Master of Arts in Childhood Studies University of Suffolk, UK

The MA Childhood Studies course will equip you with critical understanding of childhood and childhoods underpinned by international policy, theory and current research. If you are interested in a leadership position creating inclusive services for children and families, transforming practice and policy, and empowering voices of children, this course is for you. University of Suffolk has a thirty-year tradition in providing childhood-related courses. The long-standing expertise is continuously being strengthened by a growing team of academics engaged in learning and teaching on the course as well as internationally recognised research in the area.

MA Childhood Studies is proud to have strong links with the Suffolk County Council, local and international charities and organisations.  

The MA Childhood Studies is an interdisciplinary course with a strong emphasis in the social sciences, including perspectives drawn from sociology, history, English, social policy and anthropology. The course is informed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) framework and is committed to a child-centred philosophy. Modules will reflect on the principles of protecting the rights and interests of children and young people, and the increasing importance of their participation in these discussions. This course explores the diversity of childhoods, from local issues to global trends, and puts a focus on the international conceptions of what a child is and how to advocate and support children. This curriculum is continually updated and developed to reflect the changing landscape of children's rights.

MA Childhood Studies is a taught programme which takes an informed and critical approach to the academic study of childhood studies and is underpinned by a children’s rights approach. This programme would be of interest to undergraduates looking to progress to the postgraduate level and professionals interested in specialised or advanced study of childhood.  

This degree uses a flexible, blended approach, so face-to-face lectures, seminars, and tutorial support are complemented by online resources, interactive learning tools, and self-study materials. All modules are designed to offer students a shared learning experience with other students and module tutors while remaining flexible to demands of everyday life. Additionally, the course team incorporate a wide variety of assessment strategies, which may include formats such as essays and reports, critical reviews and commentaries, informed discussion and debate, analytical exercises, individual or group presentations, and project-based or work-experience reflections. In the final stages of your degree, you also have the opportunity to conduct a small-scale final project with the support and guidance of experienced supervisors who are experts in their field. All taught sessions take place at our main campus in Ipswich and online materials are made available through the online learning environment, Brightspace.