Youth Work and Social Education (MA) (ETS Endorsed)

The Youth Work and Social Education (ETS Endorsed) programmes (MA and PGDip) will equip students to be able to work with young people, communities and families, and to be practitioners and leaders who are fit for purpose in the 21st century. 

Through a social science lens, the programme will explore practice with young people and their communities in an applied manner, with a clear commitment to social justice, anti-oppressive practice, and underpinned by the core values and principles of youth work. 

The courses prepare students to become professionals to work with young people around a variety of issues

– issues which are very current in today’s society, such as:

• Child Sexual Exploitation
• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Homelessness
• Substance Misuse
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Poverty and Obesity among young people

– and exploring these in an applied manner, drawing on current research and best practice to equip graduates to be highly effective and reflective practitioners and leaders in their chosen fields.  The programmes align fully with the Welsh Government’s commitment to “develop and strengthen specific provision aimed at supporting and improving outcomes for more vulnerable or marginalised young people’’ (WG, 2019, p.13).

Level 7

PGDip

• Professional Practice 1: Theory, Policy and Practice of Youth Work and Social Education (30 credits; core)
• Professional Practice 2: Young People and Society in Focus (30 credits; core)
• The Philosophy and Practice of Social Research (30 credits; compulsory).

In addition, students will choose one of the following optional modules:

• Supervision, Leadership and Management for Professionals (30 credits; optional)
• Leading Children’s Rights: Developing Professional Practice (30 credits; optional)
• Sustainable Communities (30 credits; optional)
• Applying Theatre Approaches in Youth Work and Social Education (30 credits; optional).

MA

In addition to the modules above, students will be required to undertake:

• Dissertation (60 credits; compulsory).

Assessments are designed to reflect the requirements of the field, and develop wide-ranging employability skills in students. There are no exams.

• Angharad Lewis, Programme Director
• Darrel Williams, Fieldwork Co-ordinator
• Dr Nichola Welton, Senior Lecturer
• Alana Enoch, Lecturer

• All applicants will be required to provide a satisfactory enhanced disclosure Child and Adult Workforce document from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
• Applicants will normally be required to hold an Honours degree.
• Applicants with vocational qualifications and experiences will also be considered.
• 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.

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

Mandatory: 
DBS Costs.

Necessarily incurred:
Travel costs to and from placements (one placement at each level of study).

Optional:
None

• Work with Young People (BA) (ETS Endorsed)
• Work with Young People (BA) with Foundation Year (ETS Endorsed)
• Youth Work and Social Education (BA) 

I’m a student at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and have recently completed the MA Youth and Community Work programme. I have been a Youth Worker for five years where I have been empowered to support and work with young people to fulfil their pathways and make a positive impact in society.

In the meantime, I have been more than fortunate to undertake the MA Youth and Community Work where it has enhanced my own learning and knowledge around Youth Work, including the principles and values in practice. More importantly, Youth Work is a recognised profession approved by JNC where it is valued to be heard and visible, which operates alongside the young person.

From completing the course, I have greatly benefited from attaining the experience and skills to develop and deliver youth work to vulnerable young people in society.  Likewise, the programme empowered me to critically explore and increase my knowledge of current legislation, principles of informal education and an understanding of society, which had benefited myself within the practice to deliver robust provision for young people.

Similarly, the course has broadened my employment opportunities where I have been fortunate to undertake greater roles within the Local Authority. 

Gwenllian Evans

As a fairly mature student who has a busy national strategic role in Youth Work, the reasons I chose to study the PgDip in Youth Work are that, primarily, I wanted to get 'back to the floor' to gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing both youth workers and young people.

I already have a Masters level qualification and was keen to 'complete' my portfolio with a vocational qualification. Finally, in line with my paid role, I was keen to obtain another level of validation for my role by gaining a relevant professional Youth Work qualification. I am also excited about being able to register as a professional Youth Worker with the Education Workforce Council (EWC).

Once qualified, I will have managed to address these 'gaps' but I have gained so much more - I have met some fantastic workers, some inspiring young people and encountered and dealt with some challenging circumstances too. All of this has given me a deeper understanding of modern youth work delivery, which I am sure will assist me greatly in my policy role.

Tim Opie

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 Scholarships and Bursaries section.

The programmes are professionally endorsed by Education and Training Standards ETS Wales), offering a professional qualification in Youth and Community Work.  This is an internationally recognised professional endorsement to practice as a Youth Worker.

Please visit our Accommodation pages for more information.

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions related to the University or to this course in particular.