MSc Child & Youth Care Studies by Distance Learning

Developed in partnership with the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS), the programme has a new, engaging curriculum that draws from a variety of disciplines and approaches, including child and youth care, social pedagogy, sociology, psychology, health, education, social work and social policy.

You'll develop a theoretically informed, practice-based understanding of issues related to children and youth's social, political and cultural contexts.

The programme examines theoretical and policy contexts, child development in the life space, critical reflection, relational practice, management and leadership, intervention and research methods.

The role of the state, non-governmental agencies and private organisations in providing child welfare services will be examined along with the internationalisation of child welfare policy through developments such as the UNCRC. A range of approaches and traditions of childcare practice will be considered, including child and youth care, social pedagogy, residential childcare and social work.

Academic requirements/experience

To be eligible for this course, you require a first degree, relevant professional qualification or a combination of qualifications and experience demonstrating capacity for postgraduate study.

You’ll also require sufficient access to childcare settings through which you can evidence programme and practice requirements. Throughout the programme, this will involve working or volunteering in a childcare setting, either part-time or full-time.

The course assessments will require you to:

• Analyse and reflect upon the agency policy of your workplace/employer.

• Undertake a case study assessment of a child or youth you are working with or have worked with.

• Analyse and reflect upon issues of leadership and management in your agency.

• Video yourself in practice with a child or youth and work colleague to reflect upon your communication skills and relational approach.

• Plan and implement a possible intervention modification within your agency.

• Plan and undertake a research project relevant to your agency/workplace.

These requirements are designed to make the course accessible to everyone working in a childcare setting. They're also broad enough to allow those in external management and supervisory positions to do so.

The course is unsuitable for anyone not currently working, volunteering or connected to a childcare setting. Evidencing this requirement will form part of the application process.

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.