Skip navigation
Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2026 - 2027
Apply

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

28Feb
University of Portsmouth Open Experience Day
Undergraduate
21Mar
University of Portsmouth Open Experience Day
Undergraduate
25Apr
University of Portsmouth Open Experience Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview Our experiences in childhood and adolescence can have a huge influence on the choices we make and how society sees us. On this Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology degree, you'll explore the issues affecting children and young people aged 8–18, and the role of the criminal justice system and the causes of crime – as well as how these subject areas interconnect. Learning from academic researchers and staff with experience as practitioners in the field, you'll focus on young people’s development, learning and relationships, and delve into the complex policies, practices and societal pressures that impact them. You'll also have the chance to focus your childhood and youth studies on a particular specialism - education and teaching, community and youth/family provision, or leadership and enterprise. After the course, you'll graduate with the skills and knowledge for a rewarding career working with children and young people in a variety of settings, including youth intervention, youth justice and social work.

  • Spend two-thirds of your time at the School of Education and Sociology, examining topics around child development, education, psychology, health and social work
  • Spend your remaining time studying at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, learning about crime, punishment and rehabilitation
  • Practise real-world scenarios in our Family Assessment Room, where you'll examine how parents and children feel during family meetings, and explore your responsibilities as a practitioner
  • Tailor your studies to your career goals and interests, and have the option to complete pre-entry qualifications for a career in probation work or community justice
  • Enrich your learning and build relationships with potential employers by volunteering, studying abroad or doing a work placement alongside your studies
  • Develop a set of key transferable life and career skills, including critical thinking, team working, empathy and problem solving
Careers and opportunities This Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology degree will prepare you for a range of careers working on behalf of children and young people. There's significant demand for graduates who have the expert skills and knowledge to work with young people and children in the community in this way, particularly since the pandemic and its impact on education. What can you do with a childhood and youth studies with criminology degree? After the course, you could work in areas such as:
  • youth work
  • law enforcement and the police
  • social work
  • social justice
  • children's rights
  • social policy
  • probation
  • educational welfare
  • health promotion
  • teaching
Placement year and work experience After your second year, you can do a paid placement year in a youth work setting. You'll have the opportunity to make a positive difference to young people while applying your knowledge and boosting your employability. Previous students have put their skills to work at organisations such as:
  • Portsmouth in the Community (PitC)
  • KidsOut
  • Victim Support
We’ll help you secure a placement that fits your ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support to get the most out of your placement year. This course also allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option. This means you can earn credits towards your degree for work, volunteer and research placements that you do alongside your study. We can also help you identify additional work experience, internship and voluntary opportunities that complement your studies.

Modules

The University of Portsmouth is passionate about creating career-focused modules that do more than support your studies, they empower your academic journey and prepare you for what comes next. We design modules that have: • Clear themes and skills development as you progress through each year • Assessments that feel meaningful, often based on real-world tasks rather than isolated exams • Career-enhancing opportunities such as placements, live projects, enterprise and volunteering For a full list of the modules you will study on this course, please visit https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-childhood-and-youth-studies-with-criminology#modules

Assessment method

How you're assessed You’ll be assessed through:

  • essays
  • group and individual presentations and projects
  • creative assessments, such as storyboards or video
  • practical assessments, such as lesson plans and delivery
  • exams
  • a dissertation
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

How to apply

14Jan

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:
L5L3
Institution code:
P80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting their professional placement working with children and young people. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is for UK Criminal Records checks only. Applicants who have been living overseas for the past 5 years will require an equivalent ‘certificate of good conduct’ from each country they have been resident in, as well as from their home country. The outcome of your DBS or Certificate of Good Conduct will be reviewed by the course team who will make a decision about your suitability to work with children and young people in the UK. Your DBS Certificate Number and date of receipt will be recorded on our Single Central Record

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
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 £9790 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9790 Year 1
Scotland £9790 Year 1
Wales £9790 Year 1
Channel Islands £9790 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9790 Year 1
International £17900 Year 1
EU £10300 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

Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Please check the course page on our website for the most up to date fee information. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology at University of Portsmouth - UCAS