Working with Children, Young People and Families BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  The degree in Working with Children, Young People and Families has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG3 Good Health and Wellbeing and SDG4 Quality Education.

  This course produces graduates who can address gaps in provision and improve the services available to children, young people, their families and the wider community. Our staff (and external visitors) are experienced in the fields of childhood and youth studies, health, law, therapy, education, business and social care. Your studies cover the whole spectrum of working with children, young people and families.

  This course will help you to:

  • develop knowledge and understanding of children, young people and families within diverse cultural, inter-disciplinary and multi-professional contexts
  • acquire a critical understanding of relevant theory and research in the field of children, young people and families and equip you with the skills for independent investigation
  • critically analyse contemporary issues and debates in policy, practice and services for children, young people and families including international perspectives
  • become an articulate, confident and reflective graduate, capable of making informed career choices and transferring your knowledge to a range of relevant contexts and making a positive impact.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 22/23. The modules relating to the academic year 23/24 will be available from June 2023.

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• Entry Requirements

  A typical offer for Working with Children, Young People and Families BA (Hons):

  • CCC at A Level or,
  • MMM at BTEC or,
  • Pass (C and above) at T Level.

  In addition to general entry requirements, applicants are normally expected to hold English and Mathematics equivalent to a GCSE grade C/4.

  We welcome international applications and applications from students with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications. We will require that you undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and ask that you demonstrate your commitment to working with children and young people, through voluntary work or similar.

  Integrated Foundation Year Entry Requirements

  Admission to Working with Children, Young People and Familites (Hons) Integrated Foundation Year is normally:

  • DEE at A Level or,
  • MPP at BTEC or,
  • Pass (D or E) at T Level.

  However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  2023/24 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
  • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 as part of a four year programme (subsequent years will be charged at standard BA rate).
  • International: £14,750
  • International Integrated Foundation Year: £14,750

  2022/23 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • UK – Part Time: £1,500 per 20 credit module
  • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 as part of a four year programme (subsequent years will be charged at standard BA rate).
  • International: £14,000
  • International Integrated Foundation Year: £14,000

  Additional costs

  During the programme you will have the opportunity to join a study trip. Previously, these have included a week in Sweden examining alternative models of working with children and young people, and the opportunity to visit Atlanta exploring the origins of the civil rights movement. All the study trips are optional and the costs vary year on year. Typically, this is £500 for Sweden and £1,200 for Atlanta. Students normally allow an additional £100 – £250 for their expenses.

  Scholarships and Bursaries

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join our full-time Children, Young People and Families degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  * UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)

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• Integrated Foundation Year

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

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• FAQs

  How will I learn?

  Throughout the Working with Children, Young People and Families degree, you will learn through the use of seminars, workshops, work-based activities, online learning and self-directed study. We also organise specialist guest speakers to run sessions, for example, exploring the impact of domestic violence. In addition, we arrange study trips, for example to a local prison and to the Houses of Parliament, and to local schools to carry out project work.

  We work hard to ensure you are fully supported during your studies by allocating you a personal tutor, offering regular tutorial support and running assessment workshops.

  How am I assessed?

  There are no exams on this degree. Instead, you will be assessed through a range of methods including interviews, reports, case studies, presentations, practical projects and reflective tasks.

  What will my timetable look like?

  Your teaching is consolidated to help make the best use of your time. You might expect to be in university two or three days a week. This helps free up the rest of your timetable for tutorials, working on your assignments and gaining valuable work experience.

  Is there any work based learning?

  Work-based learning is central to the degree in Working with Children, Young People and Families. It supports you to explore different career options. Every year you will complete a placement with a different focus. We will allocate you a setting based on your interests. You will receive mentoring and support to help you make the most out of your work-based experience. Example work-based settings include, youth clubs, family support services, children’s homes, sports development programmes, working with at risk young people, mental health programmes, SEN provision, schools and theatre groups. If you already have a setting in mind, perhaps nearer to a home-base away from Northampton, we can support you to approach this setting and (subject to necessary checks) work with a mentor there to develop your work-based skills and evidence the learning outcomes.

  Are there any study trips available?

  There are exciting opportunities to take part in national and international study trips, for example:

  • Spend one week in Sweden to explore alternative ways of working with children, young people and families.
  • Go to Atlanta in America to explore the civil rights movement.
  • Visit a local prison to hear prisoners’ experiences.

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Careers and Employability

One of the main advantages of this degree is that it supports you to explore a wide range of careers relating to children, young people and families. We will support you during your degree to explore and refine your career path.

As part of the degree, you will have the chance to achieve additional qualifications to help further enhance your CV and to help you stand out in the graduate employment market. For example, you could gain further skills and certification in mental health awareness, mentoring, supporting transitions, facilitating group work, enhancing digital literacy and first aid.

Our graduates have gained employment in a range of areas, for example, as a Youth Offending Officer, Family Support Worker, Mental Health Support Worker, MASH Officer, Youth Worker, Drug and Alcohol Worker, Housing Officer, Residential Keyworker, School Counsellor, Play Worker, Sports Development Officer and as a Primary School Teacher.

Graduate schemes are also a great career option, for example, the Police Graduate Leadership Programme, Explore Learning Assistant Director, Frontline Leadership Development Programme and the Into University Graduate Education Worker Scheme.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees to give you a CV that will catch the eye of employers.

Graduates from this degree may be interested in postgraduate opportunities such as: Youth and Community Leadership MA, Social Work MA, Primary Education PGCE, Child and Adolescent Mental Health MSc, Counselling Children and Young People MSc and Special Educational Needs and Inclusion MA.