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Childhood & Youth Studies BA (Hons)

UCAS code: L590

Explore the lives of children and young people in the UK and across the globe. Discover the knowledge and insight that a social science perspective can provide. Learn about yourself and be equipped for working with children and young people.

Overview

Course length: 3 years full-time
6 years part-time
Start dates: September 2025
September 2026
Location: Edge Hill University
Example offers: BCC-BBC (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria
Subject(s): Sociology and Social Sciences
Faculty: Arts and Sciences
Department: History, Geography and Social Sciences

Every generation faces unique challenges, so the journey from childhood to adulthood is constantly changing. This course will help you to apply different perspectives – sociological, psychological, cultural, political and technological – to understand and make sense of this fast moving and changing context.

We’ll help you explore the changing situations – local, national and global, political, social and cultural – that affect the lives of children and young people, their families and communities.

Flexibility is built in to this childhood and youth studies degree, with optional modules covering critical issues such as child poverty and welfare, autism, migration, youth offending and children’s health and wellbeing. Field trips in the UK and Europe are embedded throughout the course, along with opportunities for work-based learning that will prepare you for a career in this dynamic sector.

The course has no formal written exams, so you’ll focus on different forms of coursework, presentations and case studies, developing skills and practising techniques that are highly valued by employers.

Course features

  • International students can apply

  • Learn a language option available

  • Sandwich year option available

  • Studying abroad option available

  • Work placement opportunity

Jessica Riley

My favourite thing about this degree is the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people.

Jessica Riley

BA (Hons) Childhood & Youth Studies

View student profile

What you'll study

How have experiences and perceptions of childhood and youth changed over time? What role does psychology play in the study of children and young people? What are the biggest challenges and issues facing professionals working with children and young people? By the end of your first year you’ll have a broad understanding of the diverse nature of childhood and youth studies, and a greater insight into your own attitudes and beliefs.

Compulsory modules:

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Introduction to Child Developmental and Social Psychology
Children and Young People in Society
Introduction to Social Policy and Welfare
Introduction to Sociology and Social Theory
Working with Children, Young People and Families

One of:

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Exploring the Social World
New Venture Creation
Language 1

You’ll develop your research skills by collecting and analysing information on a topic of your choice. As your knowledge grows, so will your practical experience, with the chance to do a 60-hour work placement. From youth offending to issues of race, ethnicity and discrimination, and how childhood and youth are presented in popular culture – optional modules cover a range of topics, allowing you to pick those that match your career ambitions.

Compulsory modules:

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Becoming a Social Researcher
Youth Studies: Key Concepts and Issues

One of:

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Self-Directed Study
Work-based learning and Employability

Three of:

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Children, Family and the State
Children’s Cultural Worlds
Children, Food and Sustainability
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
International Perspectives on Children and Families
Promoting Equality in Childhood
Representations of Childhood and Popular Culture
Doing Social Research
Youth Offending: Critical Perspectives
Language 2

In your final year, you’ll get a better understanding of factors that shape working practices within careers centred around children and young people. Modules cover education, social work, health and social care and issues in professional practice more generally. Many of the modules in this year reflect staff research providing cutting edge knowledge and insight. You’ll also complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice, which could significantly boost your employability.

Compulsory modules:

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Dissertation
Youth Studies: Critical Perspectives

Three of:

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Childhood and Sexuality
Contemporary Theory, Policy and Practice in Education Services
Critical Autism Studies
Critical Perspectives in Child Health and Well-being
Enterprise Management
International Perspectives on Early Childhood, Education and Care
Issues of Professional Practice
Social Work with Children, Young People and Families
European Field Trip
Work-based learning and Employability 2
Language 3

How you'll study

The main forms of course delivery are lectures and workshop seminars, including videos, presentations and small group work. You can choose to build a national and a European field trip into your optional studies. This involves an intensive, brief period of study in London and/or a major European city such as Amsterdam or Budapest.

How you'll be assessed

Course assessments, including the use of portfolios, essays, information retrieval exercises, seminar presentations and case studies, have been creatively designed to encourage the potential of all students.

There are no formal written examinations as part of the current assessment methods on this degree.

Who will be teaching you

Our experienced staff have designed this course and our strong levels of student support ensure your time with us is an enjoyable, rewarding experience, underpinned by the extensive research activity and field experience of our team.

Our publishing and research interests include: safeguarding children and young people; childhood, youth and sexuality; the politics of childhood and young people’s rights; young people’s drug use; young people and conflict; children and young people’s mental health.

Your degree will be supplemented by a series of research seminars and other talks. These will feature academic staff and visiting guest speakers from a range of professions and organisations.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements (2023 / 2024)

Typical offer 104-112 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required.

Example offers

Qualification Requirement
A Level BCC-BBC.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB) We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma 45 credits at Level 3, for example 9 credits at Distinction and 36 credits at Merit or 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

How to apply

Apply full-time

Apply online through UCAS

Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.

International

Apply as an international student

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Part-time applications require a direct application to Edge Hill. Please select the year of entry that you wish to apply for.

Apply for September 2025 part-time.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Did you know?

If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.

Discover our accommodation

Facilities

Geosciences buildingThe Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences is based in the Geosciences building. The contemporary facilities combine with a friendly and supportive learning environment to ensure that your studies are a rich and rewarding experience.

The Geosciences building features a large lecture theatre, small group teaching rooms, IT facilities and smaller tutorial spaces. There is also a large social area which encourages a more informal and interactive style of learning.

Where you'll study

Classroom 360 View

Finance

Tuition fees

UK Full-Time

£9,535

a year

International

£17,000

a year

2025/2026 part-time fee information will be added when available.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional maintenance loan funding to help with living costs.

Scholarships


We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.

Money Matters


Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students, together with details of how to apply for potential funding.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

With a range of optional modules, exciting field trips in the UK and Europe, work-based learning and research opportunities, this course can be adapted to suit your interests and ambitions. It will also give you the sort of transferrable skills that employers love.

This degree is the first step on a variety of rewarding career paths. Possible roles include:

  • international aid worker
  • primary school teacher
  • social worker within children’s services
  • probation officer specialising in young offenders

Our students have gone on to work with charities such as Autism Initiatives and Salford Foundation, as well as local education authorities, social services, health and social care organisations and the probation service.

Once you’ve completed your degree in childhood and youth studies, you can continue to work towards becoming a teacher or social worker by enrolling in a PGCE teaching qualification or a Masters.

Course changes

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Track changes to this course

Discover Uni: Full-Time Study

Discover Uni: Part-Time Study

Download our course leaflet