Expand+You must have a bachelors degree from a UK University (or equivalent) to study this course. Your degree can be in any subject, although childhood and youth studies, sociology, health and social care, anthropology, psychology or education are particul...

Hide-You must have a bachelors degree from a UK University (or equivalent) to study this course. Your degree can be in any subject, although childhood and youth studies, sociology, health and social care, anthropology, psychology or education are particularly relevant.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.

Expand+On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Postgraduate Certificate in Childhood and Youth Studies. You’ll be entitled to use the letters PG Cert CYS (Open) after your name.

You may continue your studies to gain...

Hide-On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Postgraduate Certificate in Childhood and Youth Studies. You’ll be entitled to use the letters PG Cert CYS (Open) after your name.

You may continue your studies to gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Childhood and Youth Studies (E93) with a further 60 credits, or our MA in Childhood and Youth (F55) with a further 120 credits.

To claim all three qualifications you must study them in sequence (postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma and then the MA) and you can only gain all three if you do not use credit transfer towards the MA.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills
• Key skills

Credit transfer
Credit transfer is not available for this qualification.

Expand+Postgraduate Certificate in Childhood and Youth Studies
This certificate will be attractive to anyone with a personal or professional interest in exploring different aspects of children and young people’s worlds and who wish to develop critical an...

Hide-Postgraduate Certificate in Childhood and Youth Studies
This certificate will be attractive to anyone with a personal or professional interest in exploring different aspects of children and young people’s worlds and who wish to develop critical analysis skills. It is relevant for graduates working with children or young people who wish to advance academically and professionally or those with a background in childhood and youth studies; youth work; youth justice; sociology; health and social care; social work; nursing; anthropology; psychology; education and the voluntary sector including charities and NGOs. It also gives those not currently working with children and young people, the opportunity to move into the profession or move between professions.

Key features of the course
• Suitable if you already work with children and young people, or hope to do so

• Explores diverse perspectives on childhood and youth and strategies designed to promote their welfare

• Examines the links between theory and practice, with a strong emphasis on your own context.

This certificate is the first stage of a study programme that progresses to a postgraduate diploma and finally a masters degree. You can step off at any point, or study the whole programme.

Expand+Career relevance
This qualification will be attractive to anyone with a personal or professional interest in exploring different aspects of children and young people’s worlds. It is aimed at those who are graduates and seeking to advance academica...

Hide-Career relevance
This qualification will be attractive to anyone with a personal or professional interest in exploring different aspects of children and young people’s worlds. It is aimed at those who are graduates and seeking to advance academically and professionally, as well as those with a related degree but not currently working with children and young people. It will enable those with a related degree but not currently working with children and young people the opportunity to move into the profession and will help those people considering a move between professions within the sector. It should also be of interest to people in a managerial or supervisory role, to senior members of the workforce, and those seeking to move into senior or managerial positions.

The content of the qualification will be particularly relevant to graduates working with children or young people for example in early years provision or with a background in childhood and youth studies; youth work; youth justice; sociology; health and social care; social work; nursing; anthropology; psychology; education and the voluntary sector including charities and NGOs. It will be of particular interest to those who have completed the BA (Hons) in Childhood and Youth Studies, BA (Hons) Early Years or Early Childhood, BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary) or the BA (Hons) in Health and Social Care. You should ensure that you check entry requirements for specific professional areas before embarking on study.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.