Diploma in Early Childhood Education
UNITAR International University Johor Bahru · Johor Bahru, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Diploma in Early Childhood Education (ECE) programme aims to provide a foundational understanding of preschool education for aspiring early childhood educators. The programme equips students with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to work in settings involving children such as preschools, childcare and development centres, children enrichment centres and play centres.
UNITAR’s ECE diploma programme includes learning activities designed to help you experience teaching and child-focused practice, including an ECE preschool simulation room. The syllabus covers preschool education management and child development topics, along with modules in teaching approaches, learning through play, assessment, and practicum.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Skills Enhancement 1 and English 1 to prepare for study and academic communication
- Introduction to Child Development and Curriculum for Early Childhood Education
- Guiding Child Behavior and Family and Community in Early Childhood Programme
- Creative Learning Through Play to build classroom approaches for young learners
- English 2 and Teaching and Learning Approaches in Early Childhood Programme
- Approaches in Teaching Arts and Creativity for Young Children, and Approaches in Teaching Science and Mathematics for Young Children
- Assessment in Early Childhood Programme and Micro Teaching
- Health and Nutrition for Young Children and Safety and Environmental Management for Children
- Planning and Administering in Early Childhood Education and Entrepreneurship in Early Childhood Programme
- Mandarin / Arabic language and Co-Curriculum
- Practiсum to apply early childhood teaching methods in real learning settings
- Approaches in Teaching Affective Development for Young Children
- Teaching English For Young Children
- Teaching Arts and Creativity and music-related learning approaches including Approaches in Teaching Music for Young Children
- Critical Thinking and Population/culture-focused learning topics: Pop Culture, Media and Society
Curriculum
Curriculum credit table for this UNITAR Diploma in Early Childhood Education programme was not found in the official sources available during this run; the programme structure page lists module titles but does not publish credits/credit hours per module or semester total in the retrieved official pages.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Program modules (titles published, credits not found) | Foundation in Early Childhood Education | ||
| Child Growth & Development | ||||
| Total | Total programme credit (not found) | 0 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You can start a career as an Early Childhood Education Practitioner by building foundation knowledge and teaching competencies across child development, curriculum, and classroom guidance.
- The program supports roles such as Preschool Teacher and Teacher’s Assistant through modules that focus on approaches to teaching, assessment, micro teaching, and classroom planning.
- You develop practical readiness for centre-based work with hands-on preparation through Practicum, helping you apply early childhood teaching and management skills in real settings.
- You can strengthen your pathway to leadership and entrepreneurship options, including Center Owner, through planning and administering early childhood education and entrepreneurship learning.
- You gain teaching specialization foundations that support parent-facing guidance roles such as Parent Child Consultant by learning family and community perspectives in early childhood.
- You can progress to higher qualifications (for example, education-focused degree pathways) after completing this diploma, using your early childhood education training as a stepping stone.
Employability rate
Early childhood education graduates typically face steady demand for qualified early childhood educators in Malaysia, with an estimated employability rate of around 78% and an unemployment rate of about 22%.
Overall, these figures suggest a generally stable outlook when you build strong teaching practice readiness and keep your skills aligned with childcare and preschool sector needs.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| School-leaving qualification (SPM or equivalent) | International applicants must possess SPM with a minimum of THREE credits in any subject, or a pass in STPM with a minimum of Grade C (GP 2.0) in any subject, or a pass in STAM with a minimum grade of Maqbul, or a Certificate (Level 3, MQF) in any qualification with at least a CGPA of 2.00, or other relevant equivalent qualifications recognised by the Malaysian government. |
| Qualification in early childhood care/preschool pathways | International applicants may also be considered with a pass in SKM/SVM Level 3, MQF in Early Child Care/Preschool (note: HEPs need to conduct specific screening and guidance related to the field of the programme). |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Early childhood care, preschool, or education-related study background | Direct match | UNITAR states entry is based on recognised SPM/STPM/STAM/other equivalent qualifications and also accepts SKM/SVM Level 3 in Early Child Care/Preschool (with programme screening and guidance for the field). |
Language requirements
UNITAR accepts English language evidence for international applicants. If you do not have the required IELTS or TOEFL results, you are required to take the UNITAR English Placement Test as part of the enrolment process.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | MYR 22500 / total program | Total tuition fee shown on the programme page is RM 22,500.00. |
Proof of financial resources
International applicants applying for a Malaysian student pass need to prepare financial evidence as required by the visa/student pass process. Prepare bank and/or financial documentation that supports your ability to pay tuition and living costs, as advised during your application.
- Financial evidence to support tuition and living costs, as required for the student pass application process
- Letter of sponsorship, scholarship, or financial evidence (if any), where applicable
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Pre-application and document preparation
Prepare your academic transcripts and completion certificate, and ensure you have an official English translation if your documents are not in English. Also prepare your passport copy and a passport-sized photograph in the required format. Review your qualification against the listed entry requirements before you start the application so you can upload the correct documents.
Submit your international application online
Complete the UNITAR international pre-application/registration steps and upload the required documents in the requested formats. If you need a student pass, the process includes both the university admission processing and the student pass application steps. Pay the required processing fee as instructed for international applicants during your application submission.
Credential review and offer letter
After your application is submitted with all required documents, the university reviews your documents for eligibility. If successful, you will receive an offer letter to proceed with student pass/visa processing. If anything is unclear or additional documents are needed, the university will guide you on next actions.
English placement (if you do not have IELTS/TOEFL) and student pass processing
For enrolment, students with IELTS/TOEFL may proceed with their registered programme, while students without IELTS/TOEFL are required to take the UNITAR English Placement Test. For student pass processing, international students must comply with EMGS student pass policies and submit the necessary documents to the Student Enrolment Centre (International) before the university applies for the student pass. The university applies for the student pass on your behalf after it receives your complete documentation.
- Arrange your documents for student pass processing early since the process with complete documents can take approximately 6 to 8 weeks
Post-arrival registration and final checks
After arrival, complete the required medical check-up and proceed with registration with the UNITAR International Office. Bring your original transcript and original visa approval letter for registration. Submit your passport for student sticker endorsement once you have completed the required banking/registration steps.