Course summary
The Youth Work and Social Education with Foundation Year (BA) degree is a perfect start for those looking to make a real difference in the lives of young people. This foundation year is designed to build your confidence and skills, preparing you for the rest of the degree, which is ETS endorsed and gives you a professional qualification in youth work. The course addresses the serious challenges young people face today, from trauma and adverse childhood experiences to issues like substance misuse and County Lines. You’ll explore these topics through a social science lens, building skills to support young people through complex situations in a positive way. Youth work is often called the “best-kept secret” because of its powerful impact. Unlike many other professions, youth work focuses on building strong, positive relationships, with the goal of empowering young people to develop resilience and resourcefulness. The programme centres on this relationship-building as a way to create lasting change, and teaches students how to support youth through a range of issues. With a blend of theory, policy, and practice, students learn how these foundations intersect in the real world, ensuring they are equipped not only as knowledgeable academics but also as skilled practitioners who can work effectively with young people. Students will be immersed in youth mentoring and advocacy, learning how to help young people reach their potential while addressing essential issues such as health and well-being and children’s rights. Through structured placements and fieldwork, they gain hands-on experience that is invaluable in the workplace, enhancing both their understanding of youth work and their employability in youth and community roles. This practical experience is vital preparation for future community work, where graduates will be able to contribute positively to social justice and community development in a range of environments, from schools and youth centres to social services. This course offers comprehensive youth and community worker training, which is essential for a career supporting children, teenagers, and their communities. With its deep emphasis on education and social inclusion, the programme ensures that students graduate with a balanced understanding of the needs of young people from diverse backgrounds. They leave prepared for meaningful careers, whether in direct youth support roles or in broader community-focused positions. Many professions view the youth work degree as a highly desirable qualification because of the expertise it imparts and its unique focus on the challenges facing today’s youth. Graduates are ready to work in dynamic roles that demand empathy, resilience, and a commitment to positive change. For anyone who wants to create an impact, this degree offers the tools to become an influential and compassionate youth worker, capable of leading in the field of youth work and social education.
Modules
In the foundation year, you’ll build essential academic and personal skills to help you thrive at university and beyond. You’ll be introduced to the basics of youth work practice and the role of a youth worker, learning how to approach your studies confidently while beginning to understand what it means to work with young people. An introduction to Youth Work Practice (60 Credits) Academic Survival Skills (30 Credits) An introduction to University Life (30 Credits) Your second year develops a deeper understanding of adolescence and introduces core professional practice principles for working with young people. You’ll learn valuable skills in counselling, mindfulness, and advocacy and explore key issues around rights, empowerment, and participation to prepare you for youth work roles that support positive change. Professional Practice: Principles and Contexts of Work with Young People (20 credits) Understanding Adolescence (20 credits) Counselling Skills, Mindfulness and Therapeutic Practice (20 credits) Young People and Society 1: Advocacy, Empowerment, Participation and Rights (20 credits) Youth Work Practice 1: preparing the workforce (20 credits) Academic Study Skills for Students (20 credits) In the third year, you’ll study social research methods and strengthen your skills in leadership and management, all while expanding your practical experience through advanced youth work practice. You’ll also explore current issues such as mental health, well-being, and adverse childhood experiences, learning to support young people in a variety of complex situations. Social Research for Professional Practice (20 credits) Supervision, Leadership and Management for Professionals (20 credits) No one is too small to make a difference: Working with young people to create a climate of change (20 credits) Young People and Society 2: Mental Health, Well-being and Adverse Childhood Experiences (20 credits) Youth Work Practice 2: Developing Practice (40 credits) Your final year focuses on advanced topics in youth work, including trauma, exploitation, and resilience. You’ll also undertake a dissertation, researching a youth work topic of your choice, which allows you to deepen your knowledge and gain expertise in an area that interests you. By the end of the course, you’ll be well-prepared for a rewarding career in youth and community work Youth Work Practice 3: Leading and Managing (20 credits) Young People in Focus (20 credits) Young People and Society 3: Trauma, Exploitation and Toxic Childhood (20 credits) Young People's Well-being and Resilience (20 credits) Dissertation (40 Credits)
Assessment method
Assessments are designed to reflect the requirements of the field of work with young people and develop wide-ranging employability skills in students. There are no exams.
How to apply
29Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- YWSF
- Institution code:
- T80
- Campus name:
- Carmarthen Campus
- Campus code:
- C
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 42 points
Additional entry requirements
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| EU | £14850 | Year 1 |
| International | £14850 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Mandatory:
None.
Necessarily incurred:
Travel costs to and from placements (one placement at each level of study).
Optional:
Students who decide to take the opportunity to study abroad for one semester at Level 5 will incur additional costs associated with this
Potential residential activity at Level 6 may incur additional costs.
Provider information
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
College Road
Carmarthen
SA31 3EP