Childhood in Society (MA) (2025 Entry)

Childhood in Society students at the University of Warwick

Course code

P-X30F

Start date

29 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time; 2-5 years part-time

Qualification

Led by

Education Studies

Location

University of Warwick

Course code

P-X30F

Start date

29 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time; 2-5 years part-time

Qualification

Led by

Education Studies

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

Apply now

Find out more about our Childhood in Society taught Master's degree.

Are you interested in better understanding childhood and the lives of children? Do you believe that children are well equipped to help us understand? Do you want to make a positive difference? This course aims to enhance your knowledge and skills relating to childhood, globally and locally, so you are well equipped to make that difference.

Course overview

This course explores childhood from an interdisciplinary and international perspective.

During this course, you will gain a familiarity with interdisciplinary perspectives and frameworks from fields such as education, psychology, sociology, philosophy and social policy in the study of children and childhood. You will engage with the debates, analysis and critique of current international and national research. You will also explore the policy and practice implications of such research.

Whether you are a practitioner wanting to develop professionally or looking for the next level of academic study, this course will help you to critically explore key childhood related themes, including child development, children’s rights and the global child. You will also develop an understanding of key issues in relation to children, and become familiar with the diversity of children’s experiences over time and space.

Studying the MA Childhood in Society will enable you to advance both academically and professionally, whatever your stage of development. You will be working with others who are passionate about the importance of childhood and childhood studies. Being part of a vibrant education studies department offers a wide range of optional modules so you can personalise your studies to meet your professional or academic goals. You will share ideas with students and staff from across the department. Interactive teaching sessions will provide you with a varied learning experience and help you to develop useful collaborative and employment skills.

At the end of the course, you will complete an independent research study. This allows you to further develop and explore an area of personal or professional interest related to childhood. By the end of the course you will be well positioned and equipped to continue with further academic study or to work in leadership positions relating to childhood and children’s education. This includes informal and non-formal educational institutions and organisations such as NGOs, charities, local government educational provision, to name a few.

Skills from this degree

Develop a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues within childhood
Explore concepts and issues relating to childhood across a range of country contexts, and understand how childhood intersects with other levels of education
Develop a comprehensive understanding of research strategies and techniques appropriate for use with children and childhood research
Utilise research originally and critically to interpret and apply knowledge
Evaluate existing methodologies within educational research
Develop new hypotheses to provide new insights into children’s lived experiences and professional practice relating to childhood contexts

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent).

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

Band B
IELTS score to 7 overall, no more than two components at 6.0/6.5 & rest 7.0+

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Modules

Core modules

Intercultural Approaches to Childhood

Research, policy and practice in children and childhood have become global and political priorities in recent years. In this module, we pick on some debates and themes within the field of childhood studies that highlight the contested and diverse nature of contemporary childhoods within a globalising world.

In the first part of the module, we outline state of the art theorising within the field that critically examines developmental psychology, globalisation and the rise of the agentic child. We draw on a number of contemporary themes that illustrate theoretical debates within the field and at the same time inform the professional and political practices of those with an interest in working with and researching children and childhood. These themes include pupil voice and participation, mediating migration, children and politics and the exploitation of children.

Research Methods in Education (alternative online module available for part-time students if required)

This module encourages students in understanding, designing and implementing research in the field of education.

It will introduce you to a range of established research strategies and techniques, including data collection and analysis. These skills will enable you to design and carry out a dissertation research project, as well as to disseminate its findings. As part of this module, you will present your research design and have the opportunity to receive feedback ahead of completing your dissertation.

Dissertation

The dissertation is an opportunity to explore, in depth, an area of academic and/or professional interest related to your degree. Building on the knowledge and skills developed during the Research Methods module, and your other modules, you will conduct an independent research project, developing a deeper understanding of your chosen topic. From your research project, you will produce a dissertation, with guidance from a supervisor who will be allocated to you. Through the dissertation, you will demonstrate the ability to analyse and synthesise relevant literature, produce coherent arguments supported by relevant evidence and logical discussion, and acknowledge sources of ideas and information.

Optional modules

This programme has a number of other optional modules to choose from. At least one optional module should have a childhood focus. Our optional module lists are subject to change each year to keep the student learning experience current and up-to-date.

Find the most up-to-date optional module list on the Education Studies website.Link opens in a new window

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Teaching

For full-time students, all of our modules are delivered in-person at our well-equipped university campus. Please note that if you wish to study on a part time basis you should be aware that most modules are taught during the normal working day and there is no out of hours provision. If this is a consideration for you please contact us prior to applying so that we can advise you further. Part-time students are able to complete some of their modules as asynchronous distance-learning modules.

Most modules include weekly teaching sessions, giving you the opportunity to join with your colleagues to discuss and debate the topics being explored. These sessions are delivered in a range of formats that suit the module (these may include lectures, seminars, group work and practical workshops, for example). In addition, you will be given various pre- and post- session tasks and readings to support your learning.

Assessment

Assessment types vary depending on modules selected but may include different types of assignments, of varying lengths, as well as oral presentations. You will also complete a dissertation based on an individual research project, with support from a research supervisor.

Typical contact hours

You will attend one or two 3-hour lectures and/or seminars each week during the Autumn and Spring Terms of modules plus research methods training lectures and seminars throughout all three terms.

Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform. 

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.  

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department. 

Additional course costs

You may wish to undertake some research with children or young people that may require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or a Certificate of Good Conduct for students from outside of the UK. A Certificate of Good Conduct can vary in price.

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Find out more about our additional course costs.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Careers

Your career

Graduates of this course would be well equipped to work in leadership positions relating to early years and children’s education, in addition to informal and non-formal educational institutions and organisations, including but not limited to NGOs, charities, local government educational provision.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

Careers in Education
Careers with Children and Young People
Warwick careers fairs throughout the year

Department

Education Studies at Warwick

Education has the power to change lives

Education changes lives through teaching, coaching, training, and through work in local and global communities. What do you understand about that power? Bring your fascination for the way we communicate and learn to Warwick.

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Application deadlines

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2026 opens on 2 October 2025.

Applications close on 2 August 2026 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

Useful links

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About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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Childhood in Society (MA) (2025 Entry)

Find out more about our Childhood in Society taught Master's degree.

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

How to apply checklist

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Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

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6th Most Targeted University

69th in the World

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