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Social Work BA (Hons)

  • Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
  • Start Date(s): September 2019
  • Duration: Three years full-time
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information

Introduction:

100% of our BA (Hons) Social Work students are satisfied with the course overall (National Student Survey 2018)

This Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) approved degree will prepare you for the role of a social worker. It has been designed to enable you to progress into employment and integrates both academic and practice work-based modules.

Do you want to make a difference to people's lives? Then our Social Work degree is for you. You will gain the knowledge and skills that could really change someone's life.

Why choose this course?

  • We work closely with employers in the statutory and independent sectors to ensure our course content retains a focus on the people entitled to use the services. It also helps to ensure that you are ready for professional practice when you qualify.
  • Teaching is carried out by staff from a range of professional backgrounds and is underpinned by research, providing you with a great balance between academic and applied educational experiences. Throughout the course, we provide a strong emphasis on professionalism, values and the links between social work theory and practice.
  • You'll complete assessed placements, which will give you the opportunity to gain valuable experience of being a full-time social worker in a range of different workplaces.
  • We’re a top 20 University for social work in the Guardian University Guide 2019.

Learn from our experts

You'll be taught by an expert team of enthusiastic staff who are qualified professionals and come from a range of professional environments in social work and the health and social care sector. They are widely published in their field and the course content is informed by their specific research interests, which ensures you have an up-to-date and relevant learning experience.

What you’ll study

Staff Profiles

Anne Darby - Learning Adviser

School of Social Sciences

Anne Darby (Ms)

Graham Bowpitt - Visiting Professor

Graham Bowpitt (Dr)

Careers and employability

Our Social Work graduates get jobs — 100% of our BA (Hons) Social Work students are in employment or further study within six months of finishing their degree (DLHE 2016/17)

The job titles below give an indication of the careers our recent Social Work graduates are following:*

  • Social Worker
  • Child Protection Social Worker
  • Mental Health Social Worker
  • Children and Family Social Worker
  • Community Forensic Mental Health Social Worker
  • Community Care Officer
  • Mental Health Practitioner/ Social Worker
  • Befriender
  • Support Worker
  • Refuge Support Worker

*Latest DLHE survey undergraduate results, 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Excellent work experience opportunities

You'll undertake an assessed placement, which will give you the opportunity to gain valuable experience of being a full-time social worker in a range of different workplaces. These form an integral part of the assessment process, and are arranged and assessed by the University in partnership with social work organisations.

In Year One you'll complete 30 practice skills days, which are incorporated into the Preparing for Professional Social Work Practice module – including a readiness-to-practice interview and 10 practice skill days in local agencies on a shadowing or observational basis.

In Year Two you'll complete 70 placement days, and then 100 days in your final year. We will endeavour to arrange your final placement in the setting you hope to work in after you qualify.

We have well-established partnerships with local social work agencies that provide opportunities for experience in a variety of settings, primarily in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Your career development

You'll graduate with the confidence, experience and ability to make a difference to people's lives.

Social work is very demanding and carries a lot of responsibility. It's also a regulated profession. All social workers must register with the regulator and agree to abide by a code of practice. On completing the degree you may be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and you will need to abide by a code of ethics and behaviour in relation to the profession. In addition, many employers will be offering an Assessed Year in Employment to newly qualified social workers.

Please be aware that an aegrotat award certificate allowing a student to obtain their degree despite illness etc., or any other exit award granted to students who do not complete the course, does not confer eligibility to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council register or for annotation of an individual’s current registration.

The course has an excellent employability record, and many of our students enter the profession by working in services for children or adults. Opportunities may also exist in social services departments, the private and independent sector, educational welfare, services such as guidance-providing agencies, careers services, and youth justice.

Our Employability team

We have a dedicated Employability team located on the City Campus. The team are well placed to give you specialist guidance and practical help that will really make a difference to your prospects once you do graduate.

Campus and facilities

How to apply

Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Writing your application and personal statement

Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember that we can only make a decision based on what you tell us, so include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.

Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Important information

Social Work at NTU has a limited number of places available to ensure that you receive a good quality placement experience. In exceptional circumstances this may result in the course becoming full before you have completed the admissions process. In this situation we will offer you the opportunity to be considered for the following year’s entry.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

You can apply directly to NTU for an undergraduate course if you’re not applying to any other UK university in the same year. If you are applying to more than one UK university, you must apply through UCAS.


Apply as early as you can so that you have time to prepare for your studies. If you need a visa to study here, you need to plan this into your application.

Important information

Social Work at NTU has a limited number of places available to ensure that you receive a good quality placement experience. In exceptional circumstances this may result in the course becoming full before you have completed the admissions process. In this situation we will offer you the opportunity to be considered for the following year’s entry.

Apply now

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Good luck with your application!