Program Overview

BA (Hons) Social Work

Overview

The BA (Hons) Social Work program at Manchester Metropolitan University focuses on addressing social justice through a combination of research, theory, and practice. This program is designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to become a skilled, knowledgeable, and capable social work practitioner.

Course Information

• The program is approved by Social Work England and, upon graduation, students are eligible to apply for professional registration with Social Work England.
• The course duration is 3 years full-time.
• The UCAS code for this program is L500.
• The typical offer for this program is 120 UCAS tariff points.

Features and Benefits

• Approved course: Our course is approved by Social Work England.
• Employability: You'll gain experience from 30 days of skills development throughout the course, and your two practice placements are in employment settings.
• Placement experience: You’ll go on two practice placements, a full-time 70-day placement in Year Two and a full-time 100-day placement in Year Three.
• Specialise your studies: You can focus on a chosen area of social work practice to explore in depth in your final year.

Accreditations, Awards, and Endorsements

• Teaching Excellence Framework: We have received an overall gold status in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), meaning we're rated as an outstanding university for our student experience.
• Social Work England: This course is approved by Social Work England.

Year 1

• You’ll have a minimum of 30 skills development days.
• Core modules include:
  • Social Work, Social Justice and Lived Experiences
  • Social Work Practice Across The Life Course
  • Ethical Practice for Professional Social Work
  • Society, Welfare and Global Inequalities

Year 2

• You’ll learn about statutory and legal interventions, including how the law is used to safeguard and to protect both adults and children.
• Core modules include:
  • Law, Rights and Safeguarding
  • ASPIRE 1: Knowledge and Skills in Practice
  • Contemporary Issues in Social Work Practice
  • Theory, Skills and Methods for Professional Social Work Practice

Year 3

• You’ll have the opportunity to select specialist areas of social work.
• Core modules include:
  • Applied Social Research and Evaluation for Practice
  • Critical and International Perspectives in Social Work
  • Applying Law, Safeguarding and Interdisciplinary Practice
  • ASPIRE 2

Study and Assessment

• Year 1: 35% lectures, seminars or similar; 65% independent study
• Year 2: 30% lectures, seminars or similar; 35% placement; 35% independent study
• Year 3: 25% lectures, seminars or similar; 40% placement; 35% independent study
• Assessment is 100% coursework for all years.

Entry Requirements

• Typical offer: 120 UCAS tariff points
• IELTS score: IELTS 7.0 with no component below 5.5 taken within two years of course start date
• Interview: We will interview you as part of your application
• UK students:
  • Level 3 qualifications: 120 UCAS tariff points
  • Level 2 qualifications: GCSE English Language at Grade C/4 or above
• International students:
  • IB Diploma: 30 IB Diploma Points to include SL5 or HL4 in English
  • IELTS: IELTS 7.0 with no component below 5.5 taken within two years of course start date

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are still being finalised for all courses.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in further study: 88.7% of our UK-domiciled, full-time, first degree graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• As a graduate, you can apply for professional registration with Social Work England, allowing you to use the protected title of social worker and to practise as a professional social worker.
• Our graduates are able to apply for jobs across the sector, including in local authorities, the NHS, private companies, and charities.