The Education - Childhood Studies and Youth Studies (PGDip/ PGCert) course from Oxford Brookes University is designed to provide an excellent grounding for those wishing to pursue, or develop further, their skills and careers as practitioners or researchers working with children and young people.

Through the course we explore alternative conceptions of childhood and youth and consider children and young people's lives and experiences through the social, economic, technological and global contexts in which they are situated.

You will also examine the expanding role of services for children and young people, the challenges this provides for practitioners and policy makers and the ways in which these services position children and their families.

Course length
  • Full-time: MA: 12 months; PGDip and PGCert: 12 months
  • Part-time: MA: 2/3 years (depending on chosen trajectory); PGDip: 24 months; PGCert: 12 months
Why choose this course?
  • An interdisciplinary approach is central to this Masters which is taught by a core course team of research active staff with expertise in sociology, psychology, history, social policy, social and health care, early childhood and education.
  • This course attracts students from a range of professional backgrounds who work with children and young people. allowing for rich learning about the different professional contexts and the implications and relevance of particular theoretical approaches to these different roles.
  • We have good working relationships with local mainstream and special schools, children's centres and other services for children enabling visits and placements if you wish to take up these opportunities (DBS checks are required).
  • Subject to availability, depending on your relevant professional background it is possible to draw upon modules from other relevant programmes.
  • You will be joining a university which makes an important contribution to the improvement of education and learning, locally and nationally. The School of Education is a focal point for lively, informed debate on education through its seminar and lecture programmes.
  • We offer a wide range of Postgraduate Certificates, specifically designed for part time students who are working full time. Sessions typically run in the evenings, with some online discussions. On completion of a postgraduate certificate you can then choose to go onto study a further three modules and the successful completion of a dissertation will complete your MA Education.