Child and Youth Studies with Community Learning and Development BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

Are you passionate about challenging discrimination and disadvantage? Do you have a strong desire to give a voice to communities and the individuals living in them? 

Put social justice and a commitment to social change at the heart of your studies on our pioneering new course, the first accredited programme in the Highlands and Islands to provide registration with the CLD Standards Council Scotland, and pursue an exciting and rewarding career in community learning and development.

If you're interested in working with young people, adults, and communities, this is the ideal course for you. Explore and reflect on key theories, policy, and practice, as you develop your understanding of the values, differences, and diversity within individuals and communities, to enable their participation, empowerment, and life-long learning.

Build your experience and skills via work placements with community organisations in your local area, as you deepen your understanding and professional practice with theory, current policy, and legislation.

Special features

• Professionally recognised and approved by the Community Learning and Development Standards Council for Scotland
• Recognised as a lead practitioner qualification
• Designed for those already involved or interested in working with people in communities
• Placements offer an opportunity to link your developing professional practice with theory, current policy and legislation
• Opportunity for you to specialise in an area of personal/professional interest
• Flexible study routes
• Delivered entirely online and can be studied from anywhere in Scotland and the UK, meaning you can fit your studies around your personal and professional commitments

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
• 2 A levels at grade C or above OR
• International Baccalaureate Award of Diploma with a minimum of 24 points. Higher Level (HL) Grade 4
• Alternatively, completion of Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services (Children and Young People) PLUS an additional Scottish Higher at Grade C or above
• Applicants with relevant professional qualifications or experience are also welcomed and will be considered on an individual basis
• Other recognition of prior learning and credit transfer will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage
• You are required to attend an interview, in person, by telephone or virtually, to discuss the course in detail and to explain the method of teaching

• Non-UK qualifications will be considered. Please fill in the relevant application form (depending on whether you are an EEA or international applicant), providing the details of your qualifications. Please enclose/attach a copy of relevant certificates and evidence of your English language skills. This will enable us to assess your eligibility for the course to which you are applying

Advanced entry to year two of the degree:

• Direct entry to year two may be possible on successful completion of 15-credits (120 SCQF level 7 credits) in: HNC Childhood Practice; HNC Social Services; HNC Social Sciences; or HNC Working with Communities
• Bridging modules are also offered for applicants with less than 120 SCQF level 7 credits

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Culture cognition and education (S1)
• Introduction to health and social policy (S1)
• Nature of health (S1)
• Sociology of the family (S2)
• The enquiring student (S2)
• Understanding CLD in practice (S2)

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Developing professional practice in CLD (S2)
• Empowering communities (S1)
• Recognising and challenging discrimination and disadvantage (S1)
• Researching the social world (S2)
• Working in partnership (S1)
• Youth and global society (S2)

Year 3 - BA

You will study the following core modules:

• Ethical issues (S2)
• Implementing professional practice in CLD (SC)
• Introduction to effective management and leadership (S1)
• Issues of risk (S1)
• Literature review (S2)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will study the following core modules:

• Applied critical enquiry in CLD (SC)
• Demonstrating professional practice in CLD (SC)
• Professional ethics and reflection (S1)
• The UNCRC: investigating exploitation, youth justice and education in relation to children’s rights (S2)

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4^th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.