Skip navigation Skip to main navigation for this site Skip to navigation for this section

  • Children, Youth and International Development (MSc)
  • 2013/2014 entry
  • Contact us
  • Assessment

    • Most assessment is by coursework, including critical annotated bibliographies and essays.

  • Attendance
      • One–two evenings a week part-time; two–three evenings a week full-time (autumn and spring terms).
      • Three–four additional evenings a term for workshops, lectures from visiting speakers and tutorials.
      • October–June.
  • Duration
      • Two years part-time or one year full-time.
  • Entry requirements
      • Good degree (2:1 or above) in social sciences or humanities.
      • Previous experience or study of international development issues and/or childhood studies may be an advantage.
      • Two references: preferably both academic references, but employer references may be considered.
      • Proof of English language ability (equivalent to 7.0 IELTS), if English is not your first language.
      • Please note that this programme can become oversubscribed, so meeting the entry requirements will not guarantee applicants a place.

      Find out about our international entry requirements

  • Fees and funding
    • Fees (2013/14)
      • Part-time (home/EU students): £3975 pa
      • Part-time (overseas students): £7225 pa
  • Location
      • Central London.
  • Teaching

    • Lectures, seminars, presentations and tutorials.

Children, Youth and International Development (MSc) - 2013/2014 entry


  • Overview

    • Childhood studies is an interdisciplinary area of study that puts children and childhood at the centre of its enquiry. It asks questions like 'What is a child?', 'How is childhood changed by wider changes in society?' and 'How do class, gender and "race" shape children's lives?'. International childhood studies puts these questions into a global context, to ask how global forces such as war, economy and international development are reshaping childhood.

      This programme was formerly known as the MSc International Childhood Studies.

  • Why study this course at Birkbeck?
      • Of interest to anyone working, or intending to work, with children in service provision, social policy or international development, particularly in culturally diverse settings, or anyone who has an interest in cultures of childhood.
      • Develop the skills needed to produce high-quality independent research.
      • Taught by experts in childhood studies: the programme director is the author of Childhood in a Global Perspective (Polity, 2009) and many other publications on global childhoods.
      • One of only two childhood studies Master's degrees in the UK with an international focus.
  • Course structure

    • The programme is made up of three core modules, an option module and a dissertation. Part-time students take their option module and the core research module in Year 2.

      The three core modules are:

      Option modules can be taken in international development studies, law and youth studies. Relevant option modules may also be taken from those offered within the School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy, with the agreement of the programme director.

      Dissertation research in a relevant field is agreed with the programme director.

      Classes in Research Methods for Dissertation are taught with students from the MSc Development Studies, which gives you the opportunity for academic exchange with students working in the development sector.

  • Study resources
  • Further study opportunities
  • Careers information

    • Graduates go on to careers in education, social policy settings and international development.

  • Apply now