MA Children and Young People’s Participation and Leadership at University of the Highlands and Islands

Programme overview

A postgraduate award for professionals working with children, young people and their families, focused on the UNCRC and on embedding children's rights, active participation and child-led decisions in professional practice. It was developed with the Scottish Government, the Scottish Youth Parliament and Children's Parliament Scotland and is studied fully online.

Duration: Full-time: 1.5 years; part-time: 3 years | Intake: September and January | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

The PgCert and PgDip are built from 20-credit modules including Article 12: Enabling participation and leadership, Building resilience: understanding the impact of ACEs, Every child's right to be heard: research with children and young people, Investigating inequality, exploitation and youth justice and The global child: contemporary childhoods, followed by a 60-credit Applied critical enquiry module for the MA.

Career pathways

Roles with the Scottish Government Children and Families directorate, NGOs promoting the UNCRC, the Scottish Youth Parliament, the Children's Commissioner Scotland and any field working with children, young people and families; progression to a PhD in children's rights.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

2:1 honours degree or equivalent, or a postgraduate diploma or professional qualification recognised as equivalent. Applicants with a 2:2 or below, or an ordinary degree or DipHE in a relevant subject, plus relevant professional experience may be considered; Recognition of Prior Learning may be claimed. Applicants with extensive experience in education, children's services, social services, police, health or the third sector are considered individually following a discussion with the Programme Leader. English language for international applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS Academic overall 6.5 with no element below 6.0 (university-wide postgraduate requirement for online study from overseas), or an alternative qualification meeting CEFR B2 in all four components.

Domestic applicants: GBP 5,820 for the whole programme (2026/27). Scotland-domiciled, Masters degree (6 modules plus dissertation, 180 credits). Source

International applicants: GBP 11,450 for the whole programme (2026/27). International students studying online from their home country, Masters degree (180 credits). Source

Intake: September and January

Duration: Full-time: 1.5 years; part-time: 3 years

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