Build on your experience and StepAhead in your career
Advance your early childhood teaching career. Upgrade your diploma to our Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) – StepAhead Program that offers mentoring, academic and financial support, flexible study and work-based placements.
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) is Macquarie University’s flexible, research-informed early childhood teaching degree. Diploma-qualified educators with two or more years of experience can StepAhead and complete the degree in five semesters.
The program blends university study with workplace-embedded learning, including an innovative 'work while you learn' placement in your final semester. StepAhead equips graduates to make a meaningful impact in early childhood settings.
Why choose Macquarie’s StepAhead degree?
- We recognise your prior experience and learning: Your diploma and two years’ post-diploma work experience can reduce your program duration, giving you the opportunity to complete the degree in five semesters, while still working.
- Professional experience opportunities: You can complete placements in your current workplace or explore new early learning settings. You’ll receive mentoring and targeted professional guidance.
- Support available throughout the program: Support starts from enrolment and continues throughout the degree. This includes mentoring, workshops, a community of practice and access to Macquarie’s student support services. Students can also join Macquarie University’s Education Society for networking and professional development opportunities.
- Financial assistance to help you succeed: Study support funding is available to assist you throughout your degree. Indigenous students and students from rural, regional and remote areas may be considered for additional funding. Additionally, the NSW Department of Education is offering generous scholarships to early childhood applicants. Please apply for the course via UAC by 30 April to ensure you have enough time to gather evidence before the 29 May scholarship application deadline.
- Informed by world-leading research and teaching expertise: Our ACECQA-approved degree was developed by early childhood experts from the Macquarie University Early Childhood Education Research Centre. You will be taught by the members of the team who created the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) for Australia V2.0 and if you attend Wallumattagal Campus you may be able to visit Mia Mia Child and Family Study Centre and Gumnut, Banksia and Waratah Cottages.
- Join the welcoming MQ community: All students are welcome in the Macquarie Uni community. We offer support for rural, regional and remote students, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, culturally and linguistically diverse students, and others.
- Our Walanga Muru team offers academic, cultural and peer support and mentoring to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students.
- The Access and Widening Participation team offers mentoring and support for students in regional, rural and remote areas.
- You also might find support from one of our 24 student cultural groups.
If you are new to university, or English is not your first language, or you live in a remote part of New South Wales, this program is for you. Contact stepahead@mq.edu.au to arrange a chat about this degree.
To apply for StepAhead, you must:
- hold an AQF Level 5 Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (or equivalent)
- have a minimum of two years’ full-time work experience in an early childhood setting (examples of work could include: educator, room leader, director, manager, educational leader or other teaching/leadership role in an approved provider in Australia or overseas equivalent)
- be a resident of New South Wales.
Qualified applicants receive 120 credit points, reducing the remaining program duration to four study semesters with a final semester of mentoring while you work.
Applications are submitted via UAC. Key dates for 2026:
- Session 2 starts on 27 July 2026
- final date to apply is 13 July 2026.
If you need help with your UAC application, please reach out to futurestudents@mq.edu.au or +61 (2) 9850 6767.
- Four semesters of study in leadership, critical reflection, management, child development, contemporary theories, children’s wellbeing, rights and safety, inclusion, diversity, language, literacy, STEM, Arts.
- A final professional experience placement or work placement semester that includes ongoing mentoring and access to a Community of Practice.
- Professional experience placements can occur in your current workplace or at another early learning setting.
See some frequently asked questions and answers about the StepAhead program below.
I'm currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood). Am I able to move into the StepAhead program?
Students who enrolled in 2025 and who meet the StepAhead criteria are potentially eligible. Applications for transfer will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Service Connect.
Will I have to come to campus to attend classes?
No. The StepAhead program offers flexible study options including online, hybrid and in person.
How is the StepAhead program delivered?
StepAhead involves four semesters of 15 units of study plus one final semester of workplace professional experience placement and involvement in a community of practice. The program provides mentoring and academic support throughout, which is delivered by specialist mentors and academic staff. The course is designed so that you can study fully online at times convenient to you (eg after work hours) but it also offers options such as in person or hybrid.
You will engage with recorded lectures, online activities, classes and discussions. You will also undertake professional experience placements, which can be completed in your workplace or arranged to take place at a different early childhood setting.
I live outside NSW. Am I eligible for this course?
No. This program is funded by the NSW Department of Education and only NSW residents are eligible for the StepAhead program.
Interstate applicants can apply for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) at Macquarie University.
Can I study this course part-time?
No. The StepAhead program is designed as a full-time program only.
You can, however, apply to study the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) if you would like to study part-time, but this does not include the specialised StepAhead support.
How many Professional Experience placements will I need to complete?
You will complete 60 days of Professional Experience across four Professional Experience units. You have the option to complete all placements at your current workplace, but you will also be supported to complete placements in other early childhood settings.
Can I complete Professional Experience placement in my current workplace?
Yes. You can also undertake Professional Experience placements outside your workplace.
How much does this degree cost?
The Australian government provides Commonwealth supported places for this course, which means that it pays part of your tuition fees. It means that you do not pay the full course fees.
Students pay a contribution to their tuition fees, which can be paid up-front, or they can apply for a HECS-HELP loan to defer these fees. Student contributions and fees vary and can change. Please see Fees and Costs for more information.
Study Support payments are available to assist you throughout the StepAhead degree. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students and students from rural, regional and remote areas in New South Wales may be eligible for extra funding support.
The NSW Department of Education is offering generous scholarships for early childhood applicants to assist you throughout your degree. Please apply for the course via UAC by 30 April to ensure you have enough time to gather evidence before the 29 May scholarship application deadline.
Can I defer my offer for the course?
No. The StepAhead program is a unique opportunity offered in partnership with the NSW Department of Education for those applying for a 2026 start. It is possible, however, to defer an offer to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) degree but you will not be eligible for the StepAhead program.
What happens if I fail a unit?
The StepAhead program is designed to provide you with regular and sustained mentoring, peer, and academic assistance to support your progress through the course. If you fail a unit there are a range of options to help, including supplementary assessment tasks and other support services. It is important to remain closely connected to your mentor and with academic staff so they can provide you with targeted support.
Proudly funded by the NSW Department of Education.