School of Business and Humanities Undergraduate

BA in Community Youth Work

The fundamentals towards a rewarding career transforming young lives.
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Course Overview

This course supports the development of youth work practitioners as professionals, with an enhanced understanding of societal impacts on young people. Emphasis on human rights, social justice, and equality are central themes within the modules. Combined with developing desired skill sets such as IT, programme development, and understanding sociology, psychology, and relationships, this course aims to educate youth workers with critical, essential skills for the youth work setting.

Youth Work has a keen sense of working with young people on their developmental, recreational, social, and educational attainment in a non-formal setting complementary to other educational and training programmes. Students develop empathetic skills in sociology, psychology and community development whilst experiencing two different forms of work placement in community settings.

What makes this course different

Understanding the Industry

Youth Work is a rewarding profession, where practitioners work closely with young people between 10 – 25 years, in youth work settings. Youth workers enhance the personal and social development of young people and work with young people across a range of spaces where the relationship is critical and central to the work. Youth Work allows work to happen with young people in an informal setting that complements their formal education and should assist a young person to navigate their way in the world and allow for supports in the ‘growing up’ stages.

Career Opportunities

Future Careers:
  • Youth Worker
  • Garda Youth Diversion Project Worker
  • Programme Co-Ordinator
  • Outreach Worker
  • Youth Advocacy
  • School Completion Project Worker
In these areas:
  • Youth Work
  • Education
  • Health
  • Community
  • Government

Graduates work at

Work placement

Students undertake 2 supervised practice placements; one in Year 2 and one in Year 3.

Education Progression

On completion of this course, students will be eligible to progress onto the Level 8 Add-On course: BA (Hons) in Youth Work Add-On. (This will be subject to student numbers. Where places are limited, offers will be linked to the final GPA achieved.) The Level 8 BA (Hons) in Youth Work Add-On is endorsed by NSETS.

Fees and Funding

Please find information on fees and funding here: www.dkit.ie/fees 

Entry requirements

In addition to the standard entry requirements below, candidates must attend an interview. 

Please note there is no Maths entry requirement for this course. 

Recent CAO points

CAO points 2024 240
CAO points 2023 240

Student Stories

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How to apply

Apply on CAO

All standard entry first-year applicants must apply for entry through the CAO. See Important application dates for CAO and information for specific applicant types below:

Apply on CAO
CAO code: DK767

Advanced Entry & Transfer Applications

Advanced Entry is for applicants who have previous educational achievements and/or work experience and want to be considered for direct entry into year  2, 3, or 4 of a course. This includes students looking to transfer to DkIT from another Higher Education provider.

International Application (non-EU)

International Applicants (not from or living in the EU) can apply through an agent or directly to DkIT to study this course.

Ask us a Question

If you have a question about the BA in Community Youth Work please ask it below and we will get back to you.

Breda Prunty

Programme Director
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