All of our courses offer the chance to gain experience in relevant workplace environments, with a strong focus on combining academic insight with real world application.
We offer a broad platform, giving you the scope to follow a range of different career directions. We help you prepare for life after you graduate in a number of ways:
Upon graduation, you will be fully equipped for the world of work, being able to raise questions, evaluate sources, critique theoretical debate, and develop your own analysis both confidently and independently.
We actively encourage our students to embrace any opportunities to gain work-related learning experience, with financial assistance often available through the Edge Hill University Student Opportunity Fund.
Work placements
“The opportunity to undertake work placements provides you with essential, first hand insight into the real world of employment. It allows you to explore a career direction that is of interest to you and apply the skills and knowledge that you have learnt on your degree in a practical work environment. Work placements are of huge benefit to your future career. As Senior Lecturer Daniel Sage explains, “students in Social Sciences undertake work placements in a variety of settings, including schools, charities, research and the criminal justice system.
Before starting placements, students identify the key skills they want to build and develop these in partnership with employers. It is an important opportunity for students to gain insight into a profession and explore which route they want to take after graduating. In recent years many students have returned to their placement provider for further work experience or, in some instances, paid employment”.
Dr Daniel Sage, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences
The student experience
“Studying BA (Hons) Childhood & Youth Studies, current third year student, Katie, has developed a strong passion for working with vulnerable children. Last year, Katie undertook a work placement in this field which provided her with the opportunity to apply all of the knowledge and skills learnt on her course in a practice-based environment. The placement provided Katie with invaluable experience and insights into what working in this area is like. “To expand my knowledge and experience in the labour market, I did a placement at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with the Child Play Specialists team, it was a life changing experience and I completely fell in love with it.
As well as gaining insights in practice, I have learnt key skills for the job, including communication skills, teamwork and leadership skills. My degree has really helped me to develop, understand and challenge concepts around childhood and youth, particularly around working with vulnerable children. I am now planning to be a play leader when I graduate next year.”
Katie Morse, BA (Hons) Childhood & Youth Studies
The graduate experience
“During my undergraduate study I was equipped with a range of transferrable skills, including critical thinking, effective time management and the ability to work independently. I also discovered that I had a passion for research and decided to continue with postgraduate studies on the MRes Masters by Research programme. On this programme I was able to further my knowledge and gain a wealth of additional transferable skills such as data analysis and teamwork.
In my current employment within the welfare sector, I have to be able to communicate effectively with people who are vulnerable and have varying individual needs as part of a multi-disciplinary team. I am responsible for managing a case load of clients who come from a range of backgrounds. The skills and subject knowledge I gained during my undergraduate degree, in combination with the research I undertook during my Masters, gave me the solid foundations to be able to provide a high-quality service to the clients I now meet daily.”
Jennifer Finlayson, BA (Hons) Sociology, MRes Masters by Research
July 1, 2022
