Childhood and Youth Studies and Welsh

Childhood and youth studies investigates the lives and experiences of children and young people from a range of disciplinary perspectives, drawing on psychology, sociology, education, and policy to develop a rounded understanding of how young people grow, learn, and navigate the social worlds around them. Welsh, as the language of Wales and a living component of the country's cultural identity, brings a distinctive local and linguistic dimension to professional work with children and families in Welsh-speaking communities.

At Bangor University this three-year, full-time programme connects these two fields in a context that is particularly well suited to their combination. Bangor is a Welsh-medium university town, and the Welsh-medium and bilingual education sectors in Wales are growing, creating real professional demand for graduates who understand childhood and youth development and who can work in Welsh. You will study theories of child and youth development, social policy affecting young people, safeguarding, and the research approaches used to investigate children's lives, alongside Welsh language development at a level appropriate to your starting point.

A sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities are all built into the programme, giving you professional experience in relevant settings and an international dimension to your formation.

Graduates are well placed for careers working with children and young people in education, youth work, social care, family support services, community development, and the third sector. In Wales specifically, the ability to work in Welsh is a significant professional asset, particularly in the education and social services sectors where the Welsh Government has committed to expanding Welsh-medium provision. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in education, social work, youth work, or child psychology.

The degree also provides a foundation for professional training in teaching, social work, or early years leadership, with the Welsh language component adding value in those career pathways that serve Welsh-speaking communities.