Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership
BYCL
Duration
3 years full-time
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours
- Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Leadership
- Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadership
Download Brochure
Duration
3 years full-time
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours
- Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Leadership
- Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadership
Download Brochure
Overview
The Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership (BYCL) meets a growing need for innovative leaders who can make an impact on national and global challenges that youth and other communities are encountering.
This degree develops professional leadership and entrepreneurial skills for those passionate about issues such as youth work and development, sustainability, human rights, equality, social entrepreneurship, and humanitarian work. The BYCL builds on UC’s international reputation in youth-led social action, and offers real-world leadership and project experience by way of theoretical study and applied learning.
Youth and Community Leadership is a degree that allows you to customise a programme of study to drive your commitment to social action. It will prepare you to cultivate collective leadership to action change, making this an ideal degree for those wanting to create a better world for future generations.
- Flexible degree that allows you to choose courses and study the issues that matter most to you.
- Connect with UC’s community through noho marae, volunteering with Te Hunga Tūao | Student Volunteer Army, and working with Te Mātāpuna Mātātahi | Children’s University.
- You have the option to add a minor from subjects across Arts, Commerce, Digital Screen, Health Sciences, Science, and Sport Coaching.
- On completion of the recommended courses for youth work and development you can apply for membership to Korowai Tupu, the professional Association for Youth Workers in Aotearoa.
- Find out more about youth and community leadership pathways and study options.
Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.
If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
For information on the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.
COVID Vaccination
While vaccination against COVID-19 is not mandatory for enrolment and completion of a Youth and Community Leadership qualification, many opportunities in the community sector include working with vulnerable populations.
We strongly encourage full vaccination to protect yourself, the vulnerable youth and communities we work with, and to allow you to access the full range of options available to you during and after your study.
Recommended preparation
The programme is open to anyone from a range of interests or experience in leadership roles. No particular background study is required. A passion for social change, community work, and volunteering is the best preparation.
Strong written and verbal communication skills will be especially useful.
Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership – example degree structure
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Compulsory courses
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Elective courses
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Courses from Arts or other degrees
Each small block represents a 15-point course. However, some courses may be 30 points or more.
This diagram is an example only – other combinations are possible. For specific course requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership.
The BYCL is a 360-point degree, with at least 225 points at 200-level or above:
- 150 points of compulsory courses in leadership development
- 105 points of approved elective courses
- up to 105 points of courses from any bachelor’s degree at UC.
You may also choose to do a minor within the degree, from subject options in the Arts, Commerce, Digital Screen, Health Sciences, Science, or Sport Coaching degrees. A minor requires 75 points of courses, with 45 points above 100-level.
The degree takes 3 years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 6 years.
Double degrees
It is possible to study a Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership alongside other degrees at the same time, such as the Bachelor of Communication or Bachelor of Criminal Justice.
Find out more information about Double degrees.
The BYCL degree includes compulsory courses in each year, as well as a range of course options from other degrees. You can also choose to do a minor from the subject options below.
See ‘How do I plan my degree?’ above for an example degree structure diagram.
Compulsory courses
Year 1
- YACL101 Introduction to Youth Leadership: Leading the Self
- CHCH101 Strengthening Communities through Social Innovation
- Three 100-level courses chosen from the elective courses list
- One course chosen from these options
Year 2
- YACL201 Social Leadership: Leading with Others
- EDUC206 Education and Society: Ideals and Realities
- Two 200-level courses chosen from the elective courses list
- One course chosen from these options
Year 3
Minor subjects
Professional youth work accreditation
Following a particular course pathway focused on youth work and development in the degree will grant you professional membership with Korowai Tupu, the professional association for youth work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This pathway has been designed in consultation with Korowai Tupu, Ara Taiohi (the national peak body for youth development in Aotearoa), the Canterbury Youth Workers Collective (CYWC), and other professional organisations.
You can go onto a range of postgraduate programmes at UC, depending on your leadership focus in humanities, business, or education:
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours
- Postgraduate Certificate in Arts
- Postgraduate Certificate in Business
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Postgraduate Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Leadership
- Postgraduate Certificate in Youth and Community Leadership
- Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education
- Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Leadership
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Thesis)
- Master of Education
- Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadership
- Master of Systems Change
- Doctor of Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Practical experience through work with UC community organisations.
- Develop skills in leadership, communication, project management, stakeholder engagement, research, and solution-based thinking to help create real results.
- Graduates will be ready to work as leaders of their area of interest, including politics, teaching, iwi development, community services, charities, and marketing.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2023 | 120 | Indicative first year fee. Actual fee will be determined by course selection. | $7,091 |
| 2022 | 120 | Indicative first year fee. Actual fee will be determined by course selection. | $6,901 |
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) | Fees (NZD) Excl GST |
| 2022 | 120 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $30,138 | $26,207 |
| 2023 | 120 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $31,325 | $27,239 |
Contact us
See more information about our Youth and Community Leadership programmes.
For the full degree requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership.
For study planning help, contact a Student Advisor.
For more information on facilities, resources, and staff, see Te Kaupeka Ako | Faculty of Education.
For more general information, email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone 0800 VARSITY (827 748).