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Children and young people's worlds

Childhood and youth studies is one of the fastest growing disciplines in the UK; it’s studied by people who work with, or who are interested in the lives of, children and young people, both nationally and internationally. You don’t have to work with children or young people to study this module, but you should be curious about their experiences – including those of migration, disability, inequality and sexuality – as well as in their digital and spiritual lives. Based on cutting-edge research, this module explores many different contexts of children’s and young people’s lives in a challenging and rewarding way.

Vocational relevance

The theoretical emphasis of this module makes it suitable for both those working with children currently and those who wish to do so in the future; and for those who are interested in understanding children’s and young people’s role in the contemporary world. Its emphasis on study skills and the support it provides make it an ideal first module in a masters programme.

Qualifications

E808 is a compulsory module in our:

E808 is an optional module in our:

Module

Module code
E808
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

This module will introduce you to some of the central theoretical debates in childhood and youth studies, as well as discussing emerging ideas about disability, social capital, spirituality, mental health and the role of psychology. Framed by understandings of children’s rights, the study weeks tackle issues of cultural relativism, inequality and children and young people’s role in the consumer world. A variety of authors wrote the study weeks, and they show the vibrancy of the debates within childhood and youth studies and the contemporary nature of the research. Structured study skills activities throughout support your study at postgraduate level.

Module topics include:

  • Children, young people and: disability; race; sexuality; gender identity; politics; forms of violence; their cultural worlds
  • Children and: food; their families
  • Children's: mental health and illness; rights and cultural relativism; spirituality; voice, participation and agency
  • Reconciling childhood studies and child psychology
  • Inequalities and the social and cultural capital of childhood
  • Transnational childhoods
  • Digital childhoods

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You’ll have a named tutor who will support your studies and mark and comment on your assignment work; you can also seek academic advice and guidance from them. Your tutor will offer support through email, telephone and online forum discussions. Additionally, there will be online tutorials. We’ll advertise tutorials before the module starts; E808 tutors will take them, but depending on the tutorial, not necessarily your own named tutor. We recommend you book online to attend these tutorials.

It's not compulsory for you to interact or collaborate with others in your tutor group. We do encourage a sharing of ideas and experiences with your peers through asynchronous forums as this is an important way in which you can broaden your knowledge and understanding of children, young people and education across different contexts. However, alternative ways of working can be facilitated.

Assessment

You can find the assessment details for this module in the facts box.

Course work includes

3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment

Future availability

Children and young people’s worlds (E808) starts once a year – in October.

This page describes the module that will start in October 2025.

We expect it to start for the last time in October 2026.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Entry requirements

You must have the minimum of a:

  • bachelors degree (in any subject) from a UK university, or
  • professional qualification equivalent to a UK bachelors degree, or
  • qualification from a university outside the UK and equivalent to a UK bachelors degree.

If you’ve any doubt about the suitability of the module, talk to an adviser.

Outside the UK

Synchronous tutorials and communications could be difficult to deliver to students outside the UK due to time differences. If you can’t attend the synchronous tutorials or make synchronous communications, you’ll have to use asynchronous alternative methods, such as watching recorded tutorials and emailing questions.

Preparatory work

The module website will open to registered students two weeks before the module starts. You might find it helpful to explore the guidance ‘supporting your study’ that includes activities designed to develop familiarity and confidence with some of the tools you’ll encounter in the module’s online environment. We also suggest you look at the page on postgraduate study skills.

Our badged open course, Succeeding in postgraduate study, will introduce you to the nature of masters-level study. It offers essential preparation for pursuing your learning at this level – and is free.

Register

Start End Fee Register
04 Oct 2025 Jun 2026 Not yet available

Registration closes 18/09/25 (places subject to availability)

Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2026.

Future availability

Children and young people’s worlds (E808) starts once a year – in October.

This page describes the module that will start in October 2025.

We expect it to start for the last time in October 2026.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What's included

  • Access to the module study materials via the module website
  • One printed reader, Children and Young People’s Worlds, edited by Heather Montgomery and Martin Robb.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components might not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader.

If you have a learning difficulty or disability that could impact on studying online please do speak with us and your tutor so that where possible reasonable adjustments can be made to facilitate your participation.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.

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