Initial Training in Youth Work

Bursaries are available annually through the Youth Council for initial training, ie, training for professional qualification. They are primarily for graduates with youth leadership experience who wish to complete a one-year full-time postgraduate course recognised by JNC (the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Work). Courses that currently qualify for bursaries are:

Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Work
St Martin’s College, Lancaster
The Academic Registrar, St Martin’s College, Lancaster LA1 3JD. Tel: 01524 63446.

Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Work
Manchester Metropolitan University
Professor M Payne, 799 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 8RR. Tel: 0161 247 2148

Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Work
St Mark and St John’s College, Plymouth
The Registrar, Derriford Road, Plymouth, Devon PL6 8BH, Tel. 01752 777188

Postgraduate Diploma in Community and Youth Studies
Westhill College, Birmingham
The Registrar, Westhill College, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6LL. Tel: 0121 472 7245.

Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education
YMCA George Williams College, 199 Freemasons Road, Canning Town, London E16 3PY.
Tel: 0171 540 4900

Postgraduate Certificate in Community Education
University of Strathclyde, Jordanhill Campus

Postgraduate Certificate in Community Education
Moray House Campus, University of Edinburgh

Postgraduate Diploma in Community Education
Northern College, Dundee Campus

The bursaries are advertised in the main local newspapers – the Belfast Telegraph, the Irish News and the Newsletter – around Easter time each year. An application form can be obtained by writing to the Youth Council for NI or by downloading an application form from this site. Completed forms must be returned to the Youth Council by the last Friday in May. The limited number of bursaries that are available each year are awarded on a competitive basis. Applicants who have been offered places or who may be awaiting the offer of a place on one of the listed courses will be invited to come to an interview. Successful candidates will be recommended by the Youth Council to the Department of Education for the award of a bursary.

Please note that the Youth Council will not recommend for support students who wish to pursue higher level degree courses. Application for an award for a Higher Level degree course to be undertaken:-

• in Northern Ireland should be directed to the Department of Education, Student Support Branch, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT19 2PR;

• in Great Britain, to the relevant funding body, usually the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for Youth and Community Work courses.

Enquiries or an application form for Initial Training Bursaries should be addressed to:

John McCormick
Professional Adviser (Training)
Youth Council for Northern Ireland
Forestview, Purdys Lane,
BELFAST, BT8 7AR.

Tel: 028.9064.3882
Fax: 028.9064.3874
E-mail: jmccormick@youthcouncil-ni.org.uk