Designed for those who want to advance their understanding of youth issues, youth offending and social and criminal justice responses to young people, this postgraduate diploma focuses on developing critical analytical skills and enhancing the ability to assess policy and practice against international standards and benchmarks.
Targeted at practitioners, policy-makers and those interested in further academic study, it provides the opportunity to apply academic knowledge and critical analytical skills to practice and enhance understanding of young people's lives, the criminal justice system and the discourse of children's rights.
Given increased policy attention in the area of youth justice and strategies impacting on children and young people more generally, the programme reflects the concern to understand the needs and rights of children and young people and ground responses in evidence, best practice and international standards.
Closing date for applications: Thursday 31st July 2025 at 4pm. Late applications may be accepted.
Criminology at Queen’s is internationally recognised for its research contributions and teaching excellence.
Youth Justice & Children's Rights highlights
Industry Links
We have extensive links with local and international NGOs and can provide some opportunities for students to undertake relevant research. This may be of particular interest if you want to gain experience in the children’s sector, perhaps to secure a job or to change position.
Career Development
The programme is designed to enhance students' knowledge and understanding of young people’s lives so they can apply this in careers working with or on behalf of young people, particularly those in conflict with the law.
Internationally Renowned Experts
Over 88% of research submitted by colleagues from Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology and Social Work to the Social Policy and Social Work Unit of Assessment was similarly judged to be World Leading or Internationally Excellent. An endorsement of the quality of our research and its impacts in areas such as the penal system, mental health and trauma; work once again achieved through work undertaken in partnership with the health, social care and criminal justice sectors.
Student Experience
The programme has been designed to encourage students to consider the interface between social justice, criminal justice and children’s rights. Students have the opportunity to apply academic knowledge and critical analytical skills to practice and enhance understanding of young people’s lives, the criminal justice system and the discourse of children’s rights.
Students on the Programme automatically become a member of the Centre for Children’s Rights through which students can connect with other students, academic staff and our many international visitors who come to speak on related issues.
Further Study Opportunities
Students who complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Youth Justice and Children’s Rights can choose to progress to a Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s in Youth Justice pathway.
This online PgCert programme draws on specialisms within the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work (in youth studies, criminology, children’s rights and research methods).
A fully online approach has been adopted which includes a mixture of live and pre-recorded lectures, online live tutorials, online discussion forums and guest speakers.
The Postgraduate Certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete 60 CATS points from the following taught modules:
Perspectives in Childhood and Youth (10 CATS)
This is an introductory module for students undertaking a postgraduate programme in the broad area of childhood and youth. It brings together students and academic staff from a range of areas to familiarise students with diverse disciplinary perspectives on children and young people.
Childhood and Youth Research in Practice (10 CATS)
This module brings together students and academic staff from a range of areas to explore issues relating research ethics and governance in the context of childhood and youth. It showcases research that use qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods an introduces students to a variety of projects that use child rights-based approaches to research.
Foundations in Children’s Rights (20 CATS)
The module will introduce students to International Children's Rights law, with a particular focus on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It will locate children’s rights within the broader framework of human rights law and introduce the core provisions of international children's rights, emphasising the research skills used to identify and understand major human rights treaties and secondary documentation. The module will also explore explain the fundamental principles of children's rights and their implementation and introduce theory and ongoing debates in the field, such as the limits of children's autonomy and the potential tensions between children’s rights and parents’ rights.
Youth Justice: Theory, Law and Practice (20 CATS)
The module covers key areas in youth justice including theories on causes of offending. The emergence of a separate response over time to young people who come into conflict with the law is critically explored. Current system and practice orientations such as prevention and early intervention are explored, as are interventions for young people who are processed through the youth justice system. Here students will learn about different philosophies, orientations and legal frameworks towards youth justice in local and international contexts. Students will be encouraged to critically reflect upon the merits and demerits of the panoply of different approaches towards youth and justice from restoration to responsibilisation, towards risk orientation and welfarism.
SSESW Dr Mary-Louise Corr’s research interests focus on the lived experiences of youth, particularly in the areas of offending, justice, homelessness and violence. Much of her research has included an in-depth qualitative analysis, often employing the biographical interview as the key research method.
SSESW Dr Siobhán McAlister's research interests are in the broad fields of youth, social justice and criminal justice. She has a particular interest in in-depth qualitative research with marginalised groups, including those who have experience of care and/ or justice systems.
Professor and Director, Centre for Children's Rights
SSESW Professor Laura Lundy is a Barrister with expertise in international children's rights with a particular focus on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, education rights and children's rights to participate in decision-making.
SSESW Prof. Shadd Maruna is Professor in Criminology with expertise in desistance from crime, offender reintegration, penal reform and narrative methodology.
Teaching Times
Morning / Afternoon / Evening/ Weekend and online flexible learning
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:
Learning and Teaching Methods
Fully online learning formats
VLE
Canvas is the university’s VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). You will be introduced to Canvas at the start of the course . You will have a unique username and password. You will have a Canvas site for each module which will work a little like a website where you can click on information to download or view it. For each module, the Canvas site will include: recorded audio/ visual lectures; readings (some of which are downloadable); video links; useful web links; discussion forums; activities. This is also where you will submit your coursework and receive feedback.
Assessment
Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
Modules will be assessed through a variety of written work including: essays; blogs; audits; research proposals; critical reviews.
“The Postgraduate Certificate in Youth Justice and Children's Rights provides an opportunity for recent graduates, and those working in policy and practice, to enhance their understanding of contemporary youth issues, system responses to young people and the discourse of children’s rights. Importantly, it aims to enhance the ability of students to apply their learning to policy, practice and research through auditing rights compliance, designing research tools and writing comment pieces/blogs.”
Dr Mary-Louise Corr, Programme Director
The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.
This is an introductory module for students undertaking one of four pathways in the suite of Masters programmes set up under the auspices of the Improving Children’s Lives Initiative. It brings together students and academic staff from a range of areas to showcase research, highlighting different
issues and looking at a variety of projects using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
1. Evolution of research practice with children and young people
2. Show case research examples from Psychology
3. Show case research examples from Nursing
4. Show case research examples from Sociology
5. Show case research examples from Education
6. Workshop on ethics and research governance
Learning Outcomes
1. An appreciation of the practical and methodological issues involved in carrying out research with children and young people in a chosen discipline / field.
2. Critical understanding of some of the ethical issues involved in research with children and young people.
Skills
Identify and justify a research question within a specific discipline.
Identify key ethical considerations in relation to a research question and / or research population.
Demonstrate ability to suggest realistic and informed strategies to deal with ethical and methodological issues in research with children and young people.
This is an introductory module for students undertaking one of four pathways in the suite of Masters programmes on childhood and youth. It brings together students and academic staff from a range of areas to familiarise students with diverse disciplinary perspectives on children and young people.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Critical understanding of the range of perspectives used to study childhood and youth.
• Understanding of conventions for critical review of academic articles.
Skills
Students will be engaged in processes allowing them to:
• Develop skills of critically analysing argument, methodology, evidence and use of literature as appropriate.
• Develop skills to write within an identified disciplinary context, drawing on inter-disciplinary perspectives in order to develop criticality.
The module will introduce students to the international children's rights laws affecting children, with a particular focus on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It will locate children’s rights within the broader framework of human rights law and introduce the core
provisions of international children's rights, emphasising the research skills used to identify and
understand major human rights treaties and secondary documentation. It will explain the fundamental principles of children's rights and their implementation and introduce theory and ongoing debates in the field, such as the limits of children's autonomy and the potential tensions between children’s rights and parents’ rights.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• find, read and apply international human rights texts
• understand the key human rights provisions which apply to children and how these are implemented in practice.
• develop a critical understanding of the research literature.
• understand and engage with the theoretical debates on children's rights.
• employ international standards to evaluate existing policies and practices in relation to children
& identify areas where change may be necessary in order to comply with international human rights principles.
Skills
Students will be able to:
• Use human rights research data bases to identify and evaluate information of relevance to specific areas of investigation.
• Conduct independent legal research and assess the usefulness of information.
• Explain core principles of human rights law as it affects children.
• Apply human rights law to professional practice, using it as a tool for critical evaluation of practice
The module covers key areas in youth justice including theories on causes of offending. The emergence of a separate response over time to young people who come into conflict with the law is critically explored. Current system and practice orientations such as prevention and early intervention are explored, as are interventions for young people who are processed through the youth justice system. Here students will learn about different philosophies, orientations and legal frameworks towards youth justice in local and international contexts. Students will be encouraged to critically reflect upon the merits and demerits of the panoply of different approaches towards youth and justice from restoration to responsibilisation, towards risk orientation and welfarism
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Critically discuss the main theories relating to youth crime;
• Critically assess the impacts and outcomes of institutional and policy responses to youth crime;
• Critically apply an understanding of theories to contemporary youth justice contexts.
Skills
Students will be engaged in processes allowing them to:
• Understand how theory relates to policy and practice development;
• Develop skills in the critical evaluation of youth justice policy and practice;
• Develop research and organisational skills by using library resources and electronic resources;
• Develop and enhance skills in critical thinking and analysis;
• Develop oral skills through participation in workshops and group work tasks.
Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree (with minimum of 55%) or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject discipline.
Applicants with an acceptable 2.2 Honours degree below 55% or equivalent, may also be considered if they have at least two years of professional experience in an education, training or relevant context
Closing date for applications: Thursday 31st July 2025 at 4pm
Late applications may be considered.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.
Please note this is an online course.
International Students
Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.
Possible career paths include work in youth and social justice related fields. Previous graduates from the Pg Diploma and MSc Youth Justice have been successful in gaining jobs working for NGOs in the criminal justice and youth justice fields.
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
Employment after the Course
You will have gained the skills necessary to locate and evaluate policy, research and practice on youth justice related issues. This will position you for working in organisations that: advocate for the rights and needs of children in conflict with the law and that formulate policy.
You will also have a more holistic understanding of the lives of children in conflict with the law, placing you in a perfect position to work with and for these children, and for organisation that support them (e.g. NGOs/ voluntary organisations, statutory sector bodies, government departments).
You may follow in the footsteps of some of our recent graduates who work in detention centres for children/young people in the Republic of Ireland and UK, support young people transitioning from care in Scotland, mentor young people in conflict with the law in Northern Ireland, facilitate restorative justice in Mumbai or have extended their studies through doctoral study.
Employment Links
Civil service; criminal justice/ youth/ children’s rights charities; government departments; research organisations.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.
Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.
There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.
