Northern College offers Diploma in Early Childhood Education, a diploma in Early Childhood Education programme in Timmins, Canada. The programme runs for 4 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 15,716 per year (CAD 2,775 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Early Childhood Education
Duration: 4 semesters
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 2,775 / year
International tuition: CAD 15,716 / year
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
For children, play is learning. There is no better space for kids to learn than outdoors, and there is no better play resource than nature. Children can be taught in their early years to play outdoors. Children reap great benefits as they grow a connection and appreciation of the natural environment. In the structured, busy and technologically-advanced world they live in, the role of outdoor play that is experienced as children is being forgotten. This course will nurture the educators awareness for the importance of nature play as any activity that gets children active or thinking actively outdoors, with the end goal of building skills and ability to play without the need for parental or adult control. This can be in any setting, so long as it’s outdoors. It supports children being left to their own devices while caregivers supervise from a distance. Adults can also actively participate in nature play, however, through child-led play activities. Nature play significantly improves all aspects of child development – physical, cognitive, social and emotional. Playing outdoors grows resilience, self-confidence, initiative, creativity and more. It encourages the joy of movement; it nurtures wild imaginations, experimentation, friendships, social connections and behaviour.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Domestic applicants need an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent with Grade 12 English (C or U) at a minimum 60% grade, plus basic computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, web browsers, and email; missing prerequisites can be completed free of charge through Academic Upgrading. International applicants must also provide a senior high school diploma, meet the English-proficiency requirement of IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 79, PTE Academic 58, or Duolingo 105, hold a co-op work permit for unpaid placements, and submit criminal record checks from both their home country and Canada. Before fieldwork, all students need an unpardoned Canadian criminal record check, immunization records, CPR certification, and WHMIS training, and must maintain a minimum 60% passing grade in program courses.
Application Details
Start Date:September and January
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca; Northern College accepts applications on a rolling basis for most programs right up until a semester begins if space remains, but for its limited-enrollment competitive programs — Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing, Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Assistant, Veterinary Technology (Wildlife Rehabilitation), Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation, and Medical Laboratory Technician — February 1, 2027 is the equal-consideration date for Fall 2027 entry, after which remaining seats are offered first-come, first-served or waitlisted. International applicants apply through the OCAS International Application Service and are assessed on a rolling basis; Northern publishes no fixed international application deadline. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
