FDA Children, Young People and their Services Foundation degree at Hugh Baird College
FDA Children, Young People and their Services at Hugh Baird College. Rather than remaining abstract, you'll explore how these ideas translate into real-world practice, equipping you to understand the landscape you'll work within and to make informed, evidence-based decisions.
About this course
The FdA in Children, Young People and their Services programme will provide you with a broad understanding of underpinning policy and key theories relating to all aspects of work with children and young people and how these relate in practice. By increasing your knowledge base and encouraging you… From the provider’s course page.
FDA Children, Young People and their Services is a Foundation degree (FDA) at Hugh Baird College, based in Hugh Baird University Centre. It runs 2 years, studied full-time.
For Childhood and youth studies graduates from this provider, 70% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, typical earnings around £22,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Stronger evidence Published sample: 135. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 70% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 100% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK General Studies degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Foundations & Academic Skills Core concepts of the programme plus research and writing craft. |
| Year 1 | Interdisciplinary Core I The subject's main strands introduced side by side. |
| Year 1 | Data & Digital Literacy Working confidently with evidence and tools. |
| Year 2 | Interdisciplinary Core II Intermediate study connecting the programme's themes. |
| Year 2 | Applied Project Team-based work on a real brief or case. |
| Year 2 | Optional modules Breadth from across the university's catalogue. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Depth in the strands you choose to pursue. |
| Year 3 | Professional Skills & Placement Employability, work experience and reflection. |
| Year 3 | Capstone / dissertation An independent project drawing the degree together. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This foundation degree provides a broad understanding of policy, key theories and practical applications in work with children and young people. You'll usually begin with core concepts in child and youth services, academic foundations, and digital literacy. A course like this normally progresses through interdisciplinary study of the main themes, covering topics such as child development, safeguarding, education, health and social support, alongside applied projects that ground theory in real-world scenarios. In your second year, you'll deepen this knowledge through optional breadth modules, specialist options reflecting areas such as early years, youth work or family support, and professional skills development. Most programmes culminate in independent research or a capstone project, often informed by work placement experience.
Who it's for
You're drawn to making a tangible difference in young people's lives and want grounding in both the 'why' and the 'how' of professional practice. You're curious about policy, systems and the evidence base that shapes childcare and youth services, and you're comfortable learning through a mix of theory and hands-on application. This course will suit you if you're organised enough to balance independent study with structured teaching, and if you value understanding the principles beneath practice as much as the practical skills themselves. You may be coming to this with A-levels or equivalent, or with relevant experience and a clear sense of direction.
Careers & job market
Across General Studies courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of leaving. Of those working, 65% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. According to national graduate earnings data, starting salaries typically fall between £24,000 and £30,000; after five years, this ranges to £25,075–£35,400. This course opens routes into children's services, youth work, early years, safeguarding, and related professional roles in both statutory and voluntary sectors, or progression to specialist postgraduate study.
University & format
The FdA is taught at Hugh Baird College, a higher education college, over 2 years full-time. The course is delivered in English at Hugh Baird University Centre. Hugh Baird College, founded in 1891, is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; your qualification is nationally recognised. The college received Bronze for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 45% |
| another higher-education qualification | 25% |
| Other | 25% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L530). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider-sourced figure; academic year not supplied. The 2026/27 England cap is up to £9,790. Verify this course.
Check fees at Hugh Baird College →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £22,000 | £16,500 – £25,000 | 135 |
| 3 years after | £17,000 | £11,500 – £20,000 | 20 |
| 5 years after | £20,500 | £16,500 – £25,000 | 20 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 135. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs General Studies nationally
National figures for General Studies graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 135. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with General Studies courses at the same study level.
Compared with 207 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How General Studies graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where General Studies graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Employers across sectors
- Public sector
- Corporates & charities
- Startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit General Studies graduates.
General PractitionerMatchMedicsGeneral ManagerParkside RecruitmentGeneral ManagerThe Management Recruitment Group (MRG)General ManagerBite TalentGeneral ForemanCONTRACT SCOTLAND LIMITEDGeneral PractitionerFlexzo AiIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,535/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
70% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £22,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 95.4% · in work or study 70% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Combined and general studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Hugh Baird University Centre
1,735 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is General Studies right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Hugh Baird College from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Hugh Baird College; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Hugh Baird College’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Hugh Baird College and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Hugh Baird College
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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