Children, Youth and International Development MA

Overview

Working with and for young people in the Global South offers an exciting career full of challenges and rewards. Our Children, Youth and International Development MA is a varied course with a global perspective which will help equip you for roles in international development organisations, government ministries and global agencies.

You will acquire a breadth of knowledge that will enable you to critically evaluate research, policy and practice in the area of children, youth and development. You will also discover the differing disciplinary perspectives on childhood and youth by studying modules from related disciplines.

As you journey through the course, you also will acquire the skills necessary to design and undertake your own research.

Opt for the 'Applied Learning' module and you will have the opportunity of a short placement (one or two days a week for ten weeks) with an organisation that works in the field of children, youth and international development.

Examples of the ‘Applied Learning’ placements previously undertaken include:

Action Aid – on a campaign targeting exploitation in the garment industry
Anti-Slavery International – on a project to eradicate caste-based bonded labour
Basti RAM – planned lessons for a Global Citizenship project
BookAid International – helped build up an evidence base for Book Aid’s international programmes
Commonwealth Secretariat – on the CS’s Youth Programme in Uganda
International Refugee Trust – development of the online classroom about refugees
National Deaf Children's Society – developed international exchanges for deaf young people
Oxfam – mobilised UK school children to get involved in Oxfam campaigns
Project Hope – several placements including designing a survey on youth experiences, and developing leaflets to help South African adults to identify signs of childhood mental illness
The Mouth That Roars – helped children in London and Saudi Arabia to create videos through which they communicated their everyday lives to each other

Additionally, an exchange agreement exists between the Brunel MA and the MPhil in Childhood Studies at the Norwegian Centre for Child Research (NOSEB) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim.

The agreement allows two students from the MA to spend their second term (January to May) at the Trondheim centre.

A 30 month part-time option of the course is also available. If you wish to be considered for the part-time 30 month version, please make your application for the 24 month part-time route and then contact the Admissions team to request the change to the 30 month duration.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

Course content

You will study three core modules relating to children, youth and international development, including the rights and participation of young people, and how to conduct research with children and youth.

Later in the course, optional modules offer the opportunity to specialise in a chosen field or undertake a placement

Through the placement module you have the opportunity to conduct a sustained project with an external organisation which often provides ideas and knowledge towards your dissertation project.

Optional modules are indicative and available subject to numbers.

Year 1

Compulsory

Critical Perspectives on International Development
Gain a theoretical and historical overview of the changing relationship between anthropology and international development as you learn to understand the multiple ways in which anthropological research can enhance our understanding of contemporary policies and practices in international development.
Dissertation
In this key module you will carry out a major research project on a subject of your choice within children, youth and international development using the application of appropriate research methods.
Researching Children, Childhood and Youth
In this module you will develop a critical appreciation of the methodological approaches and research methods used in the study of children, childhood and youth, including considerations for cross-cultural research. Topics include designing research, fieldwork, ethical issues, data collection and analysis, and the writing of research findings.
Understanding Childhood and Youth
This module will introduce you to the study of childhood and youth as they are constructed and practiced in different social, cultural and economic settings. The first section focuses on children, looking first at how ideas of childhood are constructed by adults, the second section is devoted to young people.

Optional

Cross-Cultural perspectives on Education and Learning
Gain an appreciation of the key issues in the anthropology of education and learning and an understanding, ethnographically, of how culture shapes and informs the educational and learning process an and in turn impacts social and cultural practices.
War and Humanitarian Assistance
In this subject you will analyse the social and economic consequences of contemporary warfare and the rebuilding war-torn societies from an anthropological perspective and by doing so, understand the different ways anthropological research can enhance the understanding of contemporary warfare.
Applied Learning for Children, Youth and International Development
Examine the relevance and responsibility of your academic studies in children, youth and international development to community, voluntary action as you consider how you might utilise your subject knowledge and transferrable skills when you graduate.

This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel

Careers and your future

Students from the programme have progressed to a variety of careers in different types of organisations, primarily in international development NGOs such as AbleChildAfrica, ADRA, and Anti-Slavery International, Save the Children and in government ministries and agencies like the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the British Council and the Commonwealth.

UK entry requirements

A UK 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in Social Science, Education Studies, Childohhod Studies, Youth Work, International Relations, Development Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Law, Geography, Anthropology, Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Social Work, Nursing or Business Studies..

Other disciplines and qualifications with relevant experience in international development work or work with children or young people will be considered on an individual basis and an interview may be required.

EU and International entry requirements

Select your country

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all)

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Fees and funding

2025/26 entry

UK

£12,125 full-time

£6,060 part-time

International

£22,320 full-time

£11,160 part-time

N.B. UK and EU applicants: the 30 month part-time course will not be eligible for a Postgraduate Loan. If you wish to be considered for the part-time 30 month version, please make your application for the 24 month part-time route and then contact the Admissions team to request the change to the 30 month duration.

More information on any additional course-related costs.

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.

See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Scholarships and bursaries

Teaching and learning

How the course will be delivered

You'll be taught by world leading experts in your field of study, and have the opportunity to interact with fellow students at London’s leading campus University.

Your programme will consist of various learning and studying activities, including lectures, seminars and discussions. On each taught module, students will have in person lectures, seminars or workshops for two-to-three hours per week on average during the teaching terms. There will also be supervision sessions for the dissertation, as well as regular opportunities to seek guidance during module lecturers’ feedback and consultation hours. Additionally, students can seek support in individual meetings with their personal tutors, both on campus and online. There will also be regular cohort meetings and student society events, at both programme and departmental levels. Field trips and excursions to support students’ learning will be organised throughout the year.

All lectures, seminars, cohort meetings and other social activities will occur in person on the Brunel campus. Students are expected to regularly attend these events, as sustained engagement with a learning community is a central dimension of the Brunel experience. Online provision of some activities will be made available when it is appropriate to the learning outcomes of your programme.

Required equipment

Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.

We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.

How you'll learn on your course

A range of teaching and learning techniques are employed on the course including lectures, seminars and workshops, most of which will encourage your active involvement in discussion and debate.

Staff also place a strong emphasis on tutorials, typically in groups, where you'll focus on developing your study skills (critical reading and writing), careers support, and assignment preparation.

In addition, one-to-one tutorials are available for more personal course support such as exam feedback, developing research proposals and dissertation supervision.

Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.

Assessment and feedback

A variety of forms of assessment are employed on the course which are intended to be formative as well as summative. These include essays, reports, student-led seminars, research proposals and presentations.

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.