The purpose of this thesis is to describe, analyse, and compare the recontextualisation of social pedagogy in three different curricula; in Nijmegen (NL), Lillehammer (N), and Sligo (IRL). The curricula represent different academic orientations and are located in different social-political contexts. The recontextualisation of social pedagogy, the concept derived from the works of Basil Bernstein, indicates the transformation of social pedagogical actions into an educational context. The material consists of texts: syllabuses, study guides, timetables, assignments, practice placements lists, interviews: teachers, administrators, students, and observations: lectures, placement supervision. The outcome of the recontextualisation is firstly analysed with the use of concepts from Bernstein’s code theory: classification and framing, integrated and collection code, and pedagogic discourse. Secondly the analysis of the recontextualisation is compared to a provisional definition based on the contemporary discourse of social pedagogy. The Nijmegen curriculum is characterised by an integrated code with weak classification between subjects. The framing between lecturers and students as well as between theory and practice is strong. The curriculum emphasises the fostering of strong students with artistic skills as a fundemantal resource. Clients are in some sections presented as commensurable and in other as fundamentally different from the social educational worker. The Lillehammer curriculum is characterised by a collection code that turns into an integrated code in later sections of the programme. The degree of academicalisation is high and it has a strong emphasis on scientifically derived methods in social educational work. The classification between college and work field is weak, framing between lecturers is weak but strong between lecturers and students. The two strands stress different client conceptions; child welfare workers and clients are presented as being on the same level, whereas the asymmetry between welfare nurses and clients evident. The Sligo curriculum has an academic orientation. The programme is built on a collection code; strong classification between subjects. The framing is strong between lecturers, lecturers and students, as well as between the college and the work field. A caring relationship between worker and client is a central goal. As a consequence the relationship between worker and client is presented as rather asymmetric. Ethics and therapy-based reflections on the relationship are central. The fundamentals of the respective national social-political context can be detected in all the three curricula. There is an apparent congruency between curriculum and social-political context.