Youth and Community Development Studies MA/PG Dip

Duration: One year full-time, two-three years distance

• You need to demonstrate that you can work at master’s level which can be done through having a first degree, normally at 2:2 or above, or by having a range of academic and work experience
• You are normally expected to have a professional qualification in an area related to youth and community development work

You should also normally have:

• A commitment to anti-oppressive practice
• Relevant and significant field experience on which to base and integrate theory
• Proven ability to reflect on practice, critically examine concepts of informal education and justice, awareness of social welfare needs in a youth and community context

If you have no formal academic qualifications but do have extensive practice experience we will consider your application on an individual basis.

You will need to conduct an interview. If you are unable to attend, arrangements can be made for a telephone interview.

A current CRB check with enhanced disclosure and a Criminal Record Certificate from your home country is required before the start of the course.

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and during the course if you need it. To find out more, please visit
dmu.ac.uk/international|

All core modules and most specialist modules are launched during one of two block teaching weeks held each year. These modules are supported by a wide variety of written material, individual and corporate tasks. You are required to engage in a number of online seminars in each module which is compulsory.

The course works to build a learning community, from the initial contact on selection day and in the induction periods onwards. Assessment is usually by written assignment of 4,000 words per 15 credit module. Contributions to online seminars are compulsory and also an attendance requirement.

International students come to study in the UK because the quality of our teaching is among the best in the world, offering a varied selection of teaching methods to suit all learning requirements.

Staff in the department have more than 50 years’ experience and are one of the largest teams in the UK. They continue to work for a range of organisations that work with young people including charities, voluntary and statutory agencies at local, national and international levels.

Thematic areas of interest include a specialist expertise and interest in global youth and community development work (resulting in numerous conferences and publications by Momodou Sallah, a leading expert in this area); work with black young people (again, resulting in key conferences and texts by Carlton Howson and Momodou Sallah); youth participation and citizenship (including an evaluation of a beacon councils initiative led by Dr Liz Hoggarth and ongoing partnership work with the Centre for Social Action); criminal justice and youth justice (led by Dr Jason Wood) and the context, management and operation of new children and young people’s services (with high profile work undertaken by visiting professors Bernard Davies and Bryan Merton). Between 2007 and 2010, a total of seven books will have been published by authors in the division with a further four planned titles under review.

Graduates go into a wide range of senior posts in youth work and community development work in both the statutory and voluntary sector, all over the world. An MA is a recommended qualification for workers who want to hold senior positions in recent workforce development proposals.

UKPASS is the postgraduate equivalent of UCAS and gives you a simple and efficient way to apply online. It allows you to search for a course and guides you through the application process. Using UKPASS you can apply for up to ten courses for free.

You can create your application in your own time, so you can consider, research and complete each section at your own speed. You can track your applications as they progress, and can also receive and reply to offers online. Apply online with UKPASS|

You will need to attach qualification transcripts, references and evidence of English language (if you are an overseas student) with your UKPass application. If these documents are not attached to your original application, this will delay the process of your application. 

• Health and Community Development MA
• Health and Community Development Studies MA
• Youth Work and Community Development MA