Youth Justice & Children's Rights

Overview

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 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.



Course Structure

This online PgCert programme draws on specialisms within the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work (in youth studies, criminology, children’s rights and research methods).



A fully online approach has been adopted which includes a mixture of live and pre-recorded lectures, online live tutorials, online discussion forums and guest speakers.

Year 1

Core Modules

• Childhood and Youth Research in Practice (10 credits)

• Perspectives on Childhood and Youth (10 credits)

• Foundations of Children's Rights (20 credits)

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

Graduate

Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a social science or related discipline.



Applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University may be considered if they have at least two years of professional experience in a relevant context.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 31st July 2025 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.

1 year (Part Time).

Teaching Times: Morning / Afternoon / Evening/ Weekend and online flexible learning.

Entry Year: 2025/26

Career Prospects

Introduction

Possible career paths include work in youth and social justice related fields. Previous graduates from the Pg Diploma and MSc Youth Justice have been successful in gaining jobs working for NGOs in the criminal justice and youth justice fields.



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. This will position you for working in organisations that: advocate for the rights and needs of children in conflict with the law and that formulate policy.



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 detention centres for children/young people in the Republic of Ireland and UK, support young people transitioning from care in Scotland, mentor young people in conflict with the law in Northern Ireland, facilitate restorative justice in Mumbai or have extended their studies through doctoral study.



Further Study Opportunities

Students who complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Youth Justice and Children’s Rights can choose to progress to a Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s in Youth Justice pathway.