Â鶹ԭ´´

Early Years, PgDip

UK

3

What will I learn?

The programme aims to provide a response to the continuing professional development needs of fully qualified educationalists wishing to advance their skills and knowledge, enhance their professional practice, and extend their capacity to lead and shape change in a range of educational settings through part-time study by e-learning.

The programme has a strong focus on Early Years Education through transformative professionalism – an enhanced and extended professionalism which has at its core the need for practitioners to take evidence-based action to generate professional knowledge and move practice forward.

This form of professionalism, in contrast with older formulations, is characterised not by self interest and external regulation, but rather by the motivation to contribute to the collaborative development of practice and make informed contributions to professional debate.

The aims of the programme are to enhance and extend the skills, knowledge and understanding of the participants in the following ways:

  • developing advanced knowledge and understanding of educational issues and theories in Early Years Education (0 – 8)
  • developing the capacity to analyse critically evidence and arguments to support professional judgements in complex and ambiguous situations relating to Early Years Education
  • making an informed contribution to current educational debates and discussions concerning Early Years Education
  • applying advanced knowledge and understanding of a range of theoretical perspectives and approaches to enhance personal professional practice in a variety of Early Years settings
  • developing the capacity to shape and lead change in a variety of policy and practice settings
  • exploiting opportunities to use research to generate professional knowledge and enhance policy and practice.

There are many opportunities at the University of Aberdeen to develop your knowledge, gain experience and build a competitive set of skills to enhance your employability. This is essential for your future career success. The Careers and Employability Service can help you to plan your career and support your choices throughout your time with us, from first to final year – and beyond. Students can progress into the MEd after successful completion of the PgCert and PgDip.

Which department am I in?

School of Education

Study options

Online/Distance with attendance (24 months)

Tuition fees
£4,600.00 (5,01,199) per year
£2,300. Charged on a modular basis. Fee quoted is per 30 credits. The mentioned fee is for 2023-2024, there may be slight difference for 2024-2025.

This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please

Start date

September 2025

Venue

University of Aberdeen

Directorate of External Relations,

King's College,

Aberdeen,

Aberdeen, City Of,

AB24 3FX, SCOTLAND, Scotland

Entry requirements

For international students

Applicants will be graduates who have achieved the Standard for full registration with The General Teaching Council for Scotland, or equivalent or graduate of BA Childhood Practice Degrees. They must have previous relevant experience and be able to undertake studies and related developments in their workplace setting or other appropriate agency for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week. Students should have IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading – 6.0; Speaking – 5.5; Writing - 6.0. TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

ADD TO MY FAVOURITES

About University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen is ranked in the top 15 universities in the UK by the Guardian and Times and Sunday Times Good University Guides 2025.

  • Excellent graduate outcomes and employment prospects
  • Fifth oldest university in the UK
  • Study abroad opportunities
  • Olympic-standard Aberdeen Sports Village and Aquatic Centre