Employability
100% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating (2018/19 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £14,415 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

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Course summary
- Develop a career working with children and young people from 0-19.
- Select modules that reflect your specific interests and career aims.
- Complete placements each year – and even a placement year.
- Learn from experts in social work, healthcare, teaching, playwork, psychology and research with children and young people.
This course introduces you to contemporary research in childhood and youth, including diverse experiences in educational, community and family contexts. You’ll prepare for highly skilled careers – such as teaching and mentoring, working with children with special educational needs and alternative provision, playwork and play therapy, pastoral support and children’s social care and social work.
Student View
Watch student Rhiannon Goodeve talk about what it’s like to study on this course.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
The teaching on this course emphasises experiential learning and real-life problem solving – helping you to make the links between academic study and future employment. Key areas include children and young people's mental and physical health and wellbeing, the experience of difference, safeguarding and protection, development and education, children’s rights, relationships with peers and community participation.
You learn through
- self-managed learning tasks
- group learning tasks
- lectures and mini lectures within seminars
- seminars
- peer-group discussion
- mini projects and independent research
- workshops
- placement tasks and reflections using e-portfolios
- peer feedback and evaluation of individual and joint tasks
- work placements and work-based learning
The course reflects the most current developments in research and practice with children and young people – embedding these into taught modules and work-based learning. You’ll focus on promoting positive mental health in children, trauma-informed approaches to working with children, the benefits of outdoor play, and children’s participation and online safety in digital worlds.
Course leaders and tutors

Ester Ehiyazaryan-White
Senior Lecturer in Childhood StudiesStaff profile for Ester Ehiyazaryan-White Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies
Applied learning
Work placements
You’ll complete work placements to explore the different career paths you might like to work in. They’re available in every year of the course – with the option to undertake a year in placement as well.
You’ll have opportunities to attend placements in a variety of settings, working with children across the 0-19 age range. You can gain experience in schools, special schools, children and young people’s charities, youthwork, alternative educational provision settings, health settings and forest schools.
Future careers
There’s the potential for a broad range of employment opportunities – many of which will be easier to access due to the course’s focus on 0-19 years. (Some of these opportunities will require additional training and qualification.)
This course prepares you for a career in
- education
- teaching
- social work
- working with children, young people and families
- youth work
- health
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- primary schools
- special schools
- forest schools
- education mental health practice
- school pastoral care management
- social work
- colleges and universities
- local councils
- community sports centres
- hospitals
- community centres
- community organisations
- third sector organisations
- children's charities
- nurseries and pre-schools*
All students gaining an honours degree are guaranteed an interview for a Hallam PGCE course – subject to terms and conditions. You’d need GCSE grade C or Grade 4 in English Language and mathematics and science, or equivalent, and usually a 2.2 degree or above. You’d also need to successfully complete the Professional Skills Tests in numeracy and literacy – as designated by the Department for Education.
* Are you aiming to work in nurseries and pre-schools? If so – after completing the Childhood Studies degree – you’ll also need to successfully complete the one-year fully-funded PGCE with Early Years Teacher Status, which qualifies you to work as an early years practitioner.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
All students
80 UCAS points, including 48 points from two A levels or equivalent, or an alternative qualification such as an Access course.
If English is not your first language you need an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, with a minimum score of 6.0 in writing, and a minimum of 5.5 in all other skills.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page. You can also watch a video guide on how to apply.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Child Focussed Curriculum | Credits: 20 |
Module: Child Public Health | Credits: 20 |
Module: Early Experiences And The Developing Brain | Credits: 20 |
Module: Researching Childhood | Credits: 20 |
Module: The Story Of Childhood And Adolescence | Credits: 20 |
Module: The Value Of Play | Credits: 20 |
Year 2
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Children And Young People's Development | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Developing Your Personal And Professional Identity | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Safeguarding And Promoting Wellbeing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Undertaking Research | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Childhood And Loss | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Children And Young People With Medical Needs | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Exploring Second Language Learning | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Forest Schools | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Foundation Studies In Tesol | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: School And The Curriculum | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Working With Emotional Intelligence | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Working With Multi-Lingual Children | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Young Children’S Mental Health | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Practical |
Year 3
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Digital Childhoods | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Improving Children And Young Peoples Health | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Research Project | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Rights, Participation And Social Justice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Autism: Challenging Ideas Of Challenging Behaviour | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Tesol Classroom Teaching And Reflection | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Therapeutic Approaches With Children And Young People | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Understanding Children Who Are Looked After | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2022/23 is £14,415 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Childhood studies courses (PDF, 735.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.