Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have a first degree with first or second-class honours or equivalent and/or relevant professional qualifications. Candidates who do not meet the standard criteria will, however, be considered. Applications are welcomed from appropriately qualified and experienced professionals from areas including, but not limited to, social welfare, law, criminal justice and healthcare.

Months of entry

October

Course content

Please note, all course information including entry requirements relates to the 2022/23 academic year.

The MA in Childcare Law and Practice (CCLP) is a popular and successful course. It is a truly unique program, and one of the only courses of its kind currently available in the UK. Interdisciplinary in nature, and predominately taught by staff from within the Law School, the programme draws upon expertise from colleagues within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, in addition to featuring several guest lecturers.

The course offers you the opportunity to delve into the complexities of law and social policy regarding children, predominately focusing upon the legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. However, you will also gain insights into both international and regional law and the legal and policy frameworks adopted to address children, the role of families, their rights and the global challenges connected thereto.

The aims of this programme are to introduce key principles of interdisciplinary socio-legal research methods and scholarship, facilitate the development of higher-level critical analysis, and develop the students’ capacity for original thinking in relation to the complex issues arising in socio-legal scholarship. It also aims to promote anti-discriminatory practice, inter-agency understanding and interdisciplinary working.

More specifically, the programme aims to:

  • Develop a practical and theoretical understanding of childcare law, policy and practice.
  • Encourage interdisciplinarity through the student experience – utilising the expertise of staff to provide a critical and collegiate learning and teaching environment.
  • Develop a critical perspective in the assessment and evaluation of research, law scholarship, policy, and practice in childcare law.
  • Develop the ability of our students to work independently in a coherent, efficient, and focused manner.
  • Provide an opportunity for practitioners to further develop and critically reflect upon their skills as applied to a variety of areas and settings in work with children.

Our MA is suitable for those who wish to pursue a postgraduate qualification after the completion of their undergraduate studies and to a range of professionals working with either children or adults who wish to improve their skills and knowledge base or wish to study for continuing professional development. The teaching takes places in blocks of study, providing the flexibility for those in employment to study for the MA on a full or part time basis. Due to the nature of this course, we operate a strict start date. The exact start date will be communicated to successful applicants within the offer letter which is sent via email. We are unable to accept any late starts for this course.

Information for international students

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

IELTS 6.5

Applicants for whom English is not a first language must provide evidence of a qualification in English language, unless they hold a previous degree that was taught and examined in English. The minimum score for entry to the LL.M. is academic IELTS 6.5 (with no subtest below 5.5) or equivalent.

The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

During your degree programme you can study additional English language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.

Fees and funding

For information related to fees and funding, please visit the individual course page on the Keele University website.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • MA
    flexible
    Up to 60 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
    full time
    12 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
    part time
    24 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

The taught Masters programme requires satisfactory completion of at least 180 credits, made up of 4 taught modules each of 30 credits (120 credits) plus a dissertation of 15,000-20,000 words (60 credits). Each student is provided with a personal tutor to assist with studies. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach, exploring childcare law and practice through the lens of law, sociology, socio-legal and children’s rights perspectives. The programme starts with a two-day induction course, including an MA Training Day prior to the commencement of the programme. The teaching of modules takes place over four intensive three-day blocks between September and May. This structure particularly benefits part-time students who appreciate ‘time out’ in an accessible academic environment. During the research year, students wishing to complete the MA attend one, two-day block, and a further day later in the year followed by supervision of work towards a dissertation.

Course contact details

Name
Enquiries
Email
enquiries@keele.ac.uk