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An image to illustrate the MA in Childhood and Youth
Explore childhood and youth through an interdisciplinary approach that blends theory, policy and practice. Designed for graduates and professionals considering the field, this postgraduate degree enhances understanding and develops practice using global case studies that link theory to practical applications. You'll explore diverse contexts of young lives, policy changes and critical reflective practice, and the dissertation module includes a small-scale inquiry or an extended literature review and research proposal. While this degree doesn’t provide professional recognition, graduates with backgrounds in Childhood and Youth Studies, Early Years, Education Studies, Social Work or Health and Social Care will find it particularly relevant.
Please note this qualification does not provide professional recognition, and additional study could be required to meet specific professional requirements.
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits. You’ll study three 60-credit modules in the order shown below.

ModulesCreditsNext start
You'll study the following:
Children and young people's worlds (E808)
Discover the evolving field of Childhood and Youth Studies, exploring children’s rights, inequality, mental health, and digital lives in a global context.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Frameworks for critical practice with children and young people (E809)
Advance in childhood and youth work with this masters module, exploring reflective practice, policy, and professional identity across diverse sectors.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Masters multidisciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822)
Complete your masters with a dissertation tailored to your qualification, offering hands-on research or a literature-based proposal in education, childhood or youth studies.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Subject to regulations, if you've passed the module EE806, you may count this instead of E808.

By studying this MA in Childhood and Youth, you’ll:
You’ll be supported by expert tutors, high-quality materials and flexible online study resources.
You’ll be awarded a Master of Arts in Childhood and Youth upon successful completion. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MA (CY) (Open) after your name.
Your masters degree may be awarded with a distinction or a merit. The qualification regulations explain the criteria you’ll need to meet to earn one of these classifications.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.
You’ll study the MA in Childhood and Youth part-time, completing 60 credits a year over three years. Typically, this translates to 13–19 study hours each week.

The recommended hours include time to work through that week’s online study planner, complete recommended reading, and attend tutorials.

You must complete the MA in Childhood and Youth within seven years.
At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.
As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.
Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:
Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.
Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.
For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.
See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.
Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:
Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.
To study for this masters degree, you must hold a bachelors degree from a UK university or other recognised degree-awarding body, or a qualification at an equivalent level. Your degree can be in any subject, although childhood and youth studies, sociology, health and social care, anthropology, psychology or education are particularly relevant.
The multidisciplinary dissertation module, Masters multidisciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822), gives you a choice of research approach, as with other research-based modules in the qualification. You can either carry out a small-scale investigation or complete an extended literature review with a research proposal.
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.
Study order
Before starting the second module of this qualification, Frameworks for critical practice with children and young people (E809), you must have:
Before starting the final dissertation module, Masters multidisciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822), you must:
For the final module, E822, please note that Enhanced DBS clearance (or the equivalent in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) is a UK legal requirement for working with children. Securing this clearance is the responsibility of you and your employer, not The Open University. If you are unsure about your eligibility or need further information, you should contact the relevant national agency in the country where you intend to undertake your work with children.
If you are not sure whether your qualifications and experience are suitable, please contact us for advice.
If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.
You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.
For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
You’ll pay for your qualification one module at a time, rather than the full cost upfront. The fee for each module is listed in its description.

£8,850*
Your module materials, tuition, assessment and exams are all included in our module fees.
There are some additional costs that aren’t included.
Further information is available in the module descriptions.
*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
Learn more about postgraduate loans and our other funding options below.
Repay in monthly instalments while you study.
Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.
More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.
We’ll show you how you can pay by bank transfer or combine payment methods.
You may be eligible for:
This MA course will be attractive to professionals working with children and young people who are graduates and seeking to advance academically and professionally, as well as those with a related degree but not currently working with children and young people who are looking to move into the profession, and people considering moving between professions within the sector. It should also be of interest to individuals in managerial or supervisory roles, senior members of the workforce, and those seeking to advance into senior or managerial positions.
The content of the qualification will be particularly relevant to graduates working with children or young people, for example, in early years provision or with a background in childhood and youth studies; youth work; youth justice; sociology; health and social care; social work; nursing; anthropology; psychology; education and the voluntary sector, including charities and NGOs. It will be of particular interest to those who have completed the BA (Hons) in Childhood and Youth Studies, BA (Hons) Early Years or Early Childhood, BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary) or the BA (Hons) in Health and Social Care.
However, this qualification does not provide professional recognition. You should ensure you check the entry requirements for specific professional areas before you register, as additional study may be required to meet those requirements.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice, including: online forums, a website, interview simulation and vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.
Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.
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