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*The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide, 2026
Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Undergraduate BA (Hons)
Childhood Development and Playwork
Gain the knowledge and practical experience required to work with children and young people across a wide variety of careers.
Course overview
-
L5C4 -
L27 -
City Campus -
Full-Time -
3 Years -
21 Sep 2026
Develop the confidence and expertise to work in a range of professions across the children’s workforce.
As part of this course, you’ll:
- Follow unique learning pathways to shape your future career and gain vital work experience from a variety of placement opportunities. These could include:
- Hospital play
- Therapeutic playwork
- Adventure playgrounds
- Community and policy
- Development work
- Focus on the sociology and psychology of children and childhood in your classroom-based learning
- Pay attention to the importance of play for children’s wellbeing and development
- Develop specialisms in:
- Playwork
- Child development
- The sociology of childhood and social policy
- The provision and management of children’s play projects
You’ll have access to work-based learning opportunities with experienced supervisors in a range of child-focused occupations. Upon graduation you’ll have a range of practical and transferable skills at your fingertips, and a critical understanding of contemporary issues central to the study and practice of childhood development and playwork.
Industry expertise
We have more than 30 years of experience in teaching childhood development and playwork. The course team shares a range of professional and practical specialisms in the fields of playwork, hospital play, and policy and project development. They are also actively involved with charitable children’s projects.
Visiting practitioners will give you an insight into their personal experiences of working with children in a wide range of disciplines.
For more information on our Childhood Development & Playwork team and to discover what projects you could be involved with as a student, follow: @LBUPlayworking on Twitter.
Why study the Childhood Development & Playwork course at Leeds Beckett University?
- 100% of graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduation*
- Placement opportunities available
- Study abroad option
- Part-time study available
*Percentage of respondents from this course, HESA Graduate Outcomes 22-23
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Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
104
points required
If you’re unsure how to work out your UCAS points we have a UCAS Tariff Calculator which will do it for you. All you need to do is enter your qualifications and let the UCAS Tariff Calculator do the maths.
Entry requirements
104
points required
UCAS Tariff Points: 104 points required.
(Minimum 64 points from two A levels or equivalent, excluding General Studies.
Evidence of working with young people and/or community groups is required. This is normally expected to be 150 hours part-time (paid or voluntary) or 3 months full-time equivalent. Part-time students must have at least 10 hours paid work in a relevant area and be supported by a named supervisor.).
GCSEs
GCSE English Language at Grade 4 or above (Grade C for GCSEs taken before 2017) or equivalent. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy are accepted in place of GCSEs.Access to HE Diploma
Pass overall with a minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points.T Levels
Pass overall with a minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points, including a C or above on the core.Scottish Awards
104 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 4 Highers of which at least 2 must be grade B or above.Irish Leaving Certificate
104 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 5 subjects at higher level of which at least 3 must be grade H3 or above.International baccalaureate
104 tariff points or a score of 26 from the IB diploma. This should include a minimum of 3 Highers with 2 at grade H5 or above.Interview Required
We conduct interviews as part of the admissions process and suitable applicants will be invited to an interview - interview dates will be published in due course. Invitations are sent via UCAS and you should check your UCAS Hub account for further interview details.
IELTS
IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.
Additional entry requirements:
Level 6 Entry:
Applicants should have a DipHE in a related area. Applicants with equivalent professional qualifications may also be considered.DBS Check
Satisfactory enhanced criminal history checks will be required by all applicants prior to acceptance on the course, (processed through the University only). The University is unable to accept DBS checks obtained through another institution (this includes those registered with the DBS Update Service); the checks undertaken by the University are appropriate to the course of study and relevant regulated activity placements. For important information on the UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check requirements please refer to the Guidance on DBS and Additional Checks.
Self Declaration Check
You will be asked to complete this online form as part of the DBS check process. You will be asked to identify on the self-declaration form if you have any cautions/convictions that would not be filtered out on a DBS certificate. Please refer to the following website for guidance on filtering. The form will also ask if you have resided outside of the UK after the age of 16, to establish if an Overseas Police Record check may be required.
Overseas Police Checks/Letter of Good Conduct
The DBS in the UK is currently not able to conduct overseas criminal record checks. International applicants; those without British Citizenship and British Citizens with a significant period of overseas residency of 12 months or more after the age of 16; therefore, require a criminal records check or certificate of good conduct from their home/overseas country(ies) prior to entry on to the course. A UK DBS check will also be required prior to enrolment; the DBS team will send you guidance on how to apply following your offer of a place. The application process and timeframes for Overseas Police checks can differ from country to country and so it is recommended that you start the process as soon as possible after you have been made a conditional/Unconditional offer to ensure you have enough lead in time to obtain the check prior to enrolment. For some countries, an individual can only apply in person and so it is preferable for those applicants still resident in the relevant country, to apply before entering the UK.How we assess your application
At Leeds Beckett we look for students who demonstrate a good knowledge, curiosity and passion for your chosen course and would benefit from the University’s learning environment.We aim to give every student a fair chance to progress and succeed on their chosen course and we recognise that your grades may not always reflect your true potential. Therefore, when assessing your application, we will consider the following:
- Your completed qualifications (such as GCSEs, A Levels, and their equivalents).
- Your predicted grades in future examinations.
- Your personal statement.
Our offers
All our offers are made by trained professionals who are committed to making offers that are appropriate to each applicant, regardless of their background.* They have the discretion to vary the level of offer to ensure every student with the potential to succeed at Leeds Beckett receives an offer that is achievable for them. This could mean that you may receive an offer to study on this course with lower (predicted or achieved) UCAS Tariff Points than our published tariff.  Your offer will be based on our belief that you are capable of benefiting from, and successfully completing, your course. We believe that it is people who think differently, independently, people with ‘unlike-minds' that make big things happen.*We operate a contextual admissions policy, which means we consider a range of additional factors when we assess a student’s application. Applicants who meet at least one of our contextual admissions criteria may be offered a place on this course with lower (predicted or achieved) UCAS Tariff Points than our published tariff.
Our contextual admissions criteria are:
- Home postcode is in an area where few people go to University (POLAR4 quintile 1 or 2 area. This can be checked on the Office for Students website).
- Declared disability on the UCAS application form (or direct application for part-time applicants).
- Over the age of 21 on the 1st of September before the course starts.
- Declared as a care experienced on the UCAS application form (or direct application for part-time applicants).
Our place as an Anchor Institution
To further strengthen our position as a key provider of education and training for West Yorkshire we apply an Anchor Institution Policy in our admissions process. Students who apply to us from any of the five Local Authority areas in West Yorkshire (BD, HD, HX, LS, WF) may be offered a place on this course with lower (predicted or achieved) UCAS Tariff Points.Mature Applicants
Our university welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. All students will be considered through the contextual admissions policy described above. If you do not meet the requirements through the contextual admissions policy, we may still be able to make you an offer if you have recent relevant work experience through our 'Recognition of Prior Learning' policy. Please ensure that you list both your qualifications and any relevant work experience in your application so that we can consider you under both schemes where applicable. All applicants should meet our standard entry requirements of GCSE grade 4 in English language and, where specified, Maths. Alternative qualifications such as functional skills are accepted in lieu of GCSEs for most courses.International baccalaureate
104 tariff points or a score of 26 from the IB diploma. This should include a minimum of 3 Highers with 2 at grade H5 or above.Interview Required
We conduct interviews as part of the admissions process and suitable applicants will be invited to an interview - interview dates will be published in due course. Invitations are sent via UCAS and you should check your UCAS Hub account for further interview details.
IELTS
IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.
Additional entry requirements:
Level 6 Entry:
Applicants should have a DipHE in a related area. Applicants with equivalent professional qualifications may also be considered.DBS Check
Satisfactory enhanced criminal history checks will be required by all applicants prior to acceptance on the course, (processed through the University only). The University is unable to accept DBS checks obtained through another institution (this includes those registered with the DBS Update Service); the checks undertaken by the University are appropriate to the course of study and relevant regulated activity placements. For important information on the UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check requirements please refer to the Guidance on DBS and Additional Checks.
Self Declaration Check
You will be asked to complete this online form as part of the DBS check process. You will be asked to identify on the self-declaration form if you have any cautions/convictions that would not be filtered out on a DBS certificate. Please refer to the following website for guidance on filtering. The form will also ask if you have resided outside of the UK after the age of 16, to establish if an Overseas Police Record check may be required.
Overseas Police Checks/Letter of Good Conduct
The DBS in the UK is currently not able to conduct overseas criminal record checks. International applicants; those without British Citizenship and British Citizens with a significant period of overseas residency of 12 months or more after the age of 16; therefore, require a criminal records check or certificate of good conduct from their home/overseas country(ies) prior to entry on to the course. A UK DBS check will also be required prior to enrolment; the DBS team will send you guidance on how to apply following your offer of a place. The application process and timeframes for Overseas Police checks can differ from country to country and so it is recommended that you start the process as soon as possible after you have been made a conditional/Unconditional offer to ensure you have enough lead in time to obtain the check prior to enrolment. For some countries, an individual can only apply in person and so it is preferable for those applicants still resident in the relevant country, to apply before entering the UK.Additional entry requirements:
Verify your qualifications
If you are an international student, we can help you to compare and verify your qualifications. Please contact our International Office on +44 (0)113 812 1111 09.00 to 17.00 Mon-Thurs / 09.00 to 16.30 Fri GMT or email internationaloffice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.Need to improve your English Language skills?
Don't worry if you don't have the level of English required for your chosen course. We offer a wide range of courses which have been designed to help you to improve your qualifications and English language ability, most of which are accredited by the British Council. Check your English and find out more about our English courses.More questions?
No matter what your questions, we are here to answer them, visit our International website to get more information and find out about our online open days.Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Modules, teaching and learning
There are no traditional exams on this course.
The tabs below detail what and how you will study in each year of your course. The balance of assessments and overall workload will be informed by your core modules and the option modules you choose to study; the information provided is an indication of what you can expect and may be subject to change. The option modules listed are also an indication of what will be available to you. Their availability is subject to demand and you will be advised which option modules you can choose at the beginning of each year of study.
What you'll learn
Discover the origins of playwork as you investigate its history, theory and practice, assessing the relationship between them. This module supports you in developing a creative and reflective approach to your practice through a mix of workshops, lectures and offsite visits. While practitioner-led seminars will enable you to build a network of professional contacts.
This module introduces a range of developmental perspectives in relation to the playing child. You'll explore a range of theories and concepts of child development, identifying the key issues and contrasting theoretical orientations. Additionally, you'll be encouraged to consider the role of play in relation to children’s development and wellbeing.
Develop your understanding of contemporary issues affecting children's lived experiences, focusing on the social policy context of childhood. You'll study the new sociology of childhood by examining key principles. This theory supports our understanding of what childhood means in both the UK and global settings. Relevant case studies are used to analyse the effects of the relationship between public opinion, media coverage and social policy processes on children's lived experiences over time and place.
Forming part one of your experiential learning, this module builds on what you studied during your first semester. You'll test key theories, principles and concepts of playwork in a range of practice-based learning scenarios spanning the professional sector. You'll then evaluate your self-developed learning aims to enhance your understanding of best practice principles in relation to playwork and the wider children's workforce.
Part two of your experiential learning considers models of organisational structure, policy development and impact assessment. You'll examine and evaluate processes of project delivery, organisational structures, socio-cultural contexts, and playwork practice. In doing so, you'll reflect on these elements and your role within them, assessing how effectively the agency meets its stated aims and objectives.
In part three of your experiential learning, you'll further your knowledge by putting theory into practice. Building on your first semester, you'll apply and reflect on ideas about childhood, development, and playwork in real-world settings. We'll support you in deepening your understanding through meaningful self-reflection, exploring how best practice can shape your own professional style. Finally, you'll evaluate what it means to become part of a community of practice and how you're establishing your place within it.
What you'll learn
In this module you'll take a deeper dive into the real-world challenges you encountered during your experiential learning in your first year. Together, we'll explore these practice issues through a critical lens, encouraging you to question, apply, and critique playwork theories and concepts. You'll demonstrate your growing expertise by analysing how key theories operate across a range of professional contexts.
Analyse the children's rights debate using the theory you learnt in Childhood: Theory, Constructs & Concepts. This module helps you to distinguish between concepts of consultation, participation, and citizenship. We'll use critical sociological frameworks to explore factors informing and driving the children’s rights agenda and formulate a rights-based framework specific to playwork. Applying relevant theory, you'll evaluate the effects of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and subsequent social policy developments on children's lived experiences of play and participation.
The first part of your experiential learning in your second year progresses directly from Experiential Learning: Theory & Practice Explored. This module enables you to advance your core and transferable practical skills. You'll extend your range of practice experience, tailoring your learning towards your career aspirations. Experiential learning in your second year offers a wider range of professional development opportunities, including overseas. During these modules, you'll test a series of self-determined learning aims in line with your academic progress.
Following on from Experiential Learning: Organisational Development, you'll enhance your understanding of agency delivery and practice in an area related to your career aspirations. You'll learn about and begin to develop analytical and evaluative frameworks, applying them to assess your chosen agency's policies and practices. This equips you with the knowledge and skills to build theoretical and conceptual frameworks for your final year research and dissertation modules.
Part three of your second year experiential learning draws on the reflective practices you learnt in Experiential Learning: Reflective Practice. We'll encourage you to consider the results of your reflections in relation to the concept of adult/child interactions and the impact of 'the self' on the playing child. You'll develop reflexive frameworks designed to deepen your learning and understanding in the context of your chosen agency. We'll support you to challenge best practice in accordance with principles of reflexivity and social constructionism.
Option modules may include
Build on the knowledge you developed in your first year with this option module focused on child development. You'll begin to apply your understanding of the role and function of play in relation to the development and maintenance of children’s wellbeing. Throughout the module, you'll explore a range of interpretations of play from various developmental perspectives. You'll also integrate elements of play and child development, considering the implication for playwork practice.
On this optional module, you'll explore places and spaces for children and their play. You'll be introduced to the policy and practice of the creation of spaces for play, which includes numerous offsite visits. Drawing from children's geographies, planning, and social policy, we'll use frameworks to understand the environments which enable or restrict children's opportunity to satisfy their right to play. Ultimately, this module supports you in identifying how provision in the built and natural environment supports children's play.
What you'll learn
This module aligns with Childhood Development & Playwork: Dissertation, offering you a solid grounding in social research methods. You'll work both autonomously and in groups, engaging with a range of academic, professional, and political literature. By exploring research perspectives, ethical considerations, and input from your teaching team, you'll cultivate your knowledge of your chosen topic within childhood, development, and playwork research. By the end of the module, you'll have gained an expert knowledge of a specific area of research practice to support you in achieving your career aspirations.
For your dissertation, you'll develop a piece of independent work based on a specific theme within the subject area of childhood, development, and playwork. To begin, you'll gain an introduction to the design and structuring of a research project focused on children. We'll guide you along the process needed to take your project from proposal to completion, including how to choose an appropriate research methodology to apply to your investigation. You'll critically analyse your chosen topic with reference to your own research and the theory and practice of playwork.
Explore project development and management principles. Working collaboratively, you’ll develop a project proposal with an associated funding bid for a play project. We’ll guide you through this authentic learning task, exploring live examples with the support of experienced professionals. You’ll deliver a group presentation about your proposal and undertake a personal reflection of your role within the development of the group. Upon completion, you'll have developed the practical and analytical skills required for project development, enabling you to apply for funding while considering the needs of service users.
Study therapeutic intervention from a playwork perspective. Together we'll cover the theory and practice of playwork, developmental psychology, and play therapy. Although this module is theory-focused, we'll address practice issues and look at related practical techniques. Overall, you'll learn how to make appropriate choices as a therapeutic playworker, exploring practice methods and developing skills needed for this profession. By successfully completing this module, you'll be exempt from stage one of the four stage training model of the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APCP).
Option modules may include
This option module builds on the knowledge you've been developing since your first year. We'll introduce you to contemporary perspectives of child development. You'll then be encouraged to analyse both the theoretical and practical implications of these approaches, particularly in relation to the use of play in educational practice around the world. This module will boost your analytical and evaluative skills, enabling you to explore differing theoretical and practical perspectives associated with play and child development. Ultimately, you'll establish your own justifiable view on the value of play in child development.
Engage with a range of sociological ideas and approaches to develop your knowledge of childhood as a social construct on this option module. You'll broaden your understanding about a range of historical and contemporary factors shaping and influencing the development of childhood. We'll examine key differences in how playworkers and other child-focused occupations think about their practitioner-child relationship. You'll explore the implications for children's global lived experiences, articulations in policy and practice, and socio-political discourse informing child-centred policy and legislation. We'll also debate these topics as a class in the context of the new sociology of childhood.
Fees and funding
£9,790
UK
The annual tuition fee for students entering in the 2026/27 academic year is anticipated to be £9790 (the maximum annual tuition fee cap announced by the UK Government, which is subject to parliamentary approval).
For each subsequent year of study, the University may charge up to the maximum annual tuition fee cap set by the UK Government, which may increase in line with any uplift determined by the UK Government by law or government policy (such increases are expected to be linked to inflation).
£16,840
International 2026
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £16840.
Fees and funding
£9,790
For students entering in 2026
The annual tuition fee for students entering in the 2026/27 academic year is anticipated to be £9790 (the maximum annual tuition fee cap announced by the UK Government, which is subject to parliamentary approval).
For each subsequent year of study, the University may charge up to the maximum annual tuition fee cap set by the UK Government, which may increase in line with any uplift determined by the UK Government by law or government policy (such increases are expected to be linked to inflation).
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- Clinical Skills Suite with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are covered by your course fees. Please see essential costs below for more info.
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Essential Costs
- Work-based learning / placement opportunities. You can choose a workplace location which is convenient for travel. Travel expenses thresholds are tiered dependent on the location of the placement. You can claim public transport receipted costs as follows: regional travel up to £300, national travel up to £500, international placement travel up to £750. You will need to cover any costs above these limits.
- Volunteering or relevant work experience; undertaking 100 hours of required volunteering (or paid work) in the first year may incur travel costs that you'll need to cover.
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/or occupational health (OH) check. The cost of these checks is covered by your course fee, but you'll need to pay for your ID documents to be verified (£12.80 as of August 2025). Your DBS check is valid for the duration of your course. New checks are only required if you have a break in your studies outside of the normal holiday periods. If you misplace your certificate during your studies, you'll be charged £49.50 for a new certificate.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
£16,840
For students entering in 2026
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £16840.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- Clinical Skills Suite with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are covered by your course fees. Please see essential costs below for more info.
Essential Costs
- Work-based learning / placement opportunities. You can choose a workplace location which is convenient for travel. Travel expenses thresholds are tiered dependent on the location of the placement. You can claim public transport receipted costs as follows: regional travel up to £300, national travel up to £500, international placement travel up to £750. You will need to cover any costs above these limits.
- Volunteering or relevant work experience; undertaking 100 hours of required volunteering (or paid work) in the first year may incur travel costs that you'll need to cover.
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/or occupational health (OH) check. The cost of these checks is covered by your course fee, but you'll need to pay for your ID documents to be verified (£12.80 as of August 2025). Your DBS check is valid for the duration of your course. New checks are only required if you have a break in your studies outside of the normal holiday periods. If you misplace your certificate during your studies, you'll be charged £49.50 for a new certificate.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Scholarships and bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that an education at Leeds Beckett University is open to all. If you're thinking of joining us for undergraduate study, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship or bursary to help with the cost of university. To find out if you are be eligible visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
We also offer a range of non-repayable scholarships for international students. To find out if you may be eligible visit our scholarships for international students page and select your home country from the drop-down list.
My favourite part of the programme was meeting everyone. We were such a close-knit course. The placements we went on were great. I did a placement at LGI and one with a learning disability company. I’ve become more confident professionally as a result. All my tutors were lovely too. They’re always there for you.
Nikita Brown
BA (Hons) Childhood Development & Playwork
Career prospects
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
Career Prospects
Our graduates have achieved success in a wide range of areas, including managing playwork provision and providing therapeutic playwork services in prisons and hospitals. You could work in a range of roles across children’s services, or take up a management role in local government. The majority of our students finish their placements with an offer of employment by the time they graduate. Should you want to continue your studies and develop your expertise further, our range of postgraduate play therapy courses will be available to you.
- Hospital playworker
- Early years practitioner
- Adventure playground worker
- Local authority play development officer
100%
of BA (Hons) Childhood Development & Playwork graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduation*
I came from a playwork background, but my studies at Leeds Beckett really improved my skillset as a manager and helped put everything I’d been doing into context. I met many new friends and even teamed up with some of them to set up a new business, travelling around the world to places like Costa Rica, Egypt and the US to deliver playwork training.
Andy Hinchcliffe
Children's Centre Manager Wyke Community & Children’s Centre
In preparation for employment, our course offers integral placement opportunities which enable students to explore theory in practice and to develop the skills and confidence to be a competent practitioner.
Alexandra Long
Course Director
Our Graduate Promise
We have a dedicated team of people who will support you with all aspects of your career planning, from day one until 18 months after you graduate.
Getting you career ready is an integral part of your university life and this is embedded throughout your lectures and seminars. Outside of your course there is a wide range of support available to help you achieve your career goals, including:
- Getting ready to apply for jobs
- Working on your CV
- Interview skills and assessment centres
- Connecting with employers and organisations
We’re ranked in the Top 10 universities in the UK for job prospects
(Student Crowd, 2025 - the only awards based entirely on student reviews).
Find out why...
Student life
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Student view Get an insight into the course from student Bethany Lawrence as she shares her experiences in this vlog.
Explore Leeds Beckett
Step inside our immersive 360° virtual tour and discover cutting-edge facilities, dynamic learning spaces, and everything our campus has to offer.
Thinking of staying at home for your studies?
It’s a great option for lots of our local students
Still thinking about your uni choices? Discover Uni has official information to help you decide. They provide statistics for courses taken from national surveys and data collected from universities about their students.
