Diploma Programme
Early Childhood Education
A two-year diploma that combines child development theory with field experience across a range of age groups and organizations. It covers play-based learning, family involvement and curriculum design, and prepares graduates for child care centres, early learning and family centres, before- and after-school programs and school boards.
University
Fanshawe College
Country
Canada
Level
Diploma
Field
Early Childhood Education
Duration
2 years (4 semesters, 60 weeks)
Language
English
Campus
London (main campus); September intakes also at Clinton, St. Thomas and Woodstock
Degree
Ontario College Diploma
Intake
September, January, May
Application Deadline
International applicants: Fanshawe has no fixed international deadline. When a program has more eligible applicants than seats, Fanshawe gives preference to Ontario permanent residents, then to applications received by February 1; after that date, applicants are considered first-come, first-served until the program is full, and programs may not be open in all regions. Admitted students must send proof of study permit approval and of meeting their offer conditions by the term's document deadline (December 9 and 15, 2026 for Winter 2027; 2027/28 dates aren't posted yet), so apply early. Canadian applicants: apply through ontariocolleges.ca by February 1 for priority; later applications are first-come, first-served
Tuition Information
Fanshawe's approximate total program cost at London, based on 2026/27 fees: Canadian students CAD 7,192.52; international students CAD 35,398.20 (international Level 1: CAD 8,849.55 for the term). Totals include tuition and ancillary fees but not the health and dental plan, bus pass or general expenses such as books; fees for 2027/28 aren't posted yet and are subject to change.
Admission Requirements
- Apply: international applicants apply online through Fanshawe's Virtual Admission System (VAS) and pay a CAD 100 application fee (Fanshawe's tuition page describes it as a deposit applied to tuition once classes start). A tuition deposit may be required before, or within 30 days of, the Letter of Admission: CAD 2,300, one semester of fees or a full year of fees, depending on citizenship. Fanshawe issues the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) only after that deposit is paid. Canadian applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca
- Academic: Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent (or mature applicant status) with Grade 12 English (C or U). Applicants who don't meet the requirements are pointed to academic upgrading, and a conditional offer may be possible with proof of enrolment
- Field placements: placements with a variety of age groups and organizations. Before placement, students need Standard First Aid and Level C CPR certificates, evidence of good health, a Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening and a placement agreement
- Graduates can bridge into Level 5 of Fanshawe's Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership
- International applicants attach high school transcripts (and any college or university transcripts) to the online application; each program page lists country-by-country admission equivalencies
- English proficiency (Fanshawe's diploma, advanced diploma and certificate tier): TOEFL iBT 4.5 with no band below 4 (2026 scale) or 79 (pre-2026 scale); IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5; CAEL 60 with no band below 50 (Fanshawe also lists a listening score of 80); PTE Academic 53; Cambridge 169 with no skill below 162; Duolingo 105 with no subscore below 95; LanguageCert Academic 65 with no skill below 60; or Fanshawe ESL4/GAP5 (80% in Level 8, 75% in Level 9 or 70% in Level 10). Fanshawe waives the test for applicants with a Grade 12 college- or university-level English credit from a school in Canada, applicants from a country whose primary official language is English, or applicants with an English-taught college or university credential (at least two years) completed within the last two consecutive years. Test results must be within the last two years
- International availability on the program page (2027/2028 view, checked October 5, 2026): 2026 September (London): closed; 2026 September (Clinton): closed; 2026 September (St. Thomas): closed; 2026 September (Woodstock): closed; 2027 January (London): open; 2027 May (London): open; 2027 September (London): open; 2027 September (Clinton): open; 2027 September (St. Thomas): open; 2027 September (Woodstock): open; 2028 January (London): open; 2028 May (London): open
- PGWP: Fanshawe lists this program on its international PGWP-aligned programs page (CIP code 19.0709)
- Not for international students: the fully online and part-time versions are listed for domestic applicants only