Youth Work (JNC) BA (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): L53C
- Start Date(s): September 2023
- Duration: Three years full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
NTU has a national reputation as a leading institution for teaching and research in relation to working with young people. BA (Hons) Youth Work / Youth Development is for students wishing to work with young people. The course combines full-time academic study with placements and a practice pathway for JNC qualification, which is the recognised entry route for professional Youth Work. Youth Development has wide application within the field of education, social work, politics and psychology, which generates insights, research and theoretical knowledge of what it means to be young.
Why choose this course?
This course will explore the most significant social, cultural and economic changes that affect the lives of young people today. Key themes include youth culture, social inclusion and social policy, youth rights, ethics and safeguarding.
The course benefits from a diverse range of students on the programme. We welcome and support students from a range of educational background and those who have worked in practice and are now returning to study.
This course is approved and endorsed by the National Youth Agency.
Professionally Endorsed Pathway
In Year Two, students will be able to opt to gain the JNC Youth Work qualification by undertaking a sustained placement of 800 hours across various settings. Key learning areas include reflective practice, informal education, critical pedagogy and ethically-informed practice. The curriculum, including professional practice, is mapped against the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Youth and Community Work and the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work. Students opting for this pathway will graduate with a BA (Hons) Youth Work, which is professionally endorsed by the National Youth Agency.
Youth Development Pathway
For those students wanting to work with young people in a wider range of settings, the Youth Development pathway offers a range of bespoke modules to support students with future directions of work. These include a focus on young people and education, youth health and wellbeing and youth activism. In year 3 students will benefit from undertaking modules tailored to specific settings, such as alternative, inclusive and informal education and advice, guidance and counselling. Through the experience of engaging with these contemporary issue-based modules and the diet of assessments, students on this course are supported through volunteering and student-led research opportunities. Students opting for this pathway will graduate with a BA (Hons) Youth Development.
What you’ll study
In Year One students will engage with the core foundation to understanding and working with young people. The introductory modules include a range of academic skills development and the application of theory to practice.
Core modules
- Research and Study Skills
- Perspectives of Youth
- Youth and Social Inclusion
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Youth Rights, Ethics and Safeguarding
- Reflective Practice 1
Core modules
In Year Two, students will choose between the professionally endorsed pathway to undertake a 60-credit placement and the youth development pathway to explore contemporary issue-based modules. This year further develops further theoretical knowledge, which students will learn to apply to a variety of practice settings, as well as developing skills for employability.
- Youth Social Policy in Practice
- Researching Youth
- Reflective Practice 2
PLUS professionally endorsed pathway
- Supervised JNC placement (60 Credits)
OR youth development pathway
- Education and Young People
- Youth Health and Wellbeing
- Young People and Protest
In Year Three students complete their skills development in working with young people through a variety of placement options (endorsed and non-endorsed pathway). The focus in year is on employability and a synoptic assessment will enable students to draw on all that they have learnt throughout the three years of the course. All students undertake a dissertation or work-based research project of their choosing, alongside modules, which address bespoke work settings that many of our students graduate to in future.
Core modules
- Youth Cultures and Lifestyles
- Transition and Practice
- Dissertation or work-based research project (40 credits)
PLUS professionally endorsed pathway
- Supervised JNC placement (40 credits)
OR youth development pathway
- Informal, Inclusive and Alternative Education
- Advice, Guidance and Counselling
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you’re taught
Structured teaching is delivered through a combination of traditional lectures and seminars. The smaller group seminars provide opportunities to develop skills in problem-solving, group working, analysis, debating and presentation, and to discuss a wide range of views. You will also learn from audio-visual presentations, information technology-based exercises, and practical experience.
Students on the professionally endorsed pathway are allocated practice based supervisors to support learning in the work place.
Tutorials with staff
The high quality of our academic and pastoral support enables our students to thrive within the university environment. This is evidenced in the National Student Survey (2020) where team achieved 100% for both student satisfaction and academic support.
As the relationship between students and tutors is an important one, you can expect to have lots of direct contact and support through seminars and one-to-one tutorials. At these sessions you'll have the opportunity to:
- discuss and gain feedback about your work
- ask questions about the projects you're working on
- raise any difficulties you are experiencing relating to your work, personal circumstances, or your university experience.
Independent study
This is an important part of this course. From the outset, you are expected to engage weekly reading and independent or group based activities outside of lecture time. Throughout your three years of study, the scheduled contact hours you receive will gradually decrease as you develop the skills required to undertake an independent study or dissertation in your final year. You'll still have regular contact with your tutors and, if necessary, ad hoc tutorials can be arranged.
Learning from experts
You'll be taught by enthusiastic and expert staff who are highly accomplished and experienced in the youth sector locally, nationally and internationally, as both practitioners and researchers. Staff work with partner agencies to support student placements; formally evaluate practice-based projects and offer CPD, training or knowledge exchange based events.
How will I be assessed?
The course's assessment methods are varied. We use a wide range of approaches that acknowledge that different students have varied learning styles, capabilities and preferences. The assessment methods used replicate those required in the work environment as far as possible. You will gain a range of transferable skills for employability, not only for the youth based sector, but also beyond.
Assessment tasks recognise an appropriate mix of academic writing, practical applications and reflection on linking theory to practice. In addition, our range of non-exam based include activities and assignments that mirror workplace scenarios such as group presentations, designing resources, case study work, analysis and appraisal, and report-writing.
In response to student feedback, the University have introduced a policy ensuring marked work is returned to you electronically within three weeks of submission.
Assessment methods
There are no exams and the course is 100% assessed by coursework.
Contact hours
A full-time student on average can expect to spend 1,200 hours a year learning which will typically be broken down as follows:
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (25%) and independent study (75%)
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (25%), independent study (70%) and placements (5%)
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (19%) and independent study (81%)
Careers and employability
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be prepared with skills for practical application and research experience for working with young people. Students will also be able to apply for further study at Masters Level. For example: MA Youth Work Leadership and Practice: MA Social Work or MA Career Development and a wider variety of other courses.
On the professionally endorsed pathway, students will have the skills, knowledge and experience to be qualified Youth Work practitioners.
Excellent work experience opportunities
Whether you choose to undertake the professionally endorsed pathway, or the youth development pathway, work experience is a valued feature of this degree. The course team work closely with local youth based organisations and NTU’s Employability team to make you aware of the significant number of voluntary and sessional paid opportunities that are available.
To achieve the requirements of the professionally endorsed pathway you will need to complete 800 hours of practice-based learning in an approved placement. This could be either a volunteering based placement or paid employment.
Our Employability team
We have a dedicated Employability team located on the City Campus. The team can give you specialist guidance and practical help that will support you during the course and really make a difference to your prospects once you do graduate.
Campus and facilities
As a Social Sciences student you will have easy access to the fantastic facilities in the Chaucer and Taylor buildings, including:
- lecture theatres and teaching classrooms
- open access PCs and secure wireless points
- study areas and social spaces
- Chaucer café, serving drinks and light snacks
- our School of Social Sciences reception, providing you with easy access to our helpful and friendly support staff.
IT resources
Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City Campus, with PCs providing access to:
- Microsoft Office
- web browsing
- networked file storage
- high-speed online printing services
The University’s main resource room in the library is available 24 hours a day.
Book and library resources
In our library you will have access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within Criminology. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our:
- electronic resources
- journals
- books.
We have a liaison librarian who is available to give you detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources. They can also help you with things such as Harvard referencing and research skills.
City location
The location of the City Campus also means that you have easy access to:
- sports facilities
- shops
- student accommodation
- music venues
- cafés.
Entry requirements
- A-levels – BCC; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM; or
- 104 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
- GCSEs – English and Maths or Science grade C / 4
- to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly known as a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure).
All applicants should be able to demonstrate an interest in, and an aptitude for, engaging young people. Although it is not essential, we positively encourage applicants who have experience of working or volunteering with young people. Specifically, mature applicants are encouraged to apply as, alongside academic qualifications, relevant practical experience and achievements are seen as an asset. Non-standard applicants may be interviewed.
As with all vocational courses related to working with children and young people, all students are required to provide full details of any previous criminal convictions on admission and confirm the nature of these upon course commencement. Students are required to disclose any subsequent criminal convictions while on the course; failure to provide full disclosure of previous or new convictions can lead to termination of a student’s studies. Students eligible for the work-based learning observation may be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure. If this highlights a potential risk to a child, this could lead to termination being considered.
Other qualifications and experience
We consider equivalent qualifications and combinations, please see UCAS course search for details and use our calculator to help you work out how many UCAS points your qualifications relate to.
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Contextual offers
As well as assessing your application and qualifications, we use contextual data and information to make offers for this course. Depending on your circumstances, we may make you an offer up to two grades below the standard entry criteria. Find out how we assess your application.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions and Enquiries Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
For this course, you need one of the following:
- A-levels – BCC; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM; or
- 104 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
- GCSEs – English and Maths or Science grade C / 4
- to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly known as a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure).
We also consider equivalent qualifications and combinations. All applicants should be able to demonstrate an interest in, and an aptitude for, engaging young people. Although it is not essential, we positively encourage applicants who have experience of working or volunteering with young people. Specifically, mature applicants are encouraged to apply as, alongside academic qualifications, relevant practical experience and achievements are seen as an asset. Non-standard applicants may be interviewed.
As with all vocational courses related to working with children and young people, all students are required to provide full details of any previous criminal convictions on admission and confirm the nature of these upon course commencement. Students are required to disclose any subsequent criminal convictions while on the course; failure to provide full disclosure of previous or new convictions can lead to termination of a student’s studies. Students eligible for the work-based learning observation may be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure. If this highlights a potential risk to a child this could lead to termination being considered.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Additional Costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
Tuition fees
Mode of study | International tuition fee |
|---|---|
Full-time | £15,600 |
Please not the fees shown are for 2022 entry.
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember that we can only make a decision based on what you tell us, so include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application – it’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place. You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
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