Program Overview

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The programme is for those who intend to work as professional social workers, and includes a substantial element of practice learning. You will undertake two contrasting practice placements - one of 85 days duration in Year 1, and one of 100 days duration in Year 2. The programme is recognised by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council for purposes of registration as a social worker. It is also recognised internationally, for example, by the Australian Association of Social Workers via their International Qualifications Assessment process.

Although the programme includes underpinning learning in the social sciences, such as social policy, psychology, sociology and law, the focus of the programme is on the development of skills, values and knowledge required for practice. You must successfully complete a preparation for practice learning module (Year 1, Semester 1) prior to undertaking supervised practice learning on placement.

Why choose

a Career in Social Work?

When you become a Social Worker, you will have the opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and to champion human rights and social justice.

You will be part of a profession where you feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment.

You can apply for an incentive payment of £4,500 for each year of study if you live and study Social Work in Northern Ireland.

You can expect to choose from a number of social work employers - the Health and Social Care Trusts, Probation, Youth Justice, the Education Authority or in the third sector (voluntary, community and independent organisations).

Your starting salary as a newly qualified Social Worker in HSC will be over £22,000, with an automatic pay rise to £26,000-£32,000 after successfully completing the Assessed Year in Employment (AYE).

Newly qualified Social Workers receive extra support through the ‘Assessed Year in Employment’.

Your Social Work training will blend academic and practice learning, offering you direct contact with service users and carers.

When you graduate, there will be a variety of job choices working across the life-course (with children, adolescents, adults and older people); as part of specialist teams (mental health, addictions, family support), residential and day care settings, hospitals, schools, prisons and community development projects.

As a qualified Social Worker, your career will offer excellent opportunities for promotion, and access to high quality post-qualifying courses at Master’s and Doctoral level for continuous personal and professional development.

Your Degree in Social Work will enable you to work in countries outside of the UK throughout your career.

Associate awards

Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS

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Attendance

The Course lasts 2 years with full time attendance on campus for 2 semesters. In the second semester of each year students will normally be on placement with a Social Work Agency.

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Start dates

September 2023

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Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Our Learning and Teaching Strategy is based on Ulster University’s Corporate Plan, ‘5&50’ which is a Five Year Strategic Plan, Fiftieth Year Strategic Vision (2016-2034) to offer the highest quality learning and student experience. Its overarching aim is to provide students with high quality, challenging and rewarding learning experience that equips students with the knowledge, skills, values and the confidence necessary to demonstrate critical intellectual inquiry, to progress in their career, to adapt to change, and to become responsible global citizens who make meaningful contributions to the Social Work profession. This is achieved through evidence based and research informed curriculum design, continuous quality improvement, student voice and feedback and through meaningful engagement with service users, who actively contribute to teaching and learning on the program.

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Academic profile

The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 59% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.

Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (25%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (20%) or Lecturers (55%).

We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic staff (81%) are accredited fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advanced HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.

The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise.  The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff.  This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.

Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.

Figures correct for academic year 2021-2022.