Skip to main content

Youth and Community Studies (Top-up) BA(Hons)

2024-25

It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Places available (subject to change)

20

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. Top up your existing qualifications and gain a full honours degree to help progress your career.
  2. If you're not currently working in Youth and Community, you'll be supported in finding a placement to gain valuable work experience.
  3. Your personal tutor will be on hand to help ensure you have a positive learning experience.

If you’re looking to progress your career working with young people, community groups and partnerships, then this course could be for you. You’ll already have an FdA, Dip HE or equivalent qualification in youth and community work or a similar field and you may already be working in the sector. You’ll have the opportunity to study full-time or part-time alongside students studying the full-time Youth and Community Work BA(Hons).

Why Youth and Community Studies?

  • As part of the course you’ll have the opportunity to explore a whole range of subjects relating to young people in today’s society, including education, learning and development, society and how groups and communities interact, social policy and inclusion.
  • We’ll also support you in expanding your knowledge and understanding of government policies, current theories and strategies relating to young people.
  • If you’re already working in the field, you’ll draw on your experience whilst studying the course. Otherwise you’ll be supported in finding a voluntary placement to support your learning.
  • You’ll be taught by an outstanding team of teachers. You’ll also have access to our extensive professional and academic network which feeds directly into course design and delivery and to excellent facilities and specialist equipment.

Course detail

Theorising for Advanced Practitioners

This module gives you the opportunity to link theory with your workplace activity whilst considering some of the most influential concepts in the field of community and informal education. Assessment is typically based on written coursework and the development of a report focusing on your learning and development in placement practice.

Research Methodologies

This module explores a range of research strategies and methods, preparing you to assess the value and significance of different approaches to data collection and analysis within your field of study. You’ll learn how to develop your own research design, and how to collect and analyse information in order to find out new things about a topic that you’re interested in.

Major Study

This module allows you to pursue your particular interests and demonstrate the breadth of knowledge, understanding and strengths that you have developed during your degree studies. You’ll be supported through the design and implementation of a small scale piece of educational research into your chosen topic. This module is your opportunity to bring together everything you have learned in a study of your choosing and you'll typically be assessed via a dissertation.

Option modules:

Choose one from a list which may include -

Leadership and Management in Professional Contexts

This module seeks to develop your understanding of theories of leadership, management and the organisation of professional practice. You’ll have the opportunity to explore relevant theory and practical factors such as mentoring arrangements, group structures, staff development and the leadership of change in professional practice. Assessment typically involves the development of an annotated bibliography and a poster presentation.

Helping in Context (Counselling, Coaching and Mentoring)

This module seeks to develop your understanding of theories concerning counselling, coaching and mentoring, thereby positively impacting upon your effectiveness in responding to and working with the needs of individuals in a variety of contexts. Assessment typically involves working with peers to undertake practical counselling skills, coaching or mentoring sessions, and reflecting on the practical assessment in a written piece of coursework.

Entry requirements

The normal requirements are:

  • NYA-Validated FdA or Dip HE or equivalent in Youth and Community Work or a related field

In addition you must also:

  • have experience of working on a paid or voluntary basis, with young people or community groups.
  • provide an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
  • provide a reference, usually from your employer.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

What's it like?


Aysha Perveen studying Youth & Community BA (Hons) at the University of Huddersfield

Aysha is a Youth and Community BA (Hons) student at the University of Huddersfield. Listen to her experience studying, her placement opportunities and her goals to become an informal educator.

Placements


If you’re already working in the field, you’ll draw on your experience whilst studying the course. Otherwise you’ll be supported in finding a voluntary placement to support your learning.

My placements have really opened my eyes. I've been able to work alongside young offenders and my current placement is working with young people with learning difficulties. Both have been a real challenge and it's made me realise just how many opportunities are open to me.

Ayesha Perveen

Aysha Parveen, graduated from Youth and Community Work BA(Hons) in 2017

Your career


If you already have a foundation degree level qualification in youth and community work or similar, our course enables you to gain a full honours degree qualification. It will help you progress your career working with young people and communities.

*Percentage of graduates from this subject who are in work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20, UK domiciled, other activities excluded).

90%

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

A wide range of resources are also offered within the School of Education and Professional Development, which you would be a part of should you decide to study this course. The school provides you with support in a variety of areas, these include:

  • Student Support Office (iPoint): a one-stop-shop for students, studying within the School. Here you can get help and advice, including checking your timetable, finding a tutor, handing in assessments. We can also refer you to other departments within the University such as, student finance, student services etc.
  • Academic Skills Tutor: provides guidance about how you can develop your academic skills in order to improve your grades. We provide support with general academic skills including essay writing, time management, presentations and group work skills; information technology and numeracy; research skills, as well as personal development for example confidence building and assertiveness.
  • Student Support Officer: provides confidential and impartial advice on welfare and course related issues.
  • Placements, Employability and Partnerships A significant part of your learning takes place whilst on placement.To help you get the best possible experience we operate an extensive professional network giving you the opportunity to access a wide range of high quality placement providers.

Our professional network includes links with local authorities, schools, colleges, early years settings, voluntary organisations, youth services and youth offending teams to offer you real-life experience whilst you study. Our placements team offer you help to find your placement and support you through it.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

You may also be interested in...

Childhood Studies BA(Hons)

Looking at the experiences and factors that shape the lives of young people up to age 19, our course prepares you for a career in teaching, early years, social care or child and youth policy work. You will gain valuable professional experience and develop your skills through work placement opportunities.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Undergraduate