BA in Youth Work and Communities

The Youth Work and Communities degree at BCU is a contemporary and exciting course, which has accreditation from the Joint Negotiating Committee, which is the Professional body that accredits Youth Workers in England and Wales.

The course has been designed with key stakeholders, including the National Youth Agency, UK Youth, youth work managers, practitioners and young people themselves, to integrate the core knowledge and skills required to jump-start a successful career, working with young people and communities, whether that be in the public sector, non-governmental organisations/voluntary field or private sector.

Practice skills, cultural competencies, communication, placement and community engagement opportunities, have been built-in throughout the programme, to ensure students incrementally develop the essential and specialist skills and expertise to build thriving careers, working with diverse young people and communities.

The Youth Work and Communities BA degree at BCU offers:

• A JNC-recognised qualification to work in Youth Work, which is also valued and recognised in many other ‘people work’ contexts and sectors, in the UK and across the globe
• A core focus on diversity, equality and social difference. We offer opportunities to learn and work on placement in Britain’s second-biggest city, with highly diverse young people and communities, in a vibrant urban context of rapid social change. This experience is supported by diversity-oriented learning on core modules
• A core leadership and enterprise strand, which runs throughout the programme, to develop skills to fast-track your career through strategic, project management and youth work organisational skills
• A global focus and commitment throughout modules, and in two dedicated modules, situated in level 5 and level 6, prepare students for careers that could lead to employment anywhere in the world. We integrate global issues in youth and community across your studies, such as refugee and migrant support, cross-cultural working, working in situations of conflict and anti-modern slavery/anti-trafficking practice
• Opportunities at levels 5 and 6 to select optional modules including mental health and counselling approaches, black political activism, youth, crime and justice
• Excellent placements throughout the three years to provide experiential learning and opportunities to build professional networks and your own field of interest in youth and community
• Research skills training specifically focused on working with diverse communities and young people
• Coverage of innovative and creative digital skills and practice for youth and community work

Why choose us?

In all of our courses, you will gain a professional focus and real-world experience on youth and community perspectives, ensuring you are equipped to make an immediate impact in your career. You have the opportunity to embark on micro placements with public sector and not-for-profit organisations. All our courses have an international focus. This is embedded throughout the curriculum, giving you the opportunity to transform your experience with us into a global one. There are a variety of exciting possibilities open to you, including our many overseas study exchange programmes. As a student on one of our undergraduate degrees, you will be able to benefit from our Graduate+ initiative. This three-year award course enables you to gain award levels for all the extra-curricular activities you undertake so that you can stand out from the crowd at graduation. You will have opportunities to engage with our Birmingham 2029 project which seeks to map the city across a decade of change and be part of the Social Impact Hub which will enable you to engage with local organisations in the community and voluntary sectors. The School of Social Sciences is recognised for being at the forefront of applied research, specialising in areas such as social identities, race and racism, hate crime, gender and violence and mental health. We have proud to have a vibrant research culture with five interdisciplinary research centres and a strong record of publications. Gain an understanding of the contemporary world by practising a form of inquiry that is informed, knowledge-applied, evidence-based and interdisciplinary.

With around 29,000 students from 100 countries, (HESA Student Record 2020/21 © Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited) Birmingham City University is a large and diverse place to study. We put students at the heart of everything we do, giving them the best opportunities for future success.

The University for Birmingham

We put £270 million into the regional economy and support thousands of jobs in the area. We're investing £340 million in our estate, including a major expansion of our city-centre campus at Eastside, providing students with an enviable range of facilities.

Social responsibility

At Birmingham City University we are committed to transforming students’ lives and enhancing opportunity through education and advancement. We play a key role in supporting the economy and public sector in Birmingham and the West Midlands, as the University for the city of Birmingham.

Whether developing research to enable people to lead healthier lives, decrease bullying in schools or help talented children in South Africa reach their musical potential, Birmingham City University undertakes a wide variety of work to ensure that we operate as a socially responsible University.

On Monday 17 September 2018, we announced that staff had voted for Acorn’s Children’s Hospice and Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid to be the University’s Chosen Charities.