Social Work BA (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): L500
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: Three years full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
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.
This Social Work England (SWE) 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.
Why choose this course?
- We work closely with employers in the statutory and independent sectors to ensure our course content is up to date with the latest social work knowledge and practice.
- 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 a current and relevant learning experience. Throughout the course, we provide a strong emphasis on professionalism, social work values and links between theory and practice.
- You'll complete assessed placements, which will give you the opportunity to gain valuable experience of being a student social worker in a range of different workplaces.
- 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.
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92% of Social Work students are positive about the teaching on their course (National Student Survey 2023) -
90% of BA (Hons) Social Work graduates were in high-skilled jobs 15 months after completing their studies (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2020/21).
What you’ll study
This Social Work England (SWE) 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.
You'll undertake an assessed placement which will give you the opportunity to gain valuable experience of being a student 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. Evidence-based practice and research underpin work in the social work arena, so you will explore what works in practice settings.
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; 10 of these days are on a shadowing or observational basis within an agency context, 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.
Reflective Assessment and Intervention Strategies
Develop a comprehensive understanding and knowledge base of the critical elements of social work practice, in particular assessment and intervention. A combination of large group teaching, directed study, and workshops using interactive exercises will enable you to understand and apply relevant theories, methods and models to typical situations that require social work intervention. You will develop an understanding of the legal and policy frameworks that inform social work practice, as well as the historical context to social work professional development, social work ethical and value base. Anti-oppressive practice will be incorporated throughout the module as well as the importance of drawing upon evidence, including research, to inform social work practice.
Life Course Development in Social Context
You will be introduced 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-psychosocial 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. Theories relating to key developmental processes of social work concern (e.g. attachment, transition, and loss) will be illustrated using a chronological account of the human life course. An understanding of increasing diversity in adult life will be developed by exploration from a sociological perspective of social change, political economy, and current events. You will therefore begin to develop a broad appreciation of the nature, causation, effects and lived experience of social problems such as mental health issues and family breakdown. Major influences on the adult life course, such as changing family structures, non-normative events and ageing processes, will be used to develop your understanding of the later 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.
Engaging with Professional Social Work Practice
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
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.
Working with Individuals, Groups and Families
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.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you’re taught
To provide you with a first-class learning experience and to guarantee you have an opportunity to make the most of your time at university, you'll receive contact time through a diverse range of delivery methods.
Structured teaching will be delivered through a combination of traditional lectures, seminars, and workshops. The smaller group seminars and workshops provide opportunities to develop a range of skills that are used with daily social work practice, such as:
- problem-solving skills
- group working
- analysis
- debating skills
- presentation skills
- the ability to discuss and reflect upon a wide range of views effectively.
Tutorials with staff
As the relationship between students and tutors is an important one, you can expect to have lots of direct contact and support through seminars and one-to-one tutorials via your Personal Tutor and when in your social work placement, your Practice Educator. At these sessions you’ll have the opportunity to:
- discuss and gain feedback about your work.
- ask questions about your academic and professional practice.
- raise any difficulties you are experiencing relating to your academic work, practice placement, your personal circumstances, or your university experience.
During your time on the course your Personal Tutor, who will work with you on both academic and practice placement throughout your degree.
Independent study
Independent study is an important and expected part of this course. Throughout the three years of your course, the scheduled contact hours you receive will gradually decrease as you develop the skills required to undertake an independent study or dissertation in your final year. You'll still have regular contact with your tutors, and if necessary ad hoc tutorials can be arranged when necessary.
Virtual learning environment
You'll also use our virtual learning environment, NOW, which is a flexible web-based system that allows you to have 24-hour access to module learning materials and reading lists. It allows you to discuss work with tutors and other students, and submit coursework electronically from anywhere in the world.
Learning from experts
You will be taught by a team of qualified and registered staff that come from a range of professional environments in social work and the health and social care sectors. As a team they continue to influence social work practice and research through their professional networks that include BASW, publications and the delivery of training to qualified social work practitioners.
How will I be assessed?
The majority of your work will be assessed through coursework-based essays, reports and presentations. You'll also be assessed using formal examinations and online tests. The practice placements in years 2 and 3 of the degree also form an integral part of the assessment process. They are arranged and assessed by the University in partnership with statutory social work and voluntary social care organisations.
In response to student feedback, the University have introduced a policy ensuring marked work is returned to you electronically within three weeks of submission.
Contact hours
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (20%), independent study (73%) and placement (7%)
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (16.25%), independent study (54.75%) and placement (29%)
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (12%), independent study (44%) and placement (44%)
How you’re assessed
- Year 1 coursework (66%), written (17%) and practical (17%)
- Year 2 coursework (66%), Written (17%) and practical (17%)
- Year 3 coursework (100%)
Careers and employability
Social Work graduate jobs
The job titles below give an indication of the careers our recent Social Work graduates have gone in to:*
- 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
- Adult Social Care
- Refuge Support Worker.
Excellent work experience opportunities
You'll undertake two assessed social work practice placements, which will give you the opportunity to gain valuable experience of working alongside and learning from highly experienced qualified social care professionals, as well as registered social work practitioners from a range of settings. These form an integral part of the assessment process and are arranged and assessed by the University in partnership with statutory social work and voluntary sector social care organisations.
Throughout the duration of the degree you'll complete 30 practice skills days, which are incorporated in a number of modules, for example Preparing for Professional Social Work Practice that is inclusive of a readiness-to-practice interview.
In Year Two you'll complete your first practice placement of 80 days, and then in Year Three you will complete your final practice placement of 90 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 statutory social work and voluntary sector social care agencies that provide opportunities for experience in a variety of settings, primarily in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Your career development
At the end of the course you'll graduate with the experience and confidence to believe that you do have the 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 Social Work England (SWE) and you will need to abide by it code of Professional Standards. 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 Social Work England (SWE) register or for annotation of an individual’s current registration.
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
With ever-increasing pressures of public accountability upon social workers, our Social Work degree has recognised the need to ensure that you are prepared for all kinds of scrutiny in the professional environment. In conjunction with Nottingham Law School, which has authentic court rooms based in the Chaucer building, we are now testing our students in their court report skills by having them present to expert panels in the mock court rooms.
As a Social Sciences student you will have easy access to the fantastic facilities in the Chaucer and Taylor buildings, including:
- lecture theatres and teaching classrooms
- open access PCs and secure wireless points
- study areas and social spaces
- Chaucer café, serving drinks and light snacks
- our School of Social Sciences reception, providing you with easy access to our helpful and friendly support staff.
IT resources
Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City Campus, with PCs providing access to:
- Microsoft Office
- web browsing
- networked file storage
- high-speed online printing services.
The University’s main resource room in the library is available 24 hours a day.
Book and library resources
In our library you will have access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within Criminology. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our:
- electronic resources
- journals
- books.
We have a liaison librarian who is available to give you detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources. They can also help you with things such as Harvard referencing and research skills.
City location
The location of the City Campus also means that you have easy access to:
- sports facilities
- shops
- student accommodation
- music venues
- cafés.
Entry requirements
What are we looking for?
- A-levels – BBB; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM; or
- 120 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
- GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4.
We also consider equivalent qualifications and combinations. Please see our website or UCAS Course Search for more details.
If you are working towards your GCSE English Literature or English Language and / or Maths or equivalent qualification, please ensure you mention this on your application form.
Personal statement
In addition to the entry requirements listed above, you will need to submit a personal statement demonstrating:
- an understanding of the role of a social worker and current social work issues
- an insight into the statutory and regulatory aspects of social work and social work 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 social work 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.
Other requirements
You will also need to:
- take part in a 3 stage interview process that is inclusive of an online written test, an in-person group work exercise and panel interview.
- complete an enhanced-level Disclosure and Barring Service check
- provide a satisfactory health declaration
- declare any personal involvement with Children's and / or Adult Services by completing a Character Conduct form
- confirm the ability to use a range of IT facilities including email, internet, and word processing.
There may also be other recommendations, such as a vaccination programme, before any placements can be undertaken.
Interview dates
We welcome early applications from candidates as we are keen to meet you and introduce you to our BA Social Work degree. We are open to receiving your application from September 2023. Interview days are then due to start from October 2023 onwards.
Other qualifications and experience
We consider equivalent qualifications and combinations, please see UCAS course search for details and use our calculator to help you work out how many UCAS points your qualifications relate to.
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Contextual offers
As well as assessing your application and qualifications, we use contextual data and information to make offers for this course. Depending on your circumstances, we may make you an offer up to two grades below the standard entry criteria. Find out how we assess your application.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please contact us at Ask NTU or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.
For this course, you will need one of the following:
- 120 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
- GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4.
We also consider equivalent qualifications and combinations.
If you are working towards your GCSE English Literature or English Language and / or Maths or equivalent qualification, please ensure you mention this on your application form.
Personal Statement
In addition to the entry requirements listed above, you will also need:
- an understanding of the role of a social worker and current social work issues
- an insight into the statutory and regulatory aspects of social work and social work 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 social work 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.
Other requirements
You will also need to:
- take part in a 3 stage online interview process that is inclusive of an written test, a groupwork exercise and panel interview.
- complete an enhanced-level Disclosure and Barring Service check (formally known as a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure)
- provide a satisfactory health declaration
- declare whether you have had any personal involvement with Children's and / or Adult Services by completing a Character Conduct form
- confirm the ability to use a range of IT facilities including email, internet and word processing.
There may also be other recommendations, such as a vaccination programme, before any placements can be undertaken.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
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.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Interview dates
Interview dates for entry to the programme are to be confirmed. Please note interview dates may be subject to change will be confirmed to successful applicants when they are invited for interview. You are invited to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
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.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, 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 text books, 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.
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.
Print and copy 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, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
For guidance, tuition fees for September 2023 entry are:
Mode of study | International tuition fee |
|---|---|
Full-time | £15,600 |
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
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.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
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 social work issues
- an insight into the statutory and regulatory aspects of social work and social work 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 social work 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 social care 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 social work issues
- an insight into the statutory and regulatory aspects of social work and social work 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 social work 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 social care 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!