Youth Work and Social Education (ETS Endorsed) (Full-time) (PGDip)
The Youth Work and Social Education (PGDip) programme is designed to support students in becoming skilled, qualified youth workers with a recognised professional qualification endorsed by Education Training Standards Wales (ETS). This course is ideal for those who want to make a difference by working closely with young people and supporting their development. The PGDip provides a thorough foundation in youth work, preparing students for a meaningful career in community and youth settings.
This programme encourages students to grow into thoughtful and effective professionals, building their skills, knowledge, and confidence in youth and community work. It focuses on developing leadership in youth work, guiding students in balancing practical skills with critical thinking. Students are encouraged to reflect on their learning goals and take an active role in their development, fostering independence and a sense of purpose in their future careers.
The course takes a social science approach, exploring key challenges that young people face today. These include issues such as trauma, adverse childhood experiences, substance misuse, and the impact of County Lines activities. The curriculum covers important areas like children’s rights, health and well-being, and the effects of relationships on young lives. By understanding these complex issues, students become equipped to address them in practical and meaningful ways, committed to the values of safeguarding and ethics.
An essential part of the programme is the youth work placement, where students can apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings. These placements offer hands-on experience, allowing students to gain practical insights into youth services, project management, and bid writing. This experience is vital for developing the skills to plan, organise, and lead effectively in youth work environments. Placements also help students build strong research skills, an understanding of policy in practice, and a sense of empathy that is crucial for supporting young people.
Offered as a full-time study programme, the Youth Work and Social Education PGDip promotes collaboration and professionalism. Graduates are well-prepared to take on youth and community roles that make a positive impact. With strong foundations in leadership, safeguarding, and ethics, the programme is perfect for those committed to supporting and uplifting young people through their work in community services.
Course details
- Blended (On-campus)
- Full-time
- English
- Welsh
- Bilingual
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our approach emphasises reflective, hands-on learning to prepare students for real-world youth work and social education. By balancing theory with practical application, we aim to develop skilled, adaptable professionals who can confidently lead and make a positive impact in youth and community settings.
In Year 1, students explore the foundations of youth work through core modules on theory, policy, and practice. They examine youth-related issues, social research methods, and develop an understanding of young people’s role in society. Optional modules allow them to deepen knowledge in areas like leadership, children’s rights, sustainable communities, and using theatre in youth work
Compulsory
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
Optional
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 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.
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Once you have successfully completed your PGCert or PGDip 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).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