MA Youth and Community Work

University of East London

This established course opens the door for you to step straight into youth work. Only one other provider in London offers a postgraduate JNC qualification as part of a master's course. With 600 mandatory hours of practice learning to add to UEL-based learning, it is a demanding, but rewarding, commitment. You will develop the ability to build confidence and trust in others, to deal with challenging behaviour and to engage, support and mentor young people in London - a dynamic environment for youth and community work. Our former students often supervise our current students in a professional capacity and you will be taught by experienced people who share your passion. The UEL tutors are locally based. They have strong links with and are active within the sector.There are four core modules on the course. Two are the placement-based Fieldwork Practice modules 1 and 2.In the university-based sessions, you will learn the principles of group work, theory, management and supervision as well as gaining insight into youth work policy. You will then apply this knowledge in the field. You could be organising workshops in schools, putting on informally structured learning activities, developing young people's interpersonal skills or working with partner organisations, such as the Youth Offending Service, housing associations, community organisations or schools.This master's course can be studied on a one-year full-time or a two-year part-time basis.Typically, you will spend Tuesdays at the University of East London working through the core modules by means of lectures and discussion-led seminars or tutorials. There will also be an opportunity for creative experience learning with occasional field trips to see community projects in action.The traditional model of youth work, where you work in and later manage a youth club as the focal point of the community, is becoming less common. The range of roles open to you now is as rewarding as it is wide. You could move into the Third Sector, a social enterprise, a housing association, a voluntary organisation or even a college. For example, a local college has employed graduates of this course as student enrichment officers - in effect working in informal education on a college site.