Who is this course for?  

The MA/PDip in Child, Youth and Community is designed for professionals already working in and/or for those who have a strong interest to work in the child, youth and community sector. It is suitable for recent graduates and mature students who wish to acquire a specialised Level 9 qualification, which will add value to their existing qualifications by deepening their knowledge of the sector and providing them with skill sets high in demand.  

The MA is designed to accommodate the needs of professionals by offering a flexible and blended approach to learning. Students can avail of a one year full-time or a two-year part-time MA or one year full-time Postgraduate Diploma. Delivered mid-week, each 12-week teaching semester comprises five weeks of on campus teaching across the semester. In the intervening seven weeks students can join the classroom remotely.  

What will I study?  

You will study a wide range of modules to prepare you for a career or enhance your existing career in the child, youth, community, voluntary or public sector. The modules you will study are designed to:  

• Build students’ knowledge and practical skills in programme planning and evaluation;
• Support students to critically explore new lines of research and prepare them to use research evidence to inform policy and practice;
• Develop students’ capacity to design and deliver human rights based and culturally sensitive programmes and policies;
• Enable students to develop their capacity as leaders in this field;
• Enhance students’ skills in communication and innovative thinking;
• Provide students with professional experience and networking opportunities. 

MA Students are required to complete 90 credits (ECTs) worth of modules - 70 ECTs will be taught core and optional modules. A further 20 ECTs will be awarded for the successful completion of an independent research project (dissertation). This can take the form of a research paper, a community-based research project or a conference presentation. 

Postgraduate Diploma Students are required to complete 60 credits (ECTs) worth of modules, combining core and option modules. Postgraduate Diploma students do not undertake an independent research project.   

Curriculum Information

• Real-World Engagement: The course has strong connections with national and international youth work and community development organisations, whose staff provide guest lectures, training and placement opportunities for students. 
• Research-Led Teaching: The course is based in the UNESCO affiliated Child and Family Research Centre within the Institute of Lifecourse and Society. Teaching is informed the Centre’s dynamic research programme focused on ‘what works’ in the real world of policy and practice when working with and for children, youth and their communities.
• Collaborative Community: The course offers the opportunity to be part of a thriving and supportive post-graduate community within the wider School of Political Science and Sociology.
• Flexible Approach to Learning: The Programme provides a flexible study route with full-time and part-time options, a Postgraduate Diploma exit award and blended learning opportunities, designed to support students to balance their studies with work and personal commitments. 

Typically graduates will seek employment in areas such as youth work, community development, child welfare, national or international public policy and administration, advocacy, research and evaluation. 

The MA is designed to respond to the needs of a funding dependent sector and meet the growing national and international donor requirement, to comply with rights-based approaches and provide scientific, robust evidence to measure the impact of social interventions.  

For those interested in a PhD or a career in academia, progression opportunities are available through the University of Galway Structured PhD in Child and Youth Research. 

International Field Trip 

For students with an interest in public policy, the course offers the opportunity for experiential learning through an international fieldtrip to Brussels. 

The European Union is today by far the most advanced and integrated international organisation. Brussels is at the heart of EU public policy-making and is an important centre for lobbyists, civil society organisations and NGOs who care about having a voice in EU affairs. The semester two field-trip to Brussels aims to help students to understand the complexities of EU policy-making and to understand the real-world, day-to-day challenges and stakeholders involved. It typically includes a visit to the European Parliament or European Commission, a tour of the EU district focused on understanding lobbying and meetings with European child and youth focused organisations. 

The trip typically lasts two days and includes an additional cost to cover flights and accommodation, which is kept as affordable as possible. 

Students can elect to undertake a short-term work placement, which involves 6-8 weeks working with a partner organisation. The professional experience module aims to provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and to develop the practical skills needed to succeed in professional situations. Students will be partnered with a well-established youth work, community development or research organisation. Those who elect to take this module will be supported to identify and organise a relevant placement of interest. 

• Dr Danielle Kennan
• Dr Cormac Forkan 
• Professor John Canavan 
• Dr Brian McGrath
• Jaqueline Murphy 

There are no exams as part of this course. Students will be assessed on a continuous basis through a range of different types of assessment, including, interactive orals, group projects, discussion boards, presentations and more. Over the summer period students will complete their independent research projects on a topic of their choosing, submitting their final research paper (dissertation) at the end of August.

Course queries: 
E: danielle.kennan@universityofgalway.ie   
OR
E: cormac.forkan@universityofgalway.ie 

Programme Director(s):  

Dr Danielle Kennan 
Lecturer  
School of Political Science and Sociology  
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies 
E: danielle.kennan@universityofgalway.ie   

Dr Cormac Forkan  
Lecturer  
School of Political Science and Sociology  
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies 
E: Cormac.forkan@universityofgalway.ie

University of Galway recognises that knowledge and skills can be acquired from a range of learning experiences. This is in line with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) goals, which aim to recognise all learning achievements by supporting the development of alternative pathways to qualifications (or awards) and by facilitating the recognition of prior learning (RPL). 

Where applicants do not meet the formal academic requirements they can apply for entry through the University’s Recognition for Prior Learning Policy. 

On the successful completion of this programme students will have: 

1. Developed skills in programme planning, monitoring and evaluation;
2. Enhanced their skills in human rights-based approaches to programme planning;
3. Enhanced their intercultural competencies;
4. Developed their skills in research, communication and innovative thinking;
5. Engaged with current research evidence and developed the capacity to use research evidence in practice;
6. Enhanced their networking skills;
7. Developed their capacity as leaders in this field [leadership skills]. 

Minimum Entry Requirement

Applicants will require a NQAI Level 8 degree, Second Class Honours (2:1) or equivalent, in child, youth and family studies, sociology, psychology or a cognate discipline.  

Academic entry requirements standardised per country are available here.  

English Language Entry Requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language proficiency of IELTS score of 6.5 is required (with no less than 6.0 in any other band) or equivalent.  

More information on English language test equivalency are available here.  

Supporting Document

You will be required to provide supporting documentation as part of your application. You can check here what supporting documents are required for this course.   

You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here.  

Please review the entry requirements set out in the section above.  

You will be required to upload supporting documentation to your application electronically. See the section above on entry requirements for further information on the supporting documentation required for this course.  

Closing Dates 

For this programme, there is no specific closing date for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotes will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle.  

Notes 

• You will need an active email account to use the website and you'll be guided through the system, step by step, until you complete the online form.
• Browse the FAQ's section for further guidance.

Fees for Academic Year 2026/27

For 26/27 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 1.8% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,500 towards your tuition (2026/27).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here. 

Fieldtrips 

Students who elect the optional field-based learning module, will incur some travel costs to Brussels. The School endeavours to cover some costs and keep the contributions from students as low as possible.  

Postgraduate Excellence Scholarships 

This scholarship is valued at €1,500 for EU students applying for full-time taught master's postgraduate courses. You will be eligible if: 

• You have been accepted to a full-time taught master's course at University of Galway,
• You have attained a first class honours (or equivalent) in a Level 8 primary degree.  

An application for the scholarship scheme is required (separate to the application for a place on the programme). The application portal for 2025 is now open and available here. Applications will close on the 30th September 2025. Full details available here.  

Global Scholarships

University of Galway offers a range of merit-based scholarships to students from a number of countries outside of the EU. Visit here for schemes currently available.  

Application Process

Students applying for full time postgraduate programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here.  

Our application portal opens on the 1st October each year for entry the following September.   

Further Information 

Please visit the postgraduate admissions webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.  

UNESCO Child and Family Research  
https://www.universityofgalway.ie/cfrc/ 

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School of Political Science and Sociology  
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UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/unesco-child-and-family-research-centre-university-of-galway-19294022b/ 

Alumni of PGDip/ MA Child Youth and Community, University of Galway 
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13100101/