Youth Work and Social Education (ETS Endorsed) (Part-time) (MA)
The Youth Work and Social Education (MA) programme is a part-time course designed for those who want to become qualified and effective youth workers. Endorsed by Education Training Standards Wales (ETS), this programme offers a recognised professional qualification in youth work, ideal for those passionate about supporting children and young people. This part-time structure allows you to balance your studies with other commitments, whether you’re already working in the field or looking to gain hands-on experience alongside your learning.
The part-time study option encourages in-depth engagement with youth and social education, all while allowing you the flexibility to balance your studies with other parts of your life. By the end of the programme, you’ll have the tools, insight, and practical experience to contribute positively to the lives of young people. Graduates leave with a strong foundation in leadership, safeguarding, and ethical practice, ready to make a difference in youth and community services.
The programmes aim to develop students into thoughtful, effective, and knowledgeable professionals in youth and community work. The curriculum is designed to encourage students to become more independent, helping them to identify their own learning and development goals. With an emphasis on leadership in youth work, students will learn to balance practical skills with critical thinking, preparing them for a range of youth worker career paths in community and youth settings.
The course takes a social science approach to examine some of the most urgent challenges affecting young people today, from trauma and adverse childhood experiences to substance misuse and issues related to County Lines. Students will also explore topics such as children’s rights, health and well-being, and the impact of relationships on young people’s lives. This understanding of contemporary social issues enables students to take on community development roles, with a commitment to safeguarding and ethics.
Central to the course are youth work placements that allow students to put theory into practice. These placements are a crucial part of their training, offering hands-on experience in real-world settings that strengthen their research skills in youth services and build a practical understanding of project management and bid writing in youth services. Through these experiences, students learn to apply theory, policy, and practice in an integrated way, helping them become confident, capable, and empathetic youth workers.
Course details
- Part-time
- Blended (On-campus)
- English
- Welsh
- Bilingual
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our learning philosophy emphasises a blend of theory and practice, enabling students to grow as independent and reflective practitioners. This approach ensures that you develop essential skills and knowledge to tackle the complexities of youth work and social education, preparing you for a successful career in the field.
In the first year, you will engage with the Theory, Policy, and Practice of Youth Work and Social Education. This foundational module explores key concepts that shape the profession. You will also learn about supervision, leadership, and management, equipping you with essential skills to guide others in the field. Additionally, you will examine the importance of sustainable communities and explore children’s rights, enhancing your ability to advocate for young people. The application of theatre approaches in youth work will also introduce creative strategies to engage and inspire young individuals.
Compulsory
(30 credits)
Optional
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
The second year focuses on advanced topics, beginning with The Philosophy and Practice of Social Research. This module helps you understand research methods and their application in youth work. You will also participate in Professional Practice 2, where you will study Young People and Society in Focus. This practical experience allows you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world contexts, deepening your understanding of the challenges faced by young people today and preparing you to make informed interventions in your future career.
Compulsory
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
In the final year, you will undertake a dissertation on Childhood, Youth, and Education. This significant research project allows you to explore a topic of your choice in depth, applying the knowledge and skills you have gained throughout the programme. By conducting independent research, you will develop critical thinking and analytical skills essential for professional practice. This year not only consolidates your learning but also prepares you for future opportunities in academia, policy-making, or practice in the field of youth work and social education.
Compulsory
(60 credits)
Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
Ratings and Rankings
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
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All applicants will be required to provide a satisfactory enhanced disclosure Child and Adult Workforce document from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Due to the professional endorsement of the degree programme, all applicants need to have at least 200 hours of recent and relevant Youth Work experience.
2:2 honours degree 
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or UWTSD recognised equivalent.
Alternative entry routes 
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Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert). This is the first part of the full Master’s degree.
Once you have successfully completed your PGCert studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remainder of the Master’s degree. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
These are ideal routes if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Admissions Advice and Support 
For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
English language requirements 
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses.
Visa and funding requirements 
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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Assessments are designed to reflect the requirements of the field, and develop wide-ranging employability skills in students. There are no exams.
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Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh.
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies.
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed.
Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities
There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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Mandatory:
DBS Costs.Necessarily incurred:
Travel costs to and from placements (there are two placements at Part 1 of the MA).Optional:
None -
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
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Graduates of Youth Work and Social Education (ETS Endorsed) (MA and PgDip) will possess a JNC recognised qualification in youth work.
This professional qualification can be viewed as a passport to practice, due to the qualification being recognised across the four nations of the United Kingdom and in many countries across the world.
Many graduates find employment directly in the youth work field, in both the voluntary and maintained sectors, working face to face with young people or working at management levels.
However, the youth work qualification is known for its transferability to wider associated fields, thus demonstrating how the skills that the graduates have developed while studying on the degree programme can be transferred into many settings, and skills that are welcomed within multidisciplinary teams.
Here are some specific examples of graduate destinations:
- Face to face youth work in a range of contexts
- Community education
- Youth justice
- Teams around the Family
- Participation Officers
- Corporate Manager at a Local Authority Youth Service
- Senior Youth Officers at a Local Authority Youth Service
- Local Government Officer
- Principal Youth Officer
- Lecturer at Further Education
- Lecturers at Higher Education