Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Early Childhood Education)

1. A rich selection of nine specialisation streams offering an extensive choice of over 50 elective courses, allowing students to develop expertise tailor-made for diversified professional pathways in early childhood settings.
2. Engaging in critical and reflective pedagogical practices to address the developmental and cultural needs of children.
3. Empowering a new generation of early childhood education leaders with a global perspective.
4. Designed and operated by EdUHK’s Department of Early Childhood Education. The ECE Department has trained more than 80% of local kindergarten teachers and is one of the largest early childhood education departments in Asia and the world.The department has a prolific scholarly output and quality teaching teams in early childhood education.
5. Multiple campus locations and offer Cantonese and English classes to cater for in-service teachers’ learning needs.
6. Recognised by the Education Bureau (EDB) as fulfilling one of the requirements for registration as a kindergarten principal. *
7. Graduates who completed the specified courses in the field “Diverse Needs” will be considered as having acquired training on the One-year In-service Course in Special Child Care Work recognized by the Social Welfare Department*.

This programme is suitable for aspiring or current early childhood educators who are keen to develop as middle management professionals, such as head teachers responsible for curriculum planning or administration, or as principals in kindergartens. 

This is a three-year part-time programme consisting of 60 credit points (cps). It is designed as an add-on to the in-service Certificate / Higher Diploma in Kindergarten Education Programme (CE(KG) / HD(KG)), or the pre-service Certificate / Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education Programme (CE(ECE) / HD(ECE)) or equivalent. This programme comprises the following domains:

Students are normally required to attend two to three 3-hour sessions per week. Classes may be scheduled on weekdays during daytime or evenings and/or on weekends at the Tai Po Campus, Tseung Kwan O Study Centre, North Point Study Centre, and/or Kowloon Tong Satellite Study Centre, as decided by the University. Some classes may also be offered on Saturday afternoons at one of the campuses.

This programme offers a Chinese stream (CMI) and an English stream (EMI). Applicants must choose which medium of instruction they prefer upon application.

• Chinese as the medium of instruction (CMI)
  The medium of instruction is mainly Cantonese. English or Putonghua may be adopted as the language of instruction for relevant courses, as appropriate.
• English as the medium of instruction (EMI)
  The medium of instruction is mainly English.

• Holder of Certificate/ Higher Diploma in Kindergarten Education or Certificate/ Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education or equivalent, such as the Higher Diploma in Child Care and Education.
• Applicants may be required to attend admission interviews.

The tuition fee for the programme is HK$29,700 per annum. This fee is provisional and subject to adjustment.

• Professional Excellence Scholarship for Graduates of Higher Diploma Programmes in the field of Early Childhood Education
• Project/Capstone Course Excellence Award for Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) Programmes
• Outstanding Field Experience Award for Early Childhood Education Students

• Meet the academic qualification required by the Education Bureau for kindergarten principals (Note 1);
• Possess a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in early childhood education, fulfil the EDB’s recommended professional qualification of BEd(ECE) for appointment or promotion to senior teacher posts in kindergartens participating the Free Quality Kindergarten Scheme (Note 2);
• Will have the ability to work competently in a broad range of positions that involve working with children and families;
• Be eligible to apply for the University's Master's Programmes
• Be able to apply for overseas positions in early childhood education, in accordance with the registration requirements of relevant local institutions; and
• Be able to work as a special child care worker (Note 3).

Note 1: This programme is recognized by the Education Bureau and is considered to meet the qualification requirements for newly appointed kindergarten principals, who are required to hold a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Graduates who have acquired a minimum of one year of relevant work experience and successfully completed the Principal Certificate course may be eligible to meet the criteria for becoming a kindergarten principal in Hong Kong.

Note 2: According to the Kindergarten Administration Guide (2023), For appointment or promotion to senior teacher posts, Scheme-KGs should accord priority to suitable candidates with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education (BEd(ECE)) or equivalent.

Note 3: Students who completed the specified courses in the field “Diverse Needs” will be considered as having acquired training on the One-year In-service Course in Special Child Care Work recognized by the Social Welfare Department.

*As required by the Education Bureau (EDB), all new kindergarten principals from the 2009/10 school year should possess a degree in early childhood education. Graduates of this Course are recognized by the EDB as meeting one of the requirements for registration as kindergarten principals in Hong Kong. Registration on professional qualifications as a kindergarten principal is subject to individuals’ relevant work experience and further principalship training, and is subject to EDB’s final approval.

**Graduates of this programme who have been teaching in special child care service units and have completed the required courses in “Diverse Needs” will be considered as having acquired training on the One-year In-service Course in Special Child Care Work recognized by the Social Welfare Department. Students may be required to provide proof of service for taking the courses in “Diverse Needs”. The University reserves the right to approve students' eligibility for enrolling in specific courses under the “Diverse Needs” category.