Social work can be challenging, but it’s also deeply rewarding. We’ll support you to discover the areas of social care that most interest you and match you to relevant professional placements, ensuring you’re well-prepared for life after graduation.
in the UK for graduate prospects
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Accreditation
This degree is accredited by Social Work England, the social work regulator. Successful completion of the programme means you’ll be eligible to apply for registration – a requirement for practising social workers in England.
First for jobs
The University of Worcester is first in the UK for sustained employment, further study or both, five years after graduation (excluding specialist institutions) - Longitudinal Educational Outcomes Survey 2024. Read more.
Overview
A common misconception is that social work is all about supporting young people and their families. And while many social workers do choose to work in children’s services, this is not your only career option. Social workers help people – no matter who that person may be. From those experiencing homelessness to care leavers, to mental ill health and substance abuse, you’ll be able to make a real difference to individuals, families and communities in need.
Our degree programme is designed to support you to become a confident and competent practitioner, equipped to work with children and adults in a variety of environments. After graduating, you’ll be able to register with the social work regulator, Social Work England - a requirement for practising social workers.
You’ll be taught by experienced social work academics and current practitioners with a breadth of experience across the sector. You’ll also have regular opportunities to learn firsthand from service users and carers from the local community through the University’s IMPACT scheme.
Much of your learning will take place in small group seminars, meaning you’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn from your fellow students through informal discussions and debates. We make the most of our excellent on-campus facilities through our simulated learning exercises. Whether you’re role-playing an at-home visit in our simulated adapted semi-detached house , or learning how to give evidence in our replica courtroom, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hone your practical skills before heading out on placement.
Placements
By the end of this course, you’ll have built up 170 days of professional experience – 70 days in year two and 100 days in year three. Our team work hard to link you with placements in social work areas you’re interested in, and as conveniently located as possible.
Recent placements have included roles in:
- Local authorities
- Hospitals and hospices
- Drug and alcohol services
- Homelessness services
- Advocacy services
- Mental health services
- Domestic abuse organisations
You’ll also be assigned a dedicated practice educator – a registered social worker who will supervise your placements and support you in transferring the skills you’ve learned on campus into a professional work environment.
Course content
On this accredited programme, you’ll learn the skills, theories and policies you need to practice social work. You’ll then apply your knowledge to real-world contexts through simulated learning exercises and professional placements.
Throughout the course, you’ll gain a broad range of experience in the field, with qualified social workers supervising you as you complete a total of 170 days of placement in two contrasting settings.
All modules are mandatory to ensure your eligibility for the Social Work England register.
Careers
Most of our graduates become registered social workers upon successful completion of the programme.
As a social worker, you can work with a wide variety of people, including:
- Young people and their families
- Older people
- People with learning and/or physical disabilities
- Children and young people who offend
- People with mental ill health
- School non-attenders
- People with drug and alcohol dependencies
- The homeless
While many social workers are employed by local authorities, there are also opportunities to work in hospitals and hospices, GP surgeries, schools, health services, children’s homes, charities, and nursing homes.
Other career options
As well as becoming a social worker, your degree could be your first step towards becoming a:
- Youth worker
- Family support worker
- Equality, diversity and inclusion officer
- Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)
- Community development worker
Opportunities to progress
You may wish to take your learning further and progress onto postgraduate study. Relevant postgraduate degrees at Worcester include:
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is a mix of interactive seminars, lectures, one-to-one tutorials and practical skills sessions.
Your assessments will help prepare you for a career as a social worker and include writing reflective essays and reports, engaging in group debates, collecting portfolios of evidence and completing skill simulations.
Teaching and assessment contents
You are taught through a combination of formal lectures, seminars, group work tasks and interactive skills workshops. Lectures by both academic staff and current practitioners provide you with expert knowledge and contemporary theory relating to social work practice, while seminars and group work tasks enable you to develop your understanding of topics in greater depth, as well as learning from your peers. Skills workshops offer opportunities for practical application and rehearsal of core social work skills, whilst receiving feedback from practitioners and service user and carer colleagues.
In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year and three occasions in each of the other years of a course.
Meet the Social Work team
Meet some of the Social Work team that you'll be learning from.
Dr Peter Unwin
I have enjoyed a long and varied career in social work, specialising in safeguarding, foster care and service user and carer (SUAC) involvement. I began my career in residential care in South Africa in the days of apartheid and this era of oppression fired me up with a strong sense of social justice. I went on to qualify as a social worker in the UK and moved into senior management and inspection roles with local authorities.
Peter Ayling
My background is in social work practice with children and families including child protection, children in care, fostering and adoption, child and adolescent mental health.
I have also been involved in therapeutic work with children for the last 15 years as a social worker and play therapist and am enthusiastic about supporting the emotional development and wellbeing of children and ensuring that children's views and wishes about their lives are heard and acted on.
I believe in the importance of the social work profession for our society and enjoy being involved in the training of talented and committed future social workers.
Diane Asamoah
Diane is the course leader for the Social Work Continuous Professional Development programs. She currently lectures on the BA(Hons) Practice Realities module, MA Complex practice, supporting students to prepare for Social Work employment, PEPS 2 and Practice Leadership for Strength Based Practice.
She looks forward to supporting students with an understanding of the skills needed for current Social Work practice.
Dr Peter Unwin
I have enjoyed a long and varied career in social work, specialising in safeguarding, foster care and service user and carer (SUAC) involvement. I began my career in residential care in South Africa in the days of apartheid and this era of oppression fired me up with a strong sense of social justice. I went on to qualify as a social worker in the UK and moved into senior management and inspection roles with local authorities.
Peter Ayling
My background is in social work practice with children and families including child protection, children in care, fostering and adoption, child and adolescent mental health.
I have also been involved in therapeutic work with children for the last 15 years as a social worker and play therapist and am enthusiastic about supporting the emotional development and wellbeing of children and ensuring that children's views and wishes about their lives are heard and acted on.
I believe in the importance of the social work profession for our society and enjoy being involved in the training of talented and committed future social workers.
Student case studies
Find out more about some recent Social Work BA students.
Tina Young
“Coming to university as a mature student certainly does have its challenges and to come away with a First Class Honours feels amazing. I will most definitely be back to complete a Master’s degree in the future.
“The University of Worcester has such a good reputation, combined with having friends who have completed their degrees there and having such a positive feeling about the university when I went to the Open Day,” she said.
As the pandemic began to take hold, she was coming to the end of her degree and writing her dissertation. “All of my tutorials had to take place online, which initially I was worried about as I was writing such a big piece of work,” she said. “However, my lecturers/tutors were all amazing and I knew they were only a video call away.”
Charlotte Grimason
A student, who graduated with First Class Honours, has spoken about how her experiences of growing up in foster care have increased her determination to succeed. "It felt that having the status of a ‘looked after child’ automatically gave people the view that I wouldn’t succeed in life. I also felt a lot of determination to prove everyone wrong and that started with obtaining my GCSE’s, then A levels and progressing into university.”
Once at university, Charlotte made the most of her opportunities, enjoying several work placements and even a year abroad in Malta. Her final year dissertation, which looked at the outcomes for looked after children, also gave her encouragement. Since completing her degree, Charlotte has gone on to secure a job as a children’s social worker, where she is determined to play her part in ensuring the next generation of looked after children have a chance to discover their own rich potential.
Tina Young
“Coming to university as a mature student certainly does have its challenges and to come away with a First Class Honours feels amazing. I will most definitely be back to complete a Master’s degree in the future.
“The University of Worcester has such a good reputation, combined with having friends who have completed their degrees there and having such a positive feeling about the university when I went to the Open Day,” she said.
As the pandemic began to take hold, she was coming to the end of her degree and writing her dissertation. “All of my tutorials had to take place online, which initially I was worried about as I was writing such a big piece of work,” she said. “However, my lecturers/tutors were all amazing and I knew they were only a video call away.”
Charlotte Grimason
A student, who graduated with First Class Honours, has spoken about how her experiences of growing up in foster care have increased her determination to succeed. "It felt that having the status of a ‘looked after child’ automatically gave people the view that I wouldn’t succeed in life. I also felt a lot of determination to prove everyone wrong and that started with obtaining my GCSE’s, then A levels and progressing into university.”
Once at university, Charlotte made the most of her opportunities, enjoying several work placements and even a year abroad in Malta. Her final year dissertation, which looked at the outcomes for looked after children, also gave her encouragement. Since completing her degree, Charlotte has gone on to secure a job as a children’s social worker, where she is determined to play her part in ensuring the next generation of looked after children have a chance to discover their own rich potential.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 120
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| A-level | BBB |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDM |
| T-level | Merit |
We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above. Work out your estimated points with the UCAS tariff calculator.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Social Work BA (Hons) - L500
Contact
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