Skip to main content

BA in Community Youth Work

Course Points
240 Points
Course Duration
3 Years
Course Level
Level 7
Course Places
40 Places
Course Start Date
September 2023

Four great reasons to consider this course

  • The programme is specific to working with young people aged from 10-25 years in youth work settings.
  • 85% of Community Youth Work graduates are in employment after 6 months of graduating, all employed in childcare and youth services roles (DkIT/HEA Graduate Survey)
  • If you have a strong interest in the rights of young people and in particular, those who may live in marginalised communities and or vulnerable circumstances.
  • Youth Work has at its core a strong 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.

Course Summary

This 3-year level 7 degree course aims to develop community youth work leaders who have a high level of knowledge, skills, competence and confidence in a range of activities to enable you to work in a community youth work setting.

The main aim of this course is to develop community youth work leaders who have a high level of knowledge, skills, competence and confidence in a range of activities to enable you to work in a community youth work setting. Furthermore it aims to develop skills that enables graduates' work with young people to be rights based. To develop skills, enable the work with young people to be rights based.   

Year 1

Semester 1

  • History and Development of Youth Work
  • Youth Work as a Professional Discipline
  • Community Development 1
  • Sociology 1
  • Research and Communication Skills

Semester 2

  • Working with Young People
  • Youth Work Practice 1
  • Workplace Communication Skills
  • Essential Office Applications for Youth Work
  • Community Development 2 

Year 2

Semester 1

  • Youth Work Placement 1

Semester 2

  • Community Project Management
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Youth Work Relationships
  • Development Studies 1
  • Sociology 2

Year 3

Semester 1

  • Youth Work Practice 2
  • Diversity, Equality and Social Justice
  • Social Entrepreneurship
  • Research and Communication Skills in Youth Work
  • Youth Justice

Semester 2

  • Youth Work Placement 2

 

* All module titles are subject to change and are for indicative purposes only.  

During this programme, course content will be delivered via:

  • Lectures  
  • Tutorials 
  • Group Work 
  • Online learning 
  • Field Trips 
  • Guest Speakers 
  • Issue based workshops 

Graduates of this course have a wide variety of career options available to them, including 

  • Youth Worker 
  • Garda Youth Diversion Project Worker 
  • Programme Co-Ordinator 
  • Outreach Worker 
  • Youth Advocacy 
  • School Completion Project Worker 

Graduates of this course who have achieved a G.P.A. of 50% or above can progress on to the Level 8 BA (Hons) in Youth Work Add-On course.

This course is endorsed by the North South Education and Training Standards Committee for Youth Work (NSETS). NSETS is responsible for the professional endorsement of youth work courses on the island of Ireland.

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

Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements:

Six Grades at O6 or H7 in Leaving Certificate

→ INCLUDING At least one H5 Grade, OR Minimum Points Score of 200
→ AND Mathematics Grade F2, O6 or H7
→ AND English Grade O6 or H7 OR Irish Grade O6 or H7
→ Candidates must also pass an interview


Non-Standard Applicants:

The Institute will also consider non-standard applications from mature students or other qualifications. Mature students are those who will be 23 years of age, or over, on January 1 of the year of application. All candidates will be asked to submit a Personal Statement and may be called for Interview.


Northern Ireland/UK Entry Requirements:

Applicants must meet the matriculation requirement of 5 different subjects which must include:

→ Mathematics at GCSE (Grade A* - C or better)
→ English (or Irish) at GCSE (Grade A* - C or better)
→ One subject at:

    • 'A Level’ (Grade A* - E or better)
    • OR Applied A-Level (Grade A* - E)
    • OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
    • OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).

→ The remaining subjects must be different from those listed above and may be drawn from recognised subjects at:

    • GCSE (Grade A* - C)
    • AND/OR 'AS Level’ (Grades A - E)
    • AND/OR ‘A-level’ (Grades A* - E)
    • AND/OR Applied ‘A-level’ (Grade A* - E)
    • AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
    • AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).

→ Candidates must also pass an interview


Additional Requirements

Because of the nature of the placements on this course, applicants will be required to successfully pass Police/Garda vetting for all jurisdictions where the applicant was/is a resident.

Placement in this programme takes places during:

  • Year 2, Semester 1 
  • Year 3, Semester 2 

Students who wish to work in a caring profession with young people and in particular, those who may live in marginalised communities and or vulnerable circumstances.

Breda Prunty (Programme Director)
Email: breda.prunty@dkit.ie

Course ID DK767
CAO Round 1 Entry Points (2022) 240 Points
Course Type Undergraduate
Study Mode Full-Time
Level 7
Duration 3 Years
Starting Date September 2023
School School of Business & Humanities
Department Humanities
Awarding Body Dundalk Institute of Technology
Delivery Method On Campus

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:

CAO Code: DK767
Apply on CAO

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.

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.

Closing Date: 6th June
Apply Now

Disclaimer: All module titles are subject to change and for indicative purposes only. All courses are delivered subject to demand and timetables are subject to change. Elective Module options will only run subject to student numbers. The relevant Department will determine the viability of each elective module option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose that option. Students will be offered alternative elective modules on their programme should their preferred elective option not be proceeding. Award Options for Common Entry Programmes: The relevant Department will determine the viability of each award option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose either option. If the numbers for one of the Award options exceed available places, students for this option will be selected based on Academic Merit (highest grades).