Youth & Community Work - BA (Hons) Degree

If you think that a career in Youth & Community work is for you but feel you do not yet have the qualifications, experience or confidence to start the BA (Hons) Youth & Community Work, you can begin your journey by first undertaking the one-year Foundation Certificate in Youth & Community Work​ which prepares you to progress to the degree with confidence.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

​Degree:

Level 4 (Entry point 1)
(Available full-time (usually completed in 1 academic year) or part-time (can be completed over 2 academic years to fit perfectly alongside your job or other responsibilities) 

The BA (Hons) Youth & Community gives you the skills, knowledge and confidence to make a real difference in the communities in which you will work. Through a combination of taught sessions and professional placement, you get to put theory into practice and build your confidence as a youth and community worker.

You will explore current and contemporary issues, key topics in sociology and social psychology, whilst also studying human development and the learning theory that underpins informal and formal education practice. A community research module will enable you to undertake a small piece of research on a community of interest to you. You will have the opportunity to regularly reflect on your development and practice with tutors and colleagues through regular group tutorials.  

The practical and participatory modules you will study include: 

• Practice Placement & Professional Development I (including 250 hours of real-world experience and skills) - 40 credits
• Contemporary Youth & Community Work Policy & Practice - 20 credits
• What Makes Us Who We Are - 20 credits
• Working with People in a Social Context - 20 credits
• Researching Communities - 20 credits

Level 5:
(Full-time usually completed in 1 academic year or up to 2 academics years part-time) 

You will get the opportunity to further develop your skills and enhance your knowledge by exploring how you can facilitate positive social change and help create a fairer and more just world. You will study issues such as discrimination, oppression, equality and social justice. You will also explore multi agency and partnership working so that you are equipped to take up any potential offers of employment whilst on placement. You will engage with weekly group tutorials and begin to enhance your understanding and confidence of social research ensuring you are fully prepared for your progression into Level 6.

The practical and engagin core modules you will study include: 

• Practice Placement & Professional Development II (including 300 hours of real-world experience and skills) - 40 credits
• Education for Change - 20 credits
• Anti-Oppressive Practice & Being an Effective Ally - 20 credits
  
• Partnership & Multi-Agency Working - 20 credits
• Research within Youth & Community Context - 20 credits

Level 6:
(Full-time usually completed in 1 academic year or up to 2 academic years part-time) 

At Level 6, there are an exciting combination of core and option modules. As you will have developed a clearer idea of your particular areas of interest and potential career progression, you will have the opportunity of studying subjects, which reflect current and contemporary practice in the field of youth work and community development work that you feel best suit your aspirations.   

The core modules you will study include: 

• Practice Placement & Professional Development III (including 250 hours of real-world experience and skills) - 40 credits
• Dissertation Research Project (on a topic of your choice) - 40 credits
  
• Leading & Managing Youth & Community Work - 20 credits
  

In addition to the core modules, you can choose an optional module from the following: 

• Activism & Community Action for Change - 20 credits
  
• Crime and Justice - 20 credits
  
• The Global Context - 20 credits
  

The BA (Hons) Youth & Community provides a perfect blend of academic study alongside the benefit of real-world professional experience at every level of study. 

More than a third of your course will be practice-based ensuring that you gain both the knowledge and skills necessary to gain employment as a Youth & Community worker. The course is structured to be inclusive, supportive and engaging providing you with a range of opportunities to learn through lectures, seminars, group work, independent study, small group tutorials and one to one personalised supervision and support from your Professional Tutors and Fieldwork Facilitators.

Moodle our virtual learning platform is a key resource designed to support your development at all levels of study. In addition, you will have access to an array of innovative and comprehensive e-learning packages developed by the Academic Skills Unit and a vast library of books and journals (including e-copies), available from Library Services.

There are no exams on this programme, instead you will complete a wide mix of assessments including essays, group work, community profiles, posters, presentations and even designing games and resources. 

In addition to your professional placements, our focus is on ensuring your assessments provide you with opportunities to show case your strengths and skills and have been designed to enhance your employability and prepare you for the requirements of Youth & Community work in a wide range of settings.

This exciting Youth and Community BA (Hons) course is specially designed for those wanting to engage positively with children, young people, marginalised groups, and communities to support their personal, social and political development and champion social justice. 

The course is perfect for students who are interested in a range of community based professional practice including youth work, youth justice, youth mentoring, supported housing, alternative education, outdoor education, social justice, mental health and wellbeing, faith-based work, substance misuse, rights based and participation projects in maintained and voluntary sector organisations across the UK and internationally.

The BA (Hons) Youth & Community course at Cardiff Met provides you with a JNC and Education Training Standards (ETS) professionally endorsed qualification in youth and community work that allows you to register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC). 

Professionally qualified Youth & Community workers are in high demand particularly given the strong commitment made by Wales Government. Many of our graduates find paid employment in the above professions whilst they are students, and promotion is often secured upon completion of their professional qualification.

Graduates from the programme can also progress to study at Masters and PhD levels at Cardiff Metropolitan University. The School of Education & Social Policy Masters Framework which offers a number of qualifying routes including MA Education (with pathways), MA Advanced Youth and Community Practice.

Typical Offers

​The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.​

• Tariff points: 80-104
  
• Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
  
• GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
  
• English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
  
• A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include grades CCD-BCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate considered as a third subject.
  
• BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMP-MMM
  
• T Level: Pass (C+).
  
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
  
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
  
• Irish Leaving Certificate: No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
  
• Scottish Advanced Highers: No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.
  
• Be qualified as a Youth Support Worker (Level 3 Certificate in Youth work or NVQ/VRQ Level 3) or equivalent qualifications in the Community Development sector.
  
• Other requirements: Minimum 100 hours recent and relevant professional experience in the field of youth or community development work, successful interview and DBS.
  

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

For general enqui​ries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk​.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the programme director, Louise Cook:
Email: lcook@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Tel: 029 2020 5947​​​