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Social Work BA (Hons)

UCAS code: L500

Start year

Information for 2025

About this course

Social work is serious, life-changing business. It calls for good hearts and strong minds.

What do social workers do? Where there’s a need, we’re there; wherever society is squeezed or stretched, we fill the gaps. From child protection to vulnerable adults, to the cost of living and the UK’s mental health crisis, it’s our job to find answers — for individuals, families, and whole communities. Social workers battle against discrimination, poverty, injustice, and inequality, and we earn victories every day. What’s more, we leave a lasting mark on the lives of those who need us.

It’s not always an easy job, but it is a deeply rewarding one. More than a career, it’s a calling. On this social work degree, we’ll deal in the real — the reality of practice, and of people.  Prepare for an eye-opening, stereotype-busting journey of personal growth, as you explore the key issues, questions and processes, and emerge with the skills, knowledge and experience to be a professional social worker — someone who’s ready to make your own special difference to the world.

We also offer the BA (Hons) Social Work course at our Mansfield site.

Why study this course?

  • Learn everything that employers expect to see — this course is accredited by Social Work England.
  • 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.
  • 100% of our Social Work students are satisfied with their course (National Student Survey, 2024).

Accreditation

  • SWE logo

What you’ll study

We’ve built this course with care. What makes it so special is the range of voices feeding into what you’re taught — from students and lecturers, to statutory bodies, to social work partners and employers. You’ll graduate with your finger on the pulse of modern practice.

Together, we’ll explore the big issues and trends that other social work degrees don’t — things like the ‘digitisation’ of the profession, from online assessments to maintaining contact with service users via text and WhatsApp. We’ll talk, share, and reflect — and in the process of doing that, your own opinions and ideas will start to shift. You’ll learn how to make sense of human behaviours, and explore people’s responses to trauma, loss, and tragedy; you’ll unpack your views around family and society, as your eyes open to brand-new ideas and perspectives; and you'll complete professional placements, getting to grips with key issues like ‘need’ and ‘risk’, and examining the different ways they’re managed.

More than just showing you how to become a social worker, this course is about harnessing the strength, emotional intelligence, and desire for chance that’s already inside you. Here’s a full breakdown of the modules you’ll be studying.

Core modules

Preparing for Professional Social Work Practice

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

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

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)

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.

Values, Ethics, and Contemporary Issues

This module builds upon the knowledge and skills you will have acquired in Year One and on first placement. The module focuses on contemporary issues in social work practice.  You will build on your skills and understanding of using evidence-based practice to inform interventions in range of contemporary social work contexts.  It will guide you in integrating social work values and ethics into practice, and introduce you to academic research.

Legal and Statutory Responsibilities

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

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)

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

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.

Research Project

This module consolidates practice and academic learning from your first two years and provides the opportunity for in-depth independent study into an area of social work practice which is of particular interest to you. The module is linked with placement learning, and you will deliver a piece of work that requires research, analysis and critical reflection on an area of challenging practice encountered during placement learning.

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.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Fee Steane

Social Work

The sky is the limit! When I started the course, I never imagined myself being so involved but I have grown in confidence, grabbing any opportunity I can.

Floss Salter

Social Work

I love being a student at NTU. The student life is great and there are so many opportunities to have fun and meet new people.

Tokozani Sithole

Social Work

Make your home at NTU you will never regret your decision. There is room for everyone no matter where you come from or your background.

Andrea Hindle

Social Work is a serious field of study and so I wanted to feel confident that I was being taught in the best place.

Brian Mitchell

Social Work

I was working as a gas and electric meter engineer, visiting people’s homes, seeing a snapshot of their lives, and spending time talking to them. I learned many different stories are hidden behind rows of identical house doors, and inequality exists all around us.

Hear our student stories

 

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. Most of our placements opportunities within the course are within Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, and Derbyshire County Council, plus some in 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 campus 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. Students will return to campus in Term 2 to engage in taught sessions. Typically students will need to spend two, or three days on campus 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 campus in Term 2 to engage in taught sessions. Typically students will need to spend two, or three days on campus 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.

Most of our placements are within Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, and Derbyshire County Council, plus some in Leicester City Council. It would be advantageous if you have a full driving licence and access to a car.

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

You’ll mainly be studying in the Chaucer and Newton buildings, at the centre of our vibrant City Campus. As well as a range of classrooms and lecture theatres, our facilities include a mock courtroom — where you can practise your report-writing and presentation skills with a panel of experts — and an on-site residential simulation, where you’ll get the full experience of knocking on a door, gaining entry to a property, and managing a potentially volatile situation.

NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to stay busy between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our stylish Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets for every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!

Take a few steps off campus and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. It’s stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure. Enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.

Entry requirements

UK students

Standard offer: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to three qualifications

Contextual offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to three qualifications

Other requirements: Attend an interview, GCSE English Language and Maths grade C / 4.

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

International students

Academic entry requirements: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to three A levels. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

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

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

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.

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.
  • £17,500 per year

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment of £6,000 when you've accepted your offer to study at NTU. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, before the start date of your course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about advance payments, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

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.

Year abroad

If you choose to study abroad for a year, you may need to consider additional costs such as visas, vaccinations, accommodation and travel expenses.

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.

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.

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

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
  • your social care work experience (paid or unpaid), and how this relates to social work
  • 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

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.

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

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.