BA (Hons) Youth & Community Work at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Programme overview

A degree preparing students to work as professional youth and community workers, with a JNC-recognised qualification endorsed by Education Training Standards Cymru/Wales and eligibility to register with the Education Workforce Council. Over a third of the degree is practical, with professional placement in each year.

Faculty: Cardiff School of Education & Social Policy | Duration: 3 years full time; 4 years full time including foundation year; part time normally 4-5 years (up to 10 years allowed) | Intake: 2027 | Location: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

What you will study

Level 4: Practice Placement & Professional Development I, Contemporary Youth & Community Work Policy & Practice, What Makes Us Who We Are, Working with People in a Social Context, Researching Communities. Level 5: Practice Placement II, Education for Change, Anti-Oppressive Practice & Being an Effective Ally, Partnership & Multi-Agency Working, Research within Youth & Community Context. Level 6: Practice Placement III, Dissertation Research Project, Leading & Managing Youth & Community Work and one option (Activism & Community Action for Change, Crime and Justice, or The Global Context).

Career pathways

Graduates work in youth justice, youth mentoring, supported housing, alternative and outdoor education, mental health and well-being, substance misuse and faith-based and voluntary sector work; many are employed before graduating and some progress to master's study, including MA Advanced Youth and Community Practice.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Typical offer: 80-104 tariff points. A levels: minimum three A levels, grades CCD-BCC, no specific subjects (Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate considered as a third subject). BTEC National/Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMP-MMM. T Level: Pass (C+). Irish Leaving Certificate: higher level only, minimum H4. GCSE: five at grade C/4 or above including English Language/Welsh First Language and Mathematics/Mathematics-Numeracy. Qualification as a Youth Support Worker (Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work or NVQ/VRQ Level 3) or an equivalent community development qualification. Other requirements: minimum 100 hours of recent relevant professional experience in youth or community development work, successful interview and DBS check. Contextual offers available. International applicants: academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent. A one-year Foundation Certificate route is available.

Domestic applicants: GBP 9,790 a year (2026/27). Full-time home undergraduate tuition fee; may increase by any level permitted by the Welsh Government. Source

International applicants: GBP 16,000 a year (2026/27). Full-time international undergraduate tuition fee. Source

Intake: 2027

Duration: 3 years full time; 4 years full time including foundation year; part time normally 4-5 years (up to

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