Youth Justice

Designed for those who want to advance their understanding of youth issues, youth offending and social and criminal justice responses to young people, this postgraduate diploma focuses on developing critical analytical skills and enhancing the ability to assess policy and practice against international standards and benchmarks.



Targeted at practitioners, policy-makers and those interested in further academic study, it provides the opportunity to apply academic knowledge and critical analytical skills to practice and to enhance understanding of young people's lives, the criminal justice system and the discourse of children's rights.



Given increased policy attention in the area of youth justice and strategies impacting on children and young people more generally, the programme reflects the concern to understand the needs and rights of children and young people and ground responses in evidence, best practice and international standards.

Core Modules

Childhood and Youth Research in Practice (10 credits)

Foundations of Children's Rights (20 credits)

Youth and Social Justice (20 credits)

Youth Justice: Theory, Law and Practice (20 credits)

Perspectives on Childhood and Youth (10 credits)



Optional Modules

Childhood Disability and Rights (20 credits)

Qualitative Research with Children and Young People (10 credits)

Qualitative Data Analysis (10 credits)

Quantitative Data Analysis: Foundational (10 credits)

Economic Impact of Childhood Interventions (10 credits)

Social Divisions, Conflict and Change in Northern Ireland: New Sociological Research (10 credits)

An Introduction to Research Methods: Children, Young People and Education (20 credits)

Youth Justice and Desistance (20 credits)

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a social science or related discipline.



International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region at https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/your-country/



English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).



International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.



For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.



If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Closing date for applications: Friday 31st July 2026 at 4pm



Late applications may be considered.



Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

2 years (Part-time)

1 year (Full-time)

Entry Year: Academic Year 2026/27

Career Prospects

Introduction

Possible career paths include work in youth and social justice related fields. Previous graduates have been successful in gaining jobs working for NGOs in the criminal justice field, in child and youth and advocacy, and in statutory sector criminal justice agencies.



Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.



Employment after the Course

You will have gained the skills necessary to locate and evaluate policy, research and practice on youth justice related issues, and to undertake your own research in this area. This will position you for working in organisations that: advocate for the rights and needs of children in conflict with the law; that formulate policy; that undertake research.



You will also have a more holistic understanding of the lives of children in conflict with the law, placing you in a perfect position to work with and for these children, and for organisation that support them (e.g. NGOs/ voluntary organisations, statutory sector bodies, government departments).



You may follow in the footsteps of some of our recent graduates who work in young offender's centres in the Republic of Ireland and in England, support young people transitioning from care in Scotland, mentor young people in conflict with the law in Northern Ireland, advocate for the rights of children with care experiences in Northern Ireland, facilitate restorative practice in Mumbai or have extended their studies through doctoral study.



Employment Links

Civil service; criminal justice/ youth/ children’s rights charities; government departments; research organisations.