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Working with young people must be one of the most exciting, responsible and worthwhile careers you could choose, regardless of whether your job is paid or voluntary. The support you offer young people can make an enormous difference to the quality of their daily lives, perhaps even influencing the choices they make as they move into adulthood.
If you’re working with young people between 13 and 19 years of age in informal education settings, such as youth clubs or youth-related services and organisations, our certificate and foundation degree programmes will enable you to develop knowledge and skills that can be applied in your day-to-day work. Studying with us can also help to advance your career and increase employability: both certificate and foundation degree are nationally recognised vocational qualifications that will increase the range of opportunities open to you. Combining theory with work-based learning, our qualifications build your confidence by providing you with vital knowledge about the principles and ideas shared by those working in this field.
Degrees
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Childhood and Youth Studies
This degree is for those who work or intend to work with children and young people, or for those with more general interests in the interdisciplinary field of childhood and youth studies. -
Youth Justice Studies (England and Wales)
If you work with young people in the youth justice system, this qualification will increase your skills and knowledge and have a real impact on your practice. -
Youth Work
This degree enables students to qualify as a professional youth worker and is for practitioners working with young people (13-19) in informal educational settings. -
Open degree
The BA/BSc Open Degree is a qualification that gives you a huge choice in terms of subjects and modules that you study to make up your degree.
Foundation Degrees
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Working with Young People
This degree develops the skills and knowledge of those working with, and leading work with, young people (13–19) to support their informal education. -
Youth Justice (England and Wales)
This foundation degree will suit anyone working in the youth justice system (including the secure estate), volunteers working in this field, and those planning to join the youth justice workforce.
Diplomas of Higher Education
Certificates of Higher Education
Courses in Working with Young People
See the list of all our individual courses in Working with Young People.
Postgraduate options
If you already have a degree, you may want to see postgraduate courses and qualifications in Childhood and Youth.
Spotlight on Working with Young People
Formal qualifications for youth work
If you are thinking of moving into youth work, or are already a youth worker but need formal qualifications, this course is superb: it equips you with a thorough understanding of youth work, and gives you the confidence and tools to improve your practice. I can’t recommend the course highly enough.
'I've become a more effective practioner'
‘Very comprehensive. Excellent for identifying what I already knew, and for applying and expanding that knowledge. It focused on youth work, but is valid across a number of settings, as the material is really about informal education and engaging young people, which can happen anywhere. The course (Introduction to working with young people in practice (E118)) has enabled me to diversify my role and become a more effective, reflective practitioner.’
Subjects at the OU
Undergraduate subjects
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35
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