Program Overview

Social Work (PGDip)

Course Overview

The Social Work PgDip is a 19-month course designed as an entry route to a social work qualification for those with an undergraduate degree in any subject and experience in social work/care. This course is accredited by Social Work England, which is necessary to practice as a professional social worker.

About the Course

This course prepares students to work in a rapidly changing, complex, and unpredictable sector, offering the most up-to-the-minute knowledge, skills, and practice. With a focus on applying theory to practice, it combines work-placement experience, practical skills development, and academic study. The course equips students with the skills, ethical principles, deep knowledge, critical awareness, and reflexivity needed to both develop their existing knowledge and experience and support them to pursue a career in this challenging and rewarding field.

What Will You Study?

• Developing Academic and Professional Social Work: Use knowledge and skills to complete a set of tasks, showing readiness to take on a placement.
• Social Work Law and Ethical Perspectives on Society: Examine the legal, ethical, policy, and social aspects of social work.
• Reflective Professional Social Work Practice: Apply theoretical approaches in practice and reflect critically on experience using them.
• Research-Informed Social Work Practice: Plan, deliver, and improve social work services, and develop strategies for transformation and change.

Assessment

The course is assessed using a range of methods, including formally assessed papers, assignments, case studies, group and individual presentations, research-based work, and evidence drawn from learning in the workplace. All unit assessments draw on experiences in the workplace to embed the integration of theory and practice.

Careers

Approved by Social Work England (SWE), this course opens up a rewarding career path. Successful graduates are eligible to apply to the social work regulator Social Work England for professional registration. Once registered, they can pursue a professional social work career across a range of settings, including within local authorities and many private and voluntary agencies throughout the UK.

Fees

• UK: The standard fee for a Postgraduate Diploma for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £6,700.
• International: The standard fee for a Postgraduate Diploma for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £11,300.

Scholarship Available

The University of Bedfordshire offers a 20% discount on full and part-time Masters courses to those who were successful in completing an Honours Degree with the University of Bedfordshire, DMU's Bedford campus, or the University of Luton.

Facilities and Support

• Faculty's Range of Fully Immersive Simulation Units: Prepare students to respond to and manage a range of scenarios.
• Moot Court, Police Custody Suite, and Interview Room: Provide practical experience.
• Strong Links with Local Authorities: Offer a wide choice of placement opportunities.
• The University's XBX Group (Experts by Experience): Ensure the voices of those with lived experience of social work services are incorporated into all aspects of the course.

Entry Requirements

Details on specific entry requirements are not provided in the given context but typically include an undergraduate degree in any subject and relevant experience in social work or care.

Conclusion

The Social Work PgDip at the University of Bedfordshire is a comprehensive program designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical principles necessary for a successful career in social work. With its strong accreditation, practical approach, and focus on both theoretical and applied learning, this course is an excellent choice for those looking to enter or advance in the social work profession.