BA (Hons) Childhood, Youth & Communities top-up at Canterbury Christ Church University

Programme overview

Study Childhood, Youth & Communities at level 6 and graduate with a full honours degree. This one-year, work-based course, which follows on from our Foundation Degree, enables you to continue in paid employment or volunteering as you work towards this qualification. Whether you're already working in education, social care, or the voluntary sector, this flexible top-up degree helps you become a confident and impactful practitioner in community support, advocacy, and inclusion.

Faculty: School of Social Work, Education, and Teacher Education | Department: Teaching, Education and Childhood | Duration: 1 year (Full-time) | Study mode: full-time | Intake: September 2026, September 2027 | Location: Canterbury, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Lead impactful community and advocacy projects that support children, young people, and families. Collaborate across services to strengthen inclusive, sustainable partnerships in your sector. Core modules include Imagining Futures: Sustainability and the Childhood Revolution, Engaging and Building Communities, Influencing Positive Change, Ethical Research with Children and Young People, Independent Research Project.

Career pathways

Where can this degree take you? This course is designed to support your career progression within the child, youth, community and education sectors.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

240 level 4 and 5 credits. You are required to hold 240 credits of advanced standing (usually a foundation degree or similar; for example, a diploma of higher education or other accumulated credits at levels 4 and 5) in a related area and within five years of completion. Some Level 5 specialist apprenticeships will be considered. GCSE English grade 4. If you do not have GCSE English Language or Literature grade C/4 then you will be required to complete an equivalency test. Please note that Functional Skills qualifications are not accepted as an alternative to GCSEs. For those intending to continue into teacher training, you are also advised to make yourself aware of the GCSE entry requirements for this career route, as mandated by the Department for Education. Placement in a setting working with children and/or young people. You must be employed (paid or voluntary) in a role working with children and/or young people for at least 15 hours per week throughout the course. This does not have to be in a specialist setting. Employment is a formal condition of admission, so you must be able to evidence your ability to meet this requirement via a signed Stakeholder Agreement from an employer prior to the start of the course.

Domestic applicants: GBP 9,790 a year (2026/27). Full-time annual tuition fee (UK) Source

International applicants: GBP 17,000 a year (2026/27). Full-time annual tuition fee (overseas) Source

Intake: September 2026, September 2027

Duration: 1 year (Full-time)

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