BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work (endorsed route)
Course Overview
Based at our town centre campus in Greater Manchester, the University of Bolton's BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work course offers dual accreditation from two nationally-recognised professional bodies. Recognised by the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and endorsed by the Endorsement Standards Board for Community Development (ESB) and National Youth Agency (NYA), it involves 800 hours of fieldwork practice. Work-based learning through fieldwork placements, and academic studies that support the development of knowledge and skills for practice, are central to this course.The core values of community development and youth work are at the heart of this degree. Our passionate and knowledgeable staff will guide you to explore issues such as social education, social policy, community engagement, politics, globalisation, social justice, equality and diversity, social history, housing and homelessness. We'll also support you in developing key transferable skills such as communication, self-awareness and time management.
Fieldwork placements or work-based learning can be in a number of distinct settings that work to improve the lives of people in communities and young people, preparing you to adapt to the changing environments in which you may be employed in future. Your work experience will usually be in the Greater Manchester area but can be further afield in the UK.
Highlights
- Our Childhood and Youth Studies courses are top in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2022.
- The University of Bolton's BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work degree was the first in the North West of England to be professionally recognised by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth Work (JNC), as validated by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development (ESB).
- The course has been designed in consultation with employers, ensuring the relevance of the skills and knowledge gained by graduates.
- Extensive work placements mean you can amass hundreds of hours of practical and professional community development and youth work experience.
- Our excellent links with over 70 partners and external agencies mean we can offer a wide variety of placements; for instance, in youth and community centres, schools, alternative education projects, women's refuges and community projects, or housing, health, leisure and youth training schemes, resettlement projects, and detached, outreach and mentoring projects.
- You have the chance to graduate with a wide range of practical and transferable skills that apply in all kinds of social, professional and academic areas.
Key Features
- Our programme gives you the chance to enjoy extensive practice-based experience at each level of your studies.
- You'll have access to excellent academic and pastoral support from teaching staff who are also experienced professionals in community development and youth work.
- Throughout the course, we'll support and encourage you as you develop your understanding and articulation of the key theories of personal and social change affecting young people and communities today.
- Specialists in the field of community development and youth work join us as guest speakers and lecturers throughout the course.
- If, by the end of the first semester at HE5, you decide that you don't want the professional endorsements or your circumstances change, you can transfer to our parallel course – the BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Studies.
Entry Requirements
- 96 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T-levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- For this endorsed pathway, you'll need to provide evidence that you've completed at least 100 hours of work experience, either working with young people or in a youth work or community practice setting.
- You'll be required to attend an interview as part of the application process.
- If you lack the required formal qualifications but have many years experience of working with young people and adults in the community, we encourage you to apply. You'll be expected to attend a face-to-face interview and undertake a written assessment.
- This course involves working unsupervised with young people and/or vulnerable adults and you must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting your studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Community development and youth work seeks to actively engage communities in making sense of the issues which affect their lives, setting goals for improvement and responding to problems and needs through empowerment and active participation.
Community development and youth work is a dynamic sector that adapts to meet the current needs of people and communities. Traditional sources of employment in the public sector and the voluntary, faith and community sectors are developing their services towards a broader set of activities that support young people, families and communities with a wide range of issues and interests, in a wide variety of different environments. This shift requires employees with flexible, transversal and adaptive knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Enabling you to gain a range of skills that can be applied in multiple contexts is a central principle of this degree. Research suggests that future employment in the field will be non-routine, creative and people-centric. This degree supports this broad curriculum, and organisations that employ graduates have been involved in the overall course design.
During this course, you'll have the opportunity to develop a wide range of transferable skills that will support your employment in a number of positions and sectors. These skills include presentation, oral and written communication, the ability to work independently and deal with complex and challenging situations, advocacy and empathy, teamwork and the ability to understand and work with people from all backgrounds.
The dual professional accreditation offered by this course is becoming the industry standard and offers graduates a wider career path and greater value for money.
What can I do with this qualification?
Community development and youth work can be challenging and frustrating. You'll need to be prepared to cope with conflicts and setbacks. Results are often long term rather than immediate, so patience and perseverance are essential.
After graduation, you may choose to pursue postgraduate study; for example, a research-based master's degree or a PhD in education, community or youth studies. MA courses for qualified youth and community workers are also available. Alternatively, you might apply for a vocational course such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), which qualifies you to work as a teacher.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification to step into a range of other careers. You may need relevant experience and/or postgraduate study for some of these roles. Possible careers include:
- The Arts
- Mentoring
- Teaching and education
- Health promotion
- Behaviour management
- Learning support
- Work with refugee and asylum seekers
- Advice work
- Community education
- Family support
- Probation
- Social work
- Careers advice
- Prison service
- Outdoor education/activities
- Residential care
- Volunteer co-ordination
- Youth offending
Professional Recognition
The University of Bolton's BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work (endorsed route) is professionally recognised by the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Youth Work (as validated by the National Youth Agency (NYA)) and the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development (ESB).
Successful achievement of the BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work (endorsed route) confers professionally qualified status for youth workers in England.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work - 27 January 2025
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Partner Organisation Applicants
University of Bolton Group Partners
Bolton College
University Collegiate School
Alliance Learning
University of Bolton
For valued members of the University of Bolton Group and progressing students, we try to make our application process as simple and as fast as possible.
By selecting the link for your chosen course from the list shown below, you will be taken directly to our online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this, and ensure you upload all supporting documents such as certificates and your personal statement when you apply.
When you are asked to add a contact email address, please ensure you add your college/university email account address as well as your personal address. If you do not add your college address as your contact address, we will be unable to identify you as a partner and offer you the benefits of being part of our group.
If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.
Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.
If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select the correct application link from the list below.
Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including email addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work - 27 January 2025
We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!
Teaching & Assessment
We offer a carefully balanced mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars, discussions, role play, case studies, group work and field trips throughout your studies. Self-directed study is also essential.
During fieldwork placement practice, you'll be supported by a suitably qualified supervisor as you develop key competencies set out in the National Occupational Standards in Community Development and also in Youth Work.
We have established relationships with many voluntary and statutory agencies in the Bolton area and the wider North West region, helping to ensure you can find practice placements of interest. For example, students have been placed in settings such as alternative education providers, youth training agencies, faith-based youth clubs, LGBTQ+ groups, women and girls groups, sexual health, mental health and disability groups, refugee and asylum seeker providers, community allotment projects, housing providers, theatre and arts groups, drugs and alcohol teams, and participation and inclusion teams.
Assessment is via coursework, including methods such as portfolios, essays, reports, case study analysis and oral presentations. You can also benefit from the input of guest speakers throughout the degree.
This programme has a parallel course which shares the same core modules. Our BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Studies programme includes a reduced length of time spent on fieldwork practice, meaning the course does not attract the dual professional recognition. If you wish to transfer to the BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Studies programme, you have until the end of semester one in your first year to make that choice.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Ethics, Values and Reflective Practice
- Youth Work, Policy and Practice
- People, Power and Social Change
- Group Work and Informal Education
- Placement 1: Exploring Practice in a Youth and/or Community Setting
- Community Development, Policy and Practice
- Diversity, Identity and Social Justice
- Enabling Healthy Communities
- Contemporary Issues in Youth Work
- Placement 2: Developing Professional Practice in a Youth and/or Community Setting
- Global Youth Work and Sustainable Communities
- Professional and Academic Research Methods
- Community Living: Housing and Homelessness
- Management, Governance and Organisational Development
- Placement 3: Managing a Youth and Community Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 70% Practical exams 30% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 90% Practical exams 10% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 74% Practical exams 26% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 58% Placement/study abroad 13% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 29% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 68% Placement/study abroad 13% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 19% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 65% Placement/study abroad 15% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
