Youth and Community Work (Advanced Practice)

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

• an undergraduate degree of second-class honours or above in a relevant social science subject or any youth and/or community related subject
• GCSE English at grade C/4 minimum, or Key Skills Communication Level 2 and Numeracy Level 2, or equivalent
• NYA and ESB recognition and be able to provide evidence of your registration and accreditation

In addition to the above, you'll also need to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a university interview.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Why you should study this course

Take your career to the next level with this Youth and Community Work (Advanced Practice) degree from London Met.

Designed for graduates who already hold Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) recognition, this master’s degree is perfect if you’re already working in or looking to return to the industry.

If you don’t already hold JNC recognition, or haven’t completed an existing Level 6 qualification from either the National Youth Agency (NYA) or the Endorsement and Quality Standards Boards for Community Development Learning (ESB), please see our Youth and Community Work (with JNC recognition) MSc instead.

More about this course

You’ll build on your existing knowledge of the National Youth Agency (NYA) Standards of Proficiency and Community Development National Occupational Standards in a stimulating and supportive environment.

Collaboration is highly important on this course, therefore it’s important for you to share personal experiences and reflections with your classmates. Sharing these will help to broaden your perspective on various issues and build sound knowledge on effective management approaches.

Our academics will encourage you to critically engage with the tensions and challenges of current practice, both in the UK and overseas, allowing you to build a sophisticated knowledge of effective management approaches. You’ll also explore developments in the field, learn about mental health and wellbeing in young people, develop strategies to reduce violent crime, learn how to pitch for funding in times of austerity, as well as examine techniques to support staff dealing with front-line interventions.

We want you to be in charge of the direction of your study, which is why you have the flexibility to choose whether you deepen your understanding of topics directly relevant to youth and community work, or develop a specialism outside of these, such as digital communications, journalism and film-making. These skills have the potential to be transformative within the youth and community sector.

Assessment

During this course, you’ll be assessed in a variety of ways including assignments, portfolios, presentations, podcasts, case study analysis and a dissertation.

You’ll also have the opportunity to explore a youth and community work related topic of your choice through your dissertation.

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC). The course is also validated by the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development Learning (ESB), which is the professional body for people working in community work and community development roles.

After the course

This course is designed to prepare you for career progression within the youth and community work sector. Once you successfully complete the course, you should feel confident to progress into higher-level management positions or roles that require a greater level of expertise.

Our alumni work for various organisations, including local authority social services departments, mental health trusts, drugs and alcohol services, children’s centres, social prescribing and in A&E with young victims of knife crime, among others.

If you demonstrate research potential on this course, you may also be encouraged to undertake doctoral studies.

Information for international students

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.