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Social Work - NTU in Mansfield BA (Hons)

UCAS code: L502

Start year

Information for 2025

About this course

Social work is about making a real difference. It takes compassion, determination, and a strong mind.

What do social workers do? We step in wherever there’s a need—whether it's protecting children, supporting vulnerable adults, or helping with mental health and the cost of living. We tackle big issues like inequality, discrimination, and poverty, making an impact every day. We help individuals, families, and communities, leaving a lasting mark on their lives.

While the work can be challenging, it’s incredibly rewarding. Social work is more than a job, it’s a calling. Studying this social work degree at NTU Mansfield, you’ll cover real-life issues and develop the skills and knowledge to be a professional social worker. Get ready to be challenged, to develop yourself, and make a real impact on society.

This course is pending approval from Social Work England.

We also offer the BA (Hons) Social Work course at our City Campus.

Why study this course?

  • Experience the real world of social work, with 170 days of practice placements included as standard.
  • Join a wider family — our industry connections and opportunities stretch right across the Midlands.
  • By undertaking this course in Mansfield, you could be sponsored by Nottinghamshire County Council during your studies.

What you’ll study

Studying this course, you’ll get input from a wide range of perspectives—students, lecturers, social work partners, and employers. You’ll graduate with a deep understanding of current practice.

Together, we’ll explore important topics that other degrees might miss, like the impact of digital tools in social work, from online assessments to communicating with service users through text and WhatsApp. Through discussion and reflection, you’ll challenge your own ideas and develop new perspectives. You’ll learn to understand human behaviour, explore responses to trauma and loss, and rethink your views on family and society. You’ll also complete professional placements, gaining experience with key issues like ‘need’ and ‘risk’, and how they’re managed.

This course isn’t just about becoming a social worker; it’s about using your own strength, emotional intelligence, and commitment to making a difference for change. Here’s a full breakdown of the modules you’ll study.

Core modules

Preparing for Professional Social Work Practice (40 Credit Points)

This module aims to equip you with the skills and capabilities in preparation for the assessed placement in Year Two. The module includes 30 practice skill days, which are assessed; culminating in a readiness-to-practise interview and a portfolio of evidence to reflect the skills acquired. Reflective practice, social work values, and interpersonal and communication skills feature highly in this module.

Theories, Models, and Approaches in Social Work Practice (40 Credit Points)

This module provides you with a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the specific theories relevant to social work and your application to practice. Social work models and approaches are also explored in the module. Module content supports you to develop skills in practice hypothesis formulation and support understanding of how social workers can effectively assess service user needs and deliver effective interventions. The module will support your professional development and help you to prepare you for learning in practice from Year 2.

Life Course Development in Social Context (40 Credit Points)

This module will introduce you to the nature and principal features of human development in contemporary social, material, and political contexts. There will be a strong emphasis on the bio-psycho-social features of child development and early family life as the foundation for later trajectories. A life-span development framework will be used throughout, representing human growth and development as the interplay of biological, psychological, social and historical factors, to explain unfolding events in the individual life course.

Core modules

Practice Placement (One) (40 Credit Points)

You'll complete an 80-day placement, and will carry responsibility for a range of work in order to demonstrate meeting the required learning outcomes according to the Professional Capabilities Framework and Knowledge and Skills Statements. A Practice Educator will provide supervision and support, and will assess you during your placement. You will also receive support from your personal tutor.

Engaging with Professional Social Work Practice  (20 Credit Points)

Building upon the knowledge and skills you will have acquired in Year One, you will develop your ability to adopt an enquiring and analytical approach to knowledge in social work, and build the skills for systematic enquiry and critical thinking in practice. You will also build your personal skills and aptitude to engage within practice settings, and meet the personal challenges these present.

Legal and Statutory Responsibilities (40 Credit Points)

You will be equipped with the knowledge to know when statutory powers and duties should be used to prevent, or protect people from, harm; and how legislation can help ensure entitlements are met and rights promoted. Students will be taught to be confident and skilful in order to make complex decisions informed by the social work principles of equality, human rights and social justice.

Social Policy (20 Credit Points)

You will explore contemporary social issues, welfare provision and socio-economic factors contributing to the social problems encountered by service users and their families. Studying social policy from the perspective of social work practice will enhance your understanding of the impact of social policies on marginalised and excluded groups.

Core modules

Practice Placement (Two) (60 Credit Points)

In Year Three the placement increases to 90 days and must include a focus on statutory tasks. A Practice Educator will provide regular supervision and support to enable professional development and assess your practice according to the Knowledge and Skills Statements and Professional Capabilities Framework. Your personal tutor will also provide you with support.

Safeguarding: Working with Risk and Complexity (20 Credit Points)

A module in which the specialist skills and knowledge required for safeguarding vulnerable children and adults are enhanced and consolidated. Students will explore a range of topics and practice-based scenarios / issues including the assessment and management of risk and working with complexity. The module will support students' professional confidence and equip them with core skills and knowledge to undertake their safeguarding responsibilities as qualified practitioners.

Working with Individuals, Groups and Families (40 Credit Points)

Apply a more in-depth and critical social work perspective, with an emphasis on holistic interventions and systemic thinking. The module will enable you to manage risk and safeguard adults, children and families from abuse and harm. The module links with the final practice placement to provide a context for you to complete a final in-depth project, and will generate expertise in an area that is likely to be valued by potential employers.

We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.

How you're taught

How will I learn?

Our teaching team has over 170 years’ professional experience in social work. Across the country, from the NSPCC to the Football Association, they’ve worked in fields as varied as mental health, neurodiversity, domestic violence, child protection, learning disabilities, addiction, and the probationary services. You’ll be learning from the best of the best: add in the insights of guest speakers (including our own graduates, who are ready to share their professional success stories), plus your coursemates’ own experiences of ‘the system’, and your journey towards Social Work England registration will be a dynamic, thought-provoking one.

You’ll learn through a mix of:

  • lectures, introducing the biggest issues in social work, and exploring the realities of professional practice
  • small-group seminars and workshops, designed to improve your teamworking and problem-solving skills
  • simulation, building up your interpersonal skills by roleplaying with people who’ve got lived experience of the social work system
  • real-world case studies, helping you to understand the people and processes that have resolved high-profile, high-risk situations
  • placements in Years Two and Three, where you’ll get to experience different social work environments — from local authorities to the voluntary sector. Where possible, placements will be within Mansfield, Ashfield and the local area provided by Nottinghamshire County Council.  Other potential placement providers are Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, and Derbyshire County Council, and possibly Leicester City Council. It would be advantageous if you have a full driving licence and access to a car.
  • field trips, and opportunities to collaborate with students from our international partner universities across Europe
  • one-on-one meetings with your friendly personal tutor
  • independent study, as you build up your research skills.

How you're assessed

People learn in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. That’s why we’ve introduced a wide range of assessment methods onto NTU’s Social Work degree course — everything from essays, reports, and presentations to quizzes and interviews. Student’s practical performance in placement learning is also assessed.

  • Year 1 coursework, written and practical
  • Year 2 coursework, written and practical
  • Year 3 coursework, written and practical

Contact hours

Here’s the year-by-year breakdown of how you'll be taught throughout our Social Work degree course:

  • Year One — typically students will need to spend two, or three days on site engaging with taught sessions, such as lectures, workshops and tutorials. Approximately 60% of students time will be spent on independent study. Practical skills days are also included in Year One of the course.
  • Year Two — students will complete a 80-day assessed practice placement which is full-time. Typically students will need to spend two, or three days on site engaging with taught sessions, after placement is complete. Approximately 60% of students time will be spent on independent study. Practical skills days are also included in Year Two of the course.
  • Year Three — students will complete a 90-day assessed practice placement which is full-time. Students will return to site in Term 2 to engage in taught sessions. Typically students will need to spend two, or three days on site engaging with taught sessions, after placement is complete. Approximately 70% of students time will be spent on independent study. Practical skills days are also included in Year Three of the course.

Staff Profiles

Sarah Askin - Principal Lecturer

School of Social Sciences

Sarah Askin is a lecturer in Social Work, and course leader for the BA (Hons) Social Work course at NTU.

Peter Benbow - Senior Lecturer (Social Work, Care and Community)

School of Social Sciences

Pete is Course Lead for the Social Work Degree at NTU. He teaches on both BA and MA Social Work courses.

Adam Barnard - Senior Lecturer

School of Social Sciences

Adam Barnard (Dr)

Helen Woods - Senior Lecturer

School of Social Sciences

Helen Woods is a Course Leader on MA Social Work at Nottingham Trent University.

Ms Susan Hodkin - Senior Lecturer

School of Social Sciences

Susan Hodkin is a Senior lecturer and a module leader for four modules across the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship, BA Social Work Degree and the Practice Educator Module on the

Careers and employability

We don’t keep any secrets about the profession. Becoming a social worker is a challenge, but it’s also a privilege. By understanding from day one the realities of professional practice — the fact that supporting vulnerable and marginalised people can be tough, busy work — you’ll be fully prepared for your next steps. Many courses shy away from those realities, but we feel that our job isn’t just to help you find a great graduate role: it’s to help you stay in it, and then progress. That means keeping the profession’s surprises to a minimum.

Because we’ve developed this course in partnership with major social work employers and statutory bodies, the quality of our graduates is already well-known throughout the UK — and even further afield. In that sense, we’re a great university to be associated with.

Experience the real world of social work, as you study

The embedded placements are a vital part of this course. In addition to 30 skills days which are spread over the three-year course, you’ll complete 170 days of assessed placements across Years Two and Three. It’s not just about bringing your theoretical skills out of the classroom and into the real world; it’s about you finding your best professional fit for life after graduation. That could be anything from a local authority, to a school, to a housing association like Framework. What’s more, the placement process will give you the experience of applying for roles and marketing yourself — a big competitive advantage when it comes to job-hunting.

Where possible, placements will be within Mansfield, Ashfield and the local area provided by Nottinghamshire County Council.  Other potential placement providers are Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, and Derbyshire County Council, and possibly Leicester City Council. It would be advantageous if you have a full driving licence and access to a car.

Sponsored students will be guaranteed employment with Nottinghamshire County Council in Mansfield, Ashfield or Bassetlaw upon successful completion of the training.

Social work jobs and careers

Once you’ve graduated and joined the Social Work England register of professional practitioners, the world’s your oyster! On a planet full of people in need, social work is a genuinely global profession. With the knowledge and transferable skills you’ll cultivate on this course, you could be a prime candidate for roles in everything from hospitals and hospices, to NGOs and Third-Sector organisations, to teaching and training — anywhere from Australia to Canada!

Only recently, our graduates have secured roles as:

  • Social Workers, specialising in children and families
  • Adult Care Workers
  • Community Care Officers
  • Mental Health Support Workers, and advocates for Adult Learning Difficulties
  • Befrienders
  • Refugee Support Workers.

Campus and facilities

As an NTU Mansfield student, you’ll benefit from the latest facilities and modern technology to support your studies and help you get the most out of student life.

We are continually investing in our facilities and enhancing our learning and teaching environment to make it an inspiring place for students.

Facilities and services include:

  • University Centre
  • Teaching and Learning Centre
  • Library
  • Dedicated study zones, including PC suites
  • On-site café
  • Social spaces
  • Sports facilities
  • Student Support Services
  • Nottingham Trent Students Union (NTSU) drop-in events.

Entry requirements

UK students

Standard offer: 120 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications

Contextual offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications

Other requirements: Attend an interview, GCSE English Language or Literature grade C / 4 or equivalents. Equivalents include Level 2 Literacy/Level 2 Key Skills.

If you are working towards your GCSE English Literature or English Language or equivalent qualification, please ensure you mention this on your application form.

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

International students

This course is not suitable for Student visa (tier 4) applicants.

Applicants requiring a Student visa (tier 4) should apply for BSc (Hons) Social Work based at our City Campus.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£9,535 per year

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

Bursaries

A university bursary is an award that can help those who may not have otherwise been able to afford to attend university. We offer the following cash bursaries to prospective students:

  • NTU Bursaries
  • NTU Opportunity Bursary
  • NTU Care Leavers and Foyer Resident Bursary
  • NTU Estranged Student Bursary
  • Nursing, Teacher Training and Social Work Bursaries

Find out more about bursaries

Nottinghamshire County Council bursary

By undertaking this course in Mansfield, you could be sponsored by Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) during your studies. Those selected for sponsorship will receive a bursary to pay tuition fees for three years and £2,000 per year contribution towards living expenses.

Scholarships

University scholarships help to fund studies and are awarded to exceptional students with achievements or high potential in both academic and extracurricular fields.

Find out more about scholarships

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

This course is not suitable for applicants who require a student visa.

However, we do accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our Bachelors and Masters degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please see our information about international qualifications.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Most modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) - meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, you can email our Student Money Team or phone us on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

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 the following:

  • an understanding of the role of a social worker and current issues in the industry
  • an insight into the statutory and regulatory aspects of social work and training
  • demonstrate an understanding of the role of a social worker and current issues
  • demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, through spoken and written English
  • demonstrate in your application your motivation to study and train as a social work practitioner
  • provide details of the length of time spent gaining relevant social care experience and the type of social care experience you have (either paid or voluntary) which specifically demonstrates your suitability to study and train as a social work practitioner
  • indicate whether you are interested in being considered for sponsorship by Nottinghamshire County Council.

Make sure you provide clear details of the length of time spent gaining relevant social care experience and the type of experience you have (either paid or voluntary) which demonstrates your suitability to study and train as a social work practitioner. Where this information is missing, you do risk the likelihood of your application not being processed further.

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.

Diversity of our students

We are committed to promoting a diverse and representative body of social workers. We welcome applications from under-represented groups, such as male applicants and applicants from BME communities.

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

This course is not suitable for Student visa (tier 4) applicants.

Applicants requiring a Student visa (tier 4) should apply for BSc (Hons) Social Work based at our City Campus.