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BSc (Hons) - Youth Work in the Digital Age*

*This course is Subject to Validation.

You want to connect with and support young people in your future career. Our dynamic programme equips you with the skills to respond in a nuanced way to contemporary issues in the lives of young people.

This programme will support you in adopting an agile mindset, embracing a willingness to try new things and being responsive to new challenges. You'll develop digital literacy and skills integral to becoming a successful future youth work practitioner.

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Accredited by:

National Youth Agency

Youth Work in the Digital Age* cover image

Course Overview

This degree delves into the themes of interdisciplinary work and reflects changes in the youth work sector. Each module explores how different professions would approach the area under study, this is supported by interdisciplinary staff supporting the youth work team delivering the programme.

You will get opportunities to learn alongside students on other professional programmes enabling interprofessional learning and gaining the communication skills to step into your future career with confidence. You will be equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills and experience to work in contemporary integrated practice settings.

On this course you will...

Gain experience to allow you to practice as a confident and competent youth worker in the contemporary and digital age.
Benefit from being taught by our friendly team with a wealth of collective experience, receive supportive teaching from tutors in a close-knit learning community.
Carry out placements in a number of settings, gaining diverse practice experience in a range of agencies that will enable you to try varied areas of work and develop expertise for the future.
Experience a variety of learning and assessment types, with a robust academic underpinning, to prepare you and build your confidence for practice.
Develop the key skills needed to engage young people through a broad range of services, including digital literacy to communicate successfully in the digital age.

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Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationLancaster
Institute: Institute of Health
Delivery StyleIn-person
Course DurationFull-time: 3 Years
Study Options Integrated Foundation Year
Start DateSeptember 2024
AwardBSc (Hons)
More information Programme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysLancaster
All

Minimum entry requirements

96-112

UCAS Tariff points

Tuition fees

£9,250

UK | Per year

£13,575

International | Per year

Course Structure

What you will learn

During this degree, you will have 6 taught modules per year and one Qualificatory Practice Unit (placement per year). Below shows the breakdown of the module credits and placement hours that will be completed per year of study.

Year 1 - 6 x 20 credit taught modules plus 1 QPU (300 hours placement)
Year 2 - 6 x 20 credit taught modules plus 1 QPU (300 hours placement)
Year 3 - 6 x 20 credit taught modules plus 1 QPU (200 hours placement)

You will complete a range of modules that will allow you to develop your skills in a multitude of areas. From enhancing your communication skills to exploring outdoor and experiential youth work to questioning how social and political influences affect policy.

This course is currently subject to validation.

Year one

Developing academic writing and reflective practice
The relational youth worker: online and offline participation
Informal Education principles
Social and Political Influences on Policy and Practice
Development through the Life Course
Values and principles in youth work practice
Qualificatory Practice Unit 1: Delivering youth work

Year two

Contemporary Issues: targeted and universal curricula in youth work
Impact and outcomes in youth work
Negotiated learning
Equality, diversity and equity in practice
Collective action and group work
Leadership and change
Qualificatory Practice Unit 2: Delivering youth work curriculum

Year three

Applied critical evaluation for evidence based practice
Funding youth work: value and values
Youth work as a collaborative practice
Outdoor and experiential youth work
Managing self and others
Negotiated learning
Qualificatory Practice Unit 3: Leadership & management

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

A variety of teaching and learning methods are designed to match learning outcomes and to provide you with some experience of the method best suited to your learning style, we support your move to becoming an independent and mature learner.

The programme delivery will include blended learning alongside placement supervision with a fieldwork supervisor. You will complete 800 hours of placement during the programme, the breakdown is shown below.

Year 1 - 300 hours placement

Year 2 - 300 hours placement

Year 3 - 200 hours placement

You will be allocated a Personal Tutor, they will be proactively involved in the delivery of your programme and will have contact with you throughout your time at the University. They will support your learning and development, including through tutorials, Progress Reviews and other support.

How you will be assessed

You will learn through a combination of summative and formative assessments. They are designed to provide a creative and balanced strategy across the programme enabling you to evidence excellence in knowledge and skills development.

You will complete a range of authentic, engaging and challenging formative assessment activities which as well as being important for learning, promote the value of formative assessment and contribute to the successful completion of the summative assignment task(s). The valid testing of the programme learning outcomes will happen through a variety of summative “written assignments”. Examples of assessments types you may complete on this degree include:

Workplace reflections
Practice focused resources
Skills inventories and reflections
Ethics proposals
Intervention design and evaluation
Case study work
Blogs
Podcasts
Reports
Essays
Academic conference posters
Conference style presentations
Bid writing tasks
Negotiated learning

Your assessments will be relevant to youth work settings, allowing for authentic assessment and effective formative feedback to facilitate your success. Assessments are matched to specific module content and outcomes. You will complete self and peer assessments to facilitate critical reflection and to support active learning.

We will provide you with a structure for scaffolding learning, building upon knowledge and understanding as you progress. We encourage you to critically reflect on your knowledge and skills development, to develop your ability to make sound professional judgements.

Overview

96-112 UCAS Tariff Points. You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK

If you accept an offer of a place we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Details on the policy can be found here.

If you think you have a criminal conviction You will need to submit a Criminal Record Self Disclosure Form as part of the process. For more information on this and the form itself, please refer to Self-disclosure of criminal record.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

A-levels: CCC-BBC.

T-levels: P (C+ in the Core) – M. All subjects are accepted however we recommend T Level Education and Childcare for entry to this course.

Access to HE: 45 Credits at Merit –  15 credits at Distinction & 30 at Merit.

CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: C

OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: MMM - DMM

Scottish Highers: 96-112 UCAS Tariff Points preferably from 4 Highers.

Irish LC Highers: 96-112 UCAS Tariff Points preferably from 4 Irish Leaving Certificate Highers.

Alternative routes: If don't think you'll meet the criteria for direct application to this course, check out our Integrated Foundation Year.

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

At interview we will assess your suitability to train for the profession you have applied for. All professional course interviews are scored. Any offers made will be based on your whole application and your interview score.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course and reflect upon any experience you have gained.

If you are selected for an interview we recommend that you think about the transition to Higher Education and how you will prepare and consider your strengths and needs. At interview you should demonstrate your skills and knowledge in relation to the programme and future practice. You should have a willingness to try new things and be responsive to new challenges. 

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here) and care leavers, offers will be made at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply)

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

For 2023 entry, our contextual data and information we use in our offer making will be broadened to include applicants that are estranged from their parents, have caring responsibilities or are in receipt of or received free school meals during their secondary education. Successful participation and completion of our Future Teachers Scheme will also receive an offer lower within the tariff range.

Returning to Education

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.

Language requirements

Please follow the link to check language requirements for this programme here.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2023 - 2024

£9,250 - UK
£13,575 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs associated with the course including stationery, textbooks, field trips and membership fees although some of these features are optional.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

Most core textbooks are available via the University's library, however, you may wish to buy copies of some texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Other

Students will complete 3 placements throughout the degree, this may incur costs.

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BSc (Hons) - Youth Work in the Digital Age*