International Child Rights and Development MA

Key Information

Study mode: Full time, Part time Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): UK 180 / ECTS 90 Application status: Open Start date: September 2025

Course Essentials

Our multidisciplinary course encourages you to take a rigorous academic and analytical approach to issues of contemporary childhood. It is relevant for anyone working or intending to work with, or on behalf of, children and young people internationally and particularly those working or aspiring to work in the humanitarian sector overseas or in statutory or voluntary services in the UK. While underpinned by a children’s rights perspective, we draw on a range of disciplines including sociology and public policy, psychology, education, health and law. We adapt the curriculum and teaching to take account of contemporary global events of significance to the lives of children and young people. Assignments allow students to tailor the programme to their own interests to a significant extent.

Base Campus

Waterloo Campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating Bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students.

Entry Requirements

UK Applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree.
• Programme-Specific Requirements: 2:1 undergraduate degree or an equivalent qualification in a subject relevant to work with children and/or substantial professional work experience in a relevant field.
• English language requirements: English language band B. To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment.

International Applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view equivalent qualifications.
• English language requirements: English language band B. To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment.

Teaching and Structure

Teaching Methods

We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. A significant proportion of teaching on the course is delivered by expert external lecturers, both academics and practitioners. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

Location

This course is primarily taught at the King’s College London Waterloo Campus. Our location in the heart of London gives you access to the wealth of cultural resources and institutions throughout the capital, as well as experience of life in one of the world’s most exciting and diverse cities.

Assessment

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include essays, reports, presentations, research proposals and case studies. All students complete a 60-credit dissertation, which is assessed by an extended piece of writing based on independent research on a topic of your choice, related to the course.

Structure

Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits.

Required Modules

• Children’s Rights (30 credits)
• Child Protection (30 credits)
• Dissertation (60 Credits)

Optional Modules

In addition, you are required to take 60 credits from a range of options that may include:

• Child Health and Development (30 credits)
• Research Methods (15 credits)
• Global Childhoods (30 credits)
• 30 credits from any MA Education programmes or other programme offered at King’s College London subject to availability and timetabling at the discretion of the Programme Director.

Careers

Employability

In addition to progressing to Ph.D. study, our graduates are using the skills and knowledge they developed over this course in organisations such as UNICEF, World Vision, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Children and Families Across Borders, and DG ECHO (the Humanitarian Aid arm of the EU).

Our Professional Network

Where can a degree like this take you? Hear from 2018 graduate YingChun Yeh:

• Role: School Nurse at Taipei European School (Taiwan)
• My role is to provide First Aid Care and Health Education for Secondary Students; Helping peoples’ lives become easier and better. I'm lucky to have a chance to be a school nurse at the Taipei European School to help students who come from different countries. For me, is not just a job, to a certain extent, it fulfils my eagerness to work in a global NGO. King's diverse learning environment gave me a chance to visit the Mary Sheridan Centre for Child Health. As a Taiwanese registered nurse, it was an unforgettable experience I learned a lot about how community service works in the UK. Although every service system has its pros and cons, this experience truly inspired me and made me think about what I can try in my position.

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK: Full time £13,500 per year (2025/26), Part time £6,750 per year (2025/26)
• International: Full time £30,000 per year (2025/26), Part time £15,000 per year (2025/26)

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

• Home deposit: £500
• International deposit: £2000

International Child Rights MA Scholarship 2025/26

The scholarship is open to students who are applying to the MA International Child Rights and Development programme at King’s College London. Successful applicants for the Scholarship must also receive an offer and fulfil all conditions of entry to receive the tuition fee discount.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Travel costs for travel around London, between campuses and for project placements
• Graduation costs

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

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Outline:

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Key Features:

• Multidisciplinary approach
• Covers the latest developments in issues that affect childhood globally.
• Taught by a wide range of external expert speakers, as well as our own staff, from various disciplines.
• Provides the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with peers from different disciplines.
• Relevant for anyone working or intending to work with, or on behalf of, children and young people internationally, particularly those working or aspiring to work in the humanitarian sector overseas or in statutory or voluntary services in the UK.

Content:

• Covers a range of topics related to international child rights and development, including:
• Children's rights
• Child protection
• Child health and development
• Global childhood
• Research methods

Program Structure:

• One year full-time or two years part-time
• 180 credits in total
• 60 credits of required modules
• 60 credits of optional modules

Required Modules:

• Children’s Rights (30 credits)
• Child Protection (30 credits)
• Dissertation (60 Credits)

Optional Modules:

• Child Health and Development (30 credits)
• Research Methods (15 credits)
• Global Childhood (30 credits)
• 30 credits from any other MA Education or relevant program offered at King’s College London

Course Schedule:

• Lectures, seminars, and group tutorials
• Significant proportion of teaching by external expert lecturers
• Independent study is expected

Individual Modules:

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Children’s Rights (30 credits):

• Focuses on the history and development of children's rights, international and national legal frameworks, and the role of NGOs and other organizations in promoting children's rights.

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Child Protection (30 credits):

• Explores the different forms of child abuse and neglect, the legal and policy frameworks for child protection, and the role of professionals in protecting children.

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Child Health and Development (30 credits):

• Examines the physical, cognitive, and social development of children, the factors that influence child health, and the interventions that can promote child health and well-being.

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Research Methods (15 credits):

• Provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to conduct social science research, including qualitative and quantitative methods.

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Global Childhood (30 credits):

• Explores the different experiences of childhood around the world, the challenges faced by children in different societies, and the global initiatives that are working to improve the lives of children.

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Assessment:

• Essays
• Reports
• Presentations
• Research proposals
• Case studies
• Dissertation (16,000 words)

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Teaching:

• Taught by a team of experienced academics and practitioners
• Uses a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, group work, and independent study
• Small class sizes allow for individual attention and support

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Careers:

• Graduates have gone on to work in a variety of organizations, including:
• UNICEF
• World Vision
• Thomas B. Fordham Institute
• Children and Families Across Borders
• DG ECHO (the Humanitarian Aid arm of the EU)
• Graduates have also pursued further study at the PhD level.

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Other:

• The program is based at King's College London's Waterloo Campus, which is located in the heart of London.
• The program benefits from strong links to local organizations and NGOs working in the field of child rights and development.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including volunteering and attending conferences.

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UK: Full time: £10,944 per year (2024/25) Part time: £5,472 per year (2024/25) International: Full time: £25,284 per year (2024/25) Part time: £12,642 per year (2024/25) These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions. Deposit Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment. The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000. If you receive an offer between 1 March and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer. If you receive an offer between 16 July and 15 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer. Additional Costs Library fees and fines. Personal photocopies. Printing course handouts. Society membership fees. Stationery. Graduation costs.