- Guest speakers
- Individual reflection
- Peers engagement
- Class debates
- Group tutorials
- Research-informed practice
- Collaborative projects
- Real-world projects and placements
- Opportunities to study abroad
- Coursework-based assessment
Key themes
You will explore topics including child development, mental health and wellbeing, therapeutic approaches, working with families and professionals, and adverse childhood experiences.
You’ll learn how to evaluate academic research, literature and policy while developing skills of reflection. You’ll also have chances to co-construct learning through dialogic teaching methods to improve the quality of classroom discussion.
We focus on applied learning, with innovative teaching to help you engage in problem-based, active learning with enriching educational experiences.As well as understanding the current practice, you’ll have the opportunity to apply research to real-world projects – gaining great experience that stands out to employers.
Course support
You’ll be taught by a close-knit community of qualified and highly experienced teaching staff who take the time to get to know you. Throughout your time, you’ll receive personalised support, such as:
- Specialist Hallam tutors and school-based mentors, to support your development across the learning experience
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- Career support for up to five years after you graduate
Course leaders and tutors
Sarah Gordon
Senior Lecturer in Primary Education and Early Years, Course leader PGCE in Early Years / Primary EducationLecturer at Sheffield Hallam University
Applied learning
Placements
As part of your course you’ll work with professionals and employers in a range of ways. In your first year, you’ll engage on campus with professionals from a range of childhood settings and organisations. In your second year you’ll apply for a four-week placement in a setting that supports children and families across a range of education, health and social care employers.
You’ll have the opportunity to complete a year-long placement between your second and third year. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. In your final year, you’ll work on an extended project tailored to making a difference to children and families within a particular setting.
Travel abroad
You may have the opportunity to spend time abroad as part of your course. After completing their second-year studies, previous students have travelled to Mauritius to work in a range of schools and settings – with funding provided by the Turing Scheme.
Live projects
Throughout the course you’ll complete work-integrated learning modules. Here, our Careers & Employability Service will help you find work with organisations and employers on a range of problem-based learning tasks and projects.
You will also work with an organisation to critically review an element of their practice or a challenge they have. You’ll take responsibility for the process of reflection and review and completing a report to share your findings.
Future careers
This course prepares you to progress into a career in:
- Education
- Family liaison
- Counselling
- Social work
- Youth work
- Mental health work
Some of these careers require further postgraduate training such as the following Hallam courses:
- Post Graduate Certificate in Education
- MA in Education
- MA in Art Psychotherapy Practice
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries, modern cafes and study spaces designed by our students.
Most of our teaching is conducted in person at our City Campus, right in the heart of Sheffield.
You’ll have access to industry-standard teaching facilities and equipment, such as our Early Childhood Studies classroom.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112-120
This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- BBC-BBB at A Level.
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Merit overall from a T level Qualification
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4
- Mathematics at grade C or 4
We may accept GCSE equivalents
• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course
• Grade B from CACHE Diploma Level 3, for example in Childcare and Education or Health and Social Care.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other skills, or equivalent.
It would support your application if you have had experience of working/supporting children in school or informal settings on a paid or voluntary basis, however this is not essential
Download our application experience guidelines for more information about experience requirements. This document includes important information about your application. Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being unsuccessful.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the DBS application process
- if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Academic Administration Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
We consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience are also considered. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.
Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these are considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Children As Communicators And Thinkers
Introduction To Children And Childhoods
Learning To Learn
Practice To Keep Children Healthy And Safe
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Play And Enabling Environments
Responding To Childhood Adversities
Elective modules
Autism
Forest Schools
Introduction To Counselling Skills
School And The Curriculum
Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages
Trauma Informed Practice
Working With Professionals
Year 3
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Global And Contemporary Issues
Learning And Wellbeing In Childhood
Project
Working In Partnership With Children And Families
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Education (PDF, 255.8KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
