Youth & Community Work

On this degree, you will learn how to work with young people to help them realise their potential. You’ll learn through supervised work placements and university-based study, allowing you to build relationships and use your growing expertise to inspire and stimulate the people you work with.

Why this course at Marjon?
• 25 years experience in training some of the UK’s most outstanding youth and community professionals.
• The NYA has assessed and validated the course to meet the professional qualification for youth work, as set out by the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC).
• Extensive placements (the equivalent of one year on placements over the three years) help you build the professional confidence and skills to make a difference to other people’s lives.
• You may choose to do one of your placements overseas, for example with our partners Helsinki Youth Service.
• The teaching team are leaders in international research which means that the course is informed by the most current thinking.

What might I become?
Our graduates secure roles in schools, community venues, youth offending teams and housing associations, among many others. Opportunities exist in voluntary and charitable organisations, in the public sector, for example children’s services, schools and colleges; and in the private sector.

Find out more at Open Day
Open Day is your opportunity to find out more about studying Youth and Community Work at Marjon. You’ll meet lecturers and find out why we are ranked second in the UK for teaching quality*. Our student life talks will help you prepare to go to university, covering topics such as careers, funding, sport and our award winning on-campus student support service. You can also take a tour of the campus with a current student and find out about the student-led clubs and societies.

Book on to an Open Day at: www.marjon.ac.uk/open-day

Why study at Marjon?
• Small, person-focused university
• No.2 university in England for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2024)
• No.4 university in the UK for Career Prospects (WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2023)
• No.4 uni in England for Education (Student Experience) (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023)

Susan Cooper - Course Lead, Youth and Community Work;
“In your first year you will explore the nature of youth & community work and gain an understanding of the key concepts and be able to apply this in practice over 250 hours on placement. During year two you will learn about groupwork, project management and how politics affects youth and community work, again applying this in practice across a 12-week block placement. In the third year you will develop expertise through your own research project, optional specialist modules and by looking at the current debates around how youth and community work is changing, preparing you to go out there to make a difference!”

1st Year
Introduction to Youth & Community Work
Interpersonal Communication & Relationship Skills
Engaging with Learning
Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice
Issues & Interventions
Level 1 Professional Practice Placement

2nd Year
Policy & Practice
Participatory Groupwork
Developing & Leading Projects
Practitioner Research
Level 2 Professional Practice Placement

3rd Year
Organising, Leading & Managing Practice
Practitioner Research Project
Changing Practice: Current Controversies & Dilemmas
Level 3 Professional Practice Placement

Assessment methods are based on coursework (essays, reports reviews), presentations and the production of placement files that include reflective practice and self-assessment. Professional practice is assessed against the National Occupational Standards.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• National Youth Agency