About the course

Reasons to study

1. Explore the nature of childhood and youth in contemporary society from a child's perspective.
2. You'll be supported in finding a work placement in education, childcare or community settings to give you real-world experience.
3. Launch your career: past graduates are childcare workers, primary and early years teachers and social support workers.

Children are at the forefront of policy and debate in our society. Headlines about children’s rights, the health and development of young people and how to protect the younger generation can often be found in the news. This course helps you understand the issues and gain some crucial insights into what shapes children’s lives from birth to age 19. We believe it’s not enough to study the issues affecting children, you also need to understand them from their perspective.

Why Childhood Studies?

• The course prepares you for a wide range of professional possibilities relating to children, young people and families, including teaching, early years, social care, child and youth policy work and more. There are also plenty of other occupations relating to children, young people and families, and our Childhood Studies course is designed to help you take the first step towards your career.
• We’ll give you the chance to explore the nature of childhood and youth in contemporary society. The course will examine relevant social theory and research, and draw on current policy and practices out there in the real world. You’ll be able to bring your own experience to bear on the course too. Along the way you’ll look at childhood through the perspectives of psychology, sociology, philosophy and educational theories. You’ll also have opportunities to study children's voices, wellbeing and development, social policy, how to protect vulnerable children and young people, youth identities and cultures, and children’s rights.
• We'll help you build up transferable skills that employers are looking for, as well as helping you to understand and challenge current approaches and policy. While you’re here, you’ll take a work placement of a minimum of 80 hours in your second year.

Course detail

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching excellence

Global Professional Award

Entry requirements

BBC-BCCat A Level or equivalent

112-104UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications or completion of a foundation course in early childhood or a related educational area

Meritat T Level

DMM-MMMin BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above 112-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications

In addition you must also:

• have GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme.

• complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check towards the end of Year 1, ready for your placement in Year 2, and to highlight any potential issues during your first term.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.