Community Youth Work

We teach the knowledge and skills for professional practice, facilitating the development of reflective and effective practitioners through a range of assessment methods. The course enhances the professional skills and employability of community youth workers. You will be encouraged to challenge and engage critically in community youth work issues through informed and innovative methods of teaching and learning.

There are a range of career options available to graduates, including opportunities across the statutory, community, and voluntary sectors. Graduates will be qualified Community Youth Workers, equipped to undertake key roles to the required standard.

Students are normally in part-time (16+ hours per week) or full-time paid employment, and many will change employment during or following completion of the course. Other students are promoted to managerial or project-based leadership roles.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page".

Year one
• Context of Youth Work
• Assessed Practice
• The Pedagogy and Practice of Community Youth Work

Year two
• Power,Inequality and Anti-Oppressive Practice
• Ethical Leadership, Management and Supervision
• Critical Thinking and Professional Development

Year three
• Dissertation (Community Youth Work)

Standard entry conditions
To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

Entry Requirements
An Honours or non-Honours degree from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, or the Higher Education and Training Awards Council or from an institution of another country which is recognized as being of an equivalent standard; or an equivalent standard in a Postgraduate Certificate, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; and

Part-time Mode
Applicants must hold a degree or equivalent or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning. Specific requirements for admission are detailed below. Applicants must satisfy the University’s general entry requirements as set out in the prospectus or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL).

It is a requirement of the course that students are working 16 hours per week in a Community Youth Work setting.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink").

Start Date: September 2024

Career options
There are a range of career options available to graduates and these include opportunities across the statutory and community and voluntary sectors. The following key duties for professional youth workers are identified in the JNC Report (Extract from Joint Education Services Circular (JESC) No 166 JNC Report Appendix IV, pg 56): Performing all the duties in the First and Second Levels for Youth Support Workers; Managing and developing a range of services; Developing staff and facilities; Working with other agencies to develop services across the community; Leading project development and implementation; Management responsibility for staff. The NSETS Committee will expect that all submissions for professional endorsement will build the necessary capacity to meet the requirements listed above.

A graduate should have the qualities needed for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility, and decision making in complex and unpredictable circumstances. At this exit point graduates will be qualified Community Youth Workers equipped to undertake key roles to the required standard.