Child and Youth Studies

Child and youth studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the lives, experiences, rights and development of children and young people from infancy through early adulthood. Drawing on sociology, psychology, education, social policy and law, it investigates how childhood and youth are constructed across different societies and historical periods, and what this means for how we understand and work with young people. At the University of the Highlands and Islands, this four-year full-time programme engages with these questions in a way that reflects the institution's flexible and accessible approach, making it available to students who study most days of the week in the standard full-time mode.

You will study child and adolescent development, family structure and diversity, the sociology of childhood, youth culture and identity, safeguarding, education policy, mental health in young people and the legal frameworks that protect children's rights. The programme develops both analytical skills for understanding the evidence base on children's lives and the reflective professional competencies needed for effective work with children, young people and their families. A typical entry tariff of around 152 points is expected, and the four-year structure provides depth and the ability to engage with a wide range of topics within the field.

Graduates pursue careers in social work, early years and education, youth work, family support, children's services, policy and advocacy, research and the voluntary sector. The degree provides a foundation for postgraduate training in social work, educational psychology, counselling or public health, all of which require further qualifications for full professional practice. The sustained importance of children's services in both the statutory and voluntary sectors means that graduates with this background are consistently in demand across a wide range of professional settings.