Childhood & Youth Studies

Deepen your understanding and practice of children’s and young people’s lives while developing critical analysis skills. This diploma is particularly relevant for graduates working with children or young people who wish to advance academically and professionally. It is also suited to those with backgrounds in childhood and youth studies, youth work, youth justice, sociology, health and social care, social work, nursing, anthropology, psychology, education, and the voluntary sector, including charities and NGOs. While this diploma does not provide professional recognition, it may allow those not currently working with children or young people to enter the field or transition between roles.

To gain this qualification you need 120 credits as follows:



Stage 1, 60 credits from:



Children and young people’s worlds (E808) 60 Credits



Or, if you have successfully completed either EE806 or the discontinued module E807, you may count any of these modules towards Stage 1 of this qualification.



Stage 2, 60 credits from:

Frameworks for critical practice with children and young people (E809) 60 Credits



You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.



For module details please see "Course Web Page".

You must have a bachelors degree from a UK University (or equivalent) to study this course. Your degree can be in any subject, although childhood and youth studies, sociology, health and social care, anthropology, psychology or education are particularly relevant.



Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

2 years part-time study



How long it takes

Most students study the Postgraduate Diploma in Childhood and Youth Studies part-time, completing 60 credits a year over two years. Typically, this means 13–19 study hours each week.



You must complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Childhood and Youth Studies within four years.

See Course Web Page link for next start date.

Career relevance

This qualification will be attractive to anyone with a personal or professional interest in exploring different aspects of children and young people’s worlds. It is aimed at those who are graduates and seeking to advance academically and professionally, as well as those with a related degree but not currently working with children and young people. It will enable those with a related degree but not currently working with children and young people the opportunity to move into the profession and will help those people considering a move between professions within the sector. It should also be of interest to people in a managerial or supervisory role, to senior members of the workforce, and those seeking to move into senior or managerial positions.



The content of the qualification will be particularly relevant to graduates working with children or young people for example in early years provision or with a background in childhood and youth studies; youth work; youth justice; sociology; health and social care; social work; nursing; anthropology; psychology; education and the voluntary sector including charities and NGOs. It will be of particular interest to those who have completed the BA (Honours) in Childhood and Youth Studies, BA (Honours) Early Years or Early Childhood, BA (Honours) Education Studies (Primary) or the BA (Honours) in Health and Social Care. You should ensure that you check entry requirements for specific professional areas before embarking on study.