Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Social Work

Overview

Studying for the BA (Hons) Social Work course is the essential first step to becoming a qualified social worker. When you graduate, you'll be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England.

Social workers improve the lives of a huge range of people. For example, you could work with people with learning difficulties, children and families, older people, people who have problems with drug and alcohol misuse, people who experience mental health problems, or disabled people. Placements are an important part of this social work degree and will allow you to gain real-world experience of working in a social work setting, preparing you for a successful career in this field when you graduate.

Why us?

• Our Social Work courses are 1st in the North East and 14th in the UK (Complete University Guide, 2025)
• Our small cohorts mean that almost all teaching is done in small groups, based primarily on discussion, debate, and group exercises, with opportunities for all students to get involved
• Our Social Work courses are 5th in the UK for student experience (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024)
• You'll be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor who, if possible, will stay with you during your three years of study. We pride ourselves on the support we offer to students and feedback consistently identifies that staff are approachable and supportive.

Course structure

The BA (Hons) Social Work course is taught via workshops, small group work, lectures, computer-based learning, presentations, and independent learning.

Your progress will be assessed with group projects/presentations, written assignments, portfolios of work, and exams at the end of some modules. Throughout this social work degree, you'll have one-to-one support from academic staff.

You'll learn about the role of a social worker and the legislation which is applicable to social work theory, research, ethics, and values.

Two practice learning opportunities (70 and 100 days) in your second and third year will help you to put your learning into practice.

You'll develop skills in problem-solving, communication, working with others, and patience. You'll also learn about law, partnership working, assessment, intervention, mental health, and disability issues.

The BA (Hons) Social Work degree is also available to study on a part-time basis.

Course modules

Year 1 (national level 4):

• Introduction to Social Work (30 credits) Examine the historical context of what social work is and what it sets out to achieve, looking at the broad areas in which social work takes place and social workers operate. Consider what social workers do, who they work with, and the regulatory frameworks in which the profession operates. Explore the values and ethics in social work and start to reflect on your own values, and how these might influence your practice.
• The Context for Social Work (30 credits) Explore social policy and consider the wider influences on society from certain political ideologies. Reflect on how social policy impacts on modern social work and directly influences professional practice. Study community-based approaches and how these have been developed within the current political sphere. Examine how political ideology determines the level of socio-economic prosperity of local communities. Directly research local communities to consider the impact of social policy on individuals and groups within a chosen area.
• Preparing for Social Work Practice (30 credits) Build on your academic and interpersonal skills in preparation for both studying and in practice as a social work student. Learn about the expectations of academic study within Higher Education and gain the study skills required to be successful. Focus on developing professional interpersonal skills including communication, team work and relationship building. Explore the theory behind these skills and reflect on your own professional development. Demonstrate your readiness for practice ahead of your first placement in second year.
• Psychosocial Theories for Social Work (30 credits) Develop knowledge of the key theoretical frameworks from social science disciplines which inform and underpin social work practice, including key perspectives and major schools of thought in both sociology and psychology. Learn about sociological perspectives and how they can be used to explain and understand a range of social issues. Focus on psychological theories and perspectives and what these can offer within a life course approach, making links back to sociological perspectives.

Year 2 (national level 5):

• Legal Frameworks for Social Work (30 credits) Gain an introduction to the legal context of social work, including sources of the law and processes of law making and decision making. Learn about the key legislation, policy and guidance that underpins social work practice with a range of people including children and families, adults, and carers. Consider the degree to which the law supports social work values and enhances or constrains ethical decision making in practice. Gain knowledge of the key legislative, policy and guidance frameworks which will support you prior to starting your first placement.
• Supporting Individuals, Families and Groups (30 credits) Develop your understanding of the importance of working with individuals and groups including adults, children and families. Explore power, autonomy and discrimination in more detail, including the conflicts between care and control and the importance of understanding people’s needs and wishes. Focus on relationship building between professionals and individuals and families. Examine the role of assessment and intervention in social work and how this can be used to effectively support individuals and families.
• Research Informed Social Work (30 credits) Build on your knowledge and skills around research methods, as well as the critical and reflective skills you have developed across the first year of study, enabling you to consider the impact of research on an area of practice. Learn about different research methods and the relevance of research within social work practice. Gain an introduction to different ways of undertaking research and develop the ability to critique it, considering the strengths and limitations of different approaches and what this means for their use within practice. Further develop your critical thinking, reflective and reflexive skills and examine the use of research within a practice setting.
• Theory and Practice for Social Work (30 credits) Explore a variety of different social work theories, as well as various aspects of the assessment and intervention process. Examine a range of specific models that are used in social work. Undertake a practice placement within a social work or social care setting in line with Social Work England requirements and actively engage in direct work overseen by a practice educator.

Year 3 (national level 6):

• Complex Decision Making in Social Work (30 credits) Focus on decision making including risk assessment, reflection and analysis, and critical writing. Consider more complex decision making when working with adults and children at risk. Examine decision making in relation to social work, including a critical consideration of advanced areas of safeguarding adults and children, such as relevant legislation and research. Hear from a range of speakers providing current perspectives on different areas of complex social work practice.
• Organisational Contexts and Professional Identity (30 credits) Explore and critically analyse the reality of the practice environment and the implication of the structures in which social work operates. Consider the impact of organisational and management culture as it sits within a political ideology and how this may inhibit or facilitate service delivery. Examine your own professional identity and how organisational culture and wider factors can influence your identity as a student social worker.
• Social Work Literature Review (30 credits) Produce a literature review which explores and critiques the current research knowledge on a topic of your choice. Consolidate your learning from the course and explore in depth a topic that you are interested in, critiquing and synthesising the evidence base, and discussing the relevant of this for social work practice, policy and research. Develop the research skills needed to undertake a literature review and receive regular support from a dissertation supervisor to produce an independent project.
• Final Social Work Placement (30 credits) Undertake a final placement in line with Social Work England requirements. Consolidate your knowledge gained over the course into a practice setting and provide experience of high risk decision making and legal interventions, whilst being supported and assessed by a practice educator.

Facilities

You'll be based at the recently refurbished Wearside View, situated on the award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's. This stunning riverside location benefits from dedicated library services and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

• Irish Leaving Certificate: 120 UCAS points – Students must have H1-H7 or O1-O4 in Maths & English.
• QQI/FETAC 5: Pass profile overall. For entry we also require H1-H7 or O1-O4 in Maths and English from Irish Leaving Certificate.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at for further advice.

Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you to study with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you are eligible.

If English isn't your first language, you'll also need International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at a score of 7.0 in all components.

The application process

As social work is a regulated profession and successful completion of the course gives you basis to apply for registration with the English regulator, Social Work England, there are several stages to our selection process.

The first stage involves your application where you showcase your knowledge and experience and make it clear why you want to study social work. If your application is shortlisted, you'll be invited to complete a written exercise online that looks at your written ability and assesses your attitude and values towards a social work-related scenario.

If successful, you'll then be invited to an interview, where you'll meet staff who teach the course, as well as some current students. You'll complete an assessed group discussion with other applicants and an individual interview. During the interview, it’s important that you show some understanding of social work and demonstrate your motivation and commitment to becoming a social worker. This is your opportunity to tell us more about yourself and why you'd be a great candidate for the course. Both your group discussion and individual interview will be scored by staff and co-educators and offers will be made based on these scores.

Social Care experience

To apply for this degree, you must have experience (voluntary or paid) in a social care setting. You can include placements which you've undertaken as part of college, but we do expect more experience than this. Experience could include volunteering during weekends, evenings, or holidays. We may also consider any personal experience you might have.

You should clearly describe this experience in the personal statement section of your application and show how this relates to a career in social work.

Social work involves working with some of the most vulnerable people in society, and social work education is regulated by Social Work England. We must therefore be satisfied that you're 'fit to practise' before we can accept you onto this degree.

In addition to the academic qualification and work experience, you'll need:

• Two satisfactory references
• A satisfactory health clearance (reasonable adjustments can be made for those with any specific health requirements)
• An Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• A completed declaration form about previous criminal convictions and any disciplinary hearings or investigations related to vulnerable adults or safeguarding young people.

We also require you to complete a declaration form about any previous criminal convictions and any disciplinary hearings or investigations related to vulnerable adults or safeguarding young people. Social work is listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 [amended 2013] so this means that we must ask you for an enhanced DBS check.

Some spent convictions and cautions are now ‘protected’, which means that we can't take them into account when deciding on your suitability for this course. You must read the Disclosure and Barring Service Filtering Guide carefully to decide whether or not you need to tell us about your spent convictions or cautions.

Driving

While it isn't mandatory that you hold a driving licence and have access to a vehicle to undertake this course, please be aware that the availability of placements may be limited by not driving. Many Local Authorities in the North East also require driving or access to mobility support as an essential requirement for employment.

Fees and finance

The annual, full-time fee for this course is:

• £9,535 if you are from the UK/Europe
• £16,500 if you are an international student

*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

Tuition fees for part-time students are £7,145 per 90 credits. Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.

A limited number of social work bursaries are available. See the NHS Business Services Authority website for more information.

If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces, then the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme may be able to help cover your funding for this course. Read more about funding for Armed Forces personnel.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

The BA (Hons) Social Work degree is a highly practical qualification. After graduation, you'll be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England.

Social work is a very broad discipline. You could work with older people, young offenders, people with mental health issues, foster carers, children at risk of abuse, or any other individuals at risk of harm to themselves or others.

Social workers work in a variety of organisations including local authorities, NHS Trusts, residential care, schools, and the voluntary and private sectors.

Centre for Applied Social Sciences

The University of Sunderland’s Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS) regularly hosts research seminars presented by faculty academics and also visiting speakers and it can be an excellent way to learn about current and up to date research on contemporary social care issues. You may also find opportunities to collaborate with the academic team.

Practice learning opportunities

Placements are an essential part of this social work course, accounting for 70 credits in total. Placements allow you to apply your learning in a real-life context and get a sense of what type of social work you might want to specialise in. When you’re ready to start searching for a job in social work, you'll already have a wide network of professional contacts who can help you find the right opportunities.