Master of Early Childhood Education overview
Master degrees in this field provide exceptional professional knowledge, providing chances to learn of educational leadership, clinical practice and focuses on infant development progressing to higher age ranges. The University of Melbourne offers programs that take two years to complete if undergone full time, with part time options readily available. These allow graduates to become well acquainted with early childhood education and equip them with the means to pursue a fulfilling career.
Employment options
Master degrees holders are well equipped for the wealth of career opportunities mentioned here, as these programs comprehensively equip graduates with the patience and theoretical understanding to face them. Careers in youth work, for instance, become far more viable after completing these full two year programs. Working for Families Australia and similar institutions as a family support worker is equally viable.
Scholarships and funding
The Brennan Family Foundation Scholarship is an exclusive opportunity for Master of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) students. It covers a large portion of tuition fees for high achievers that have demonstrable leadership skills. The criteria for ‘high achieving’ and ‘demonstrable leadership skills’ are not officially listed, but students can contact the University of Sydney and learn more about this scholarship here for more information. It is recommended to apply for this opportunity regardless of the ambiguity, as most other subject areas don’t have dedicated scholarships.
General scholarships like the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund are also available to Master of Early Childhood Education students, but they tend to cover far less than the former scholarship and have stricter requirements. It is thereby recommended to exhaust that opportunity first before delving into others.
Prerequisites and selection process
Prospective students tend to only require a bachelor degree in any discipline to enter, making these programs quite accessible. Some institutions like Flinders University will actually deny entry to students who already hold a qualification in this area, making it a program strictly for aspirants in their case.
Many institutions like the University of Melbourne or Flinders will enforce completion of a literacy and numeracy test to ensure applicants are sufficiently competent in these areas. Others will require GPA in prior study to be a credit (65%) or higher.