BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies Bachelor's degree at Bedfordshire
BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies at Bedfordshire. You'll engage with core theoretical frameworks, research methodology, and applied professional practice, whilst choosing specialist options that align with your interests.
About this course
BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Bedfordshire, based in Bedford Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Social sciences graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 25% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sociology & Social Sciences, 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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Introduction to research and social enquiryCore
Module details
How and why we carry out social science research, and the current debates in the field.
- Career planning for social scientistsCore
Module details
Consider possible graduate destinations, pulling together your own personal development plan.
- Narratives of childhood and youthCore
Module details
Examine children and young people's lives from historical, sociological and philosophical perspectives.
- Development in childhood and youthCore
Module details
Use your understanding of human development to help you with assessments and interventions for children, young people, their families and adults.
- Relation-based practiceCore
Module details
Build the skills you need to connect with people using services across social care, youth work, health, criminal justice and education.
- Introducing academic skillsCore
Year 2 9 modules
- Digital childhoodsCore
Module details
Explore young people's rights online; how social media has provided them with a voice; and the risks of digital citizenship.
- Perceptions and discourses of childhoodCore
Module details
How policies shape, and are shaped by, the perceptions and debates around children's rights.
- Work-related experience in childhood and youthCore
Module details
A work-experience opportunity that lets you show your skills through practice, shadowing, simulations and assessed tasks.
- Research 1: collecting dataCore
- Research 2: exploring dataCore
- Disability in societyOptional
- Addictions and societyOptional
- Living with mental health conditionsOptional
- Leadership and management in early yearsOptional
Year 3 8 modules
- Child protection and safeguarding: the contexts of vulnerabilityCore
Module details
Gain enhanced knowledge of developments in child protection; explore past, current and emerging approaches; develop the skills needed to work in this demanding field.
- SASS Change Maker projectCore
Module details
Deliver a project that will create change and address an identified need in a community-based organisation.
- SASS Change Maker research dissertationCore
Module details
Create a research proposal, address its ethical considerations, and conduct an in-depth study aligned with your course and career goals.
- Childhoods in a global contextOptional
- The lived experiences of children and young people in diverse family and social circumstancesOptional
- Violence in modern societyOptional
- Issues of childhood and social justiceOptional
- Youth justice, gangs and serious violenceOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study how childhood, youth and society intersect, examining class, gender, identity and inequality through a sociology lens. A course like this typically moves from foundations in social problems and research methods in your first year, through social theory and applied specialisms such as criminology, social policy, gender and identity, or migration in your second year, to independent specialist study and a final dissertation in your third. You'll combine seminars, practicals in research methods, and real data analysis with opportunities to explore topics like social work routes, and you'll develop skills in both qualitative and quantitative research as you progress.
Who it's for
You're drawn to understanding how young people grow, learn and navigate the world, whether through a lens of psychology, education, social policy or culture. You might be preparing for a career in youth work, teaching, social care or research, or you may simply want to deepen your knowledge before deciding. You'll thrive if you're curious about evidence and willing to question assumptions, comfortable working with both theory and real-world case studies, and keen to develop professional skills alongside academic study. Part-time study suits you if you're balancing work, family or other commitments.
Careers & job market
Across Sociology & Social Sciences courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further qualifications. Starting salaries range from £23,000 to £30,000 nationally; after five years, this typically widens to £24,650–£34,800. Paths include education, youth services, social work, research, policy and community development, though progression depends on individual choice, additional qualifications and sector demand rather than on the degree alone.
University & format
BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies is taught part-time at the University of Bedfordshire, a University located on its Bedford Campus. The University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and achieved Bronze 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.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Year in industry. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
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 UCAS). 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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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 fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Bedfordshire →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 Sociology & Social Sciences 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 | £25,000 | £24,000 – £29,000 | 10 |
| 3 years after | £16,500 | £11,500 – £27,500 | 60 |
| 5 years after | £21,000 | £13,000 – £28,000 | 50 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sociology & social sciences · 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 Sociology & Social Sciences nationally
National figures for Sociology & Social Sciences 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: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. 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 Sociology & Social Sciences courses at the same study level.
Compared with 751 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 15% of published destinations
- Welfare and housing associate professionalsSOC 2020 322 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,937
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Process, plant and machine operativesDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 75; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Sociology & Social Sciences 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 Sociology & Social Sciences 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
- Local authorities
- Charities & NGOs
- Research organisations
- Government & universities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sociology & Social Sciences graduates.
Sociology AdjunctCommonwealth Of VirginiaSociology ECT - High-Achieving Secondary School in BrightonMarchant RecruitmentHead of Psychology and SociologyTeacherActiveIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. 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
75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £25,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.7 out of 10: NSS 79.4% · in work or study 75%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Bedfordshire
Social sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Bedford Campus
681 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 Sociology & Social Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Bedfordshire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £16,900 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 Bedfordshire’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 Bedfordshire and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Bedfordshire
Sociology & Social Sciences at other universities
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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