Community Development and Youth Studies (top-up)

In December 2024, the University of Bolton was granted permission by the Office for Students (OfS) to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester with immediate effect. While we work to update our systems, you may see both names used in the information we provide.

Based at our town centre campus in the North West of England, our BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Studies (top-up) course allows you to build on your existing foundation degree or HND in a community development and youth studies-related subject. Completing your honours level studies can open doors to graduate entry careers in the youth and community sector, areas of social work, local government or the non-profit and voluntary sectors, as well as postgraduate education.

The University of Greater Manchester's BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Studies (top-up) course focuses on academic studies that support the development of knowledge and skills for practice. The course is ideal if you're seeking the flexible and adaptable skills and knowledge needed for a career changing lives by challenging discrimination and oppression through informal social inclusion. It's also a fantastic springboard for master's level or postdoctoral study.

Our passionate and knowledgeable staff will guide you to explore issues such as globalisation and sustainable communities, housing and homelessness, management and leadership in community development and youth work, and the governance and organisational development of public, private and third sector organisations. We'll support you in developing key transferable skills such as communication, self-awareness, time management and critical thinking. The dissertation is an essential element of your honours-level studies and offers an excellent preparation for higher-level study.

Our professionally experienced tutors bring their wealth of on-the-job expertise and practical knowledge into their research, teaching and one-to-one advice, ensuring you can benefit from a wide range of highly informed youth work and community development perspectives. 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.