Program Overview

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Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership

The Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership (BYCL) is a degree that 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.

Introduction

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.

What will my study involve?

• Flexible degree that allows you to choose courses and study the subjects and 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, Product Design, Science, and Sport.
• 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.

Entry requirements

To enrol in the degree, you will need:

• University Entrance (or equivalent). UC offers transition programmes for those who need help meeting these requirements.
• If English is not your first language, you are also required to meet UC's Undergraduate language requirements.

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.

Degree structure

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, Product Design, Science, or Sport degrees. A minor requires 75 points of courses, with 45 points above 100-level.

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.

Subjects and courses

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.

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:
  • YACL301 Civic Leadership: Leading for Change
  • YACL302 Leadership Project: Implementing Change
  • EDUC302 Risks and Opportunities in Adolescence: Research and Applications OR EDUC339 Globalisation, Social Justice and Education
  • 30 points of 300-level courses chosen from the elective courses list

Minor subjects

• Accounting
• Animation
• Anthropology
• Art History and Theory
• Astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Biological Sciences
• Business Analytics
• Business and Sustainability
• Chemical Formulation Design
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Cinema Studies
• Cinematic Arts
• Classics
• Community Music
• Computer Science
• Creative Writing
• Cultural Studies
• Digital Humanities
• Digital Product Design
• Economics
• Education
• English
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Science
• European and European Union Studies
• Exercise and Sport Nutrition
• Finance
• French
• Game Arts
• Game Development
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Geography
• Geology
• German
• Graphic Design
• Health Education
• Health Research
• Health Science
• Health Studies
• History
• Human Resource Management
• Human Services
• Indigenous Narrative
• Industrial Product Design
• Information Systems
• Innovation
• International Business
• Japanese
• Linguistics
• Māori and Indigenous Health
• Māori and Indigenous Studies
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• Media and Communication
• Music
• Nutrition
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Pacific Studies
• Performance Data Analysis
• Philosophy
• Physical Activity and Wellbeing
• Physics
• Political Science and International Relations
• Population Health Data Science
• Professional and Community Engagement
• Psychology
• Public Health
• Russian
• Screen Sound
• Screenwriting
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Sport Coaching
• Sport Management
• Sport Studies
• Statistics
• Strength and Conditioning
• Taxation
• Te Ao Hākinakina
• Te Reo Māori
• Tourism Marketing and Management
• Writing
• Youth and Community Leadership

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.

Fees

Domestic

2025 tuition fee estimate: $7,726 per 120 points
2026 tuition fee estimate: $8,190 per 120 points

International

2025 tuition fee estimate: $34,160 per 120 points
2026 tuition fee estimate: $35,490 per 120 points
2027 tuition fee estimate: $37,050 per 120 points

Further study

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 Strategic 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
• Doctor of Education
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Careers

• 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.