Social Work BA/BSc
Study of how to support individuals, families, and communities through challenges such as poverty, disability, safeguarding concerns, mental health issues, and social disadvantage - while promoting rights, dignity, and social justice.
Is this for you?
This degree could suit you if you:
Want to support vulnerable people
Are caring and empathetic
Enjoy working with communities
Want a meaningful career
Are resilient
Popular Career Fields
Healthcare & Public Health
Government & Public Sector
Charity & NGO Sector
Education
Your Personality Might Be:
Compassionate
Government & Public Sector
Good communicator
Non-judgmental
What is it?
What is a Social Work degree?
A Social Work degree prepares you for a professional career supporting vulnerable individuals and groups. It explores how social, psychological, legal, and economic factors influence people’s lives, and how interventions can help promote safety, wellbeing, and independence.
You will learn about safeguarding, mental health, human development, law, social policy, and multi-agency practice. Social work combines compassion with evidence-based decision-making, requiring strong communication skills, ethical judgement, and resilience.
This degree includes significant practice placements and leads to eligibility for professional registration.
Why Study Social Work?
If you want a career where you directly improve people’s lives and challenge inequality, Social Work is a meaningful and rewarding path. It prepares you to:
Advocate for vulnerable people
Safeguard those at risk
Support individuals facing complex challenges
Work in multidisciplinary teams
Promote fairness, empowerment, and human rights
Social workers play a vital role in healthcare, education, community services, mental health, and family support.
Course Summary
Study of how to support individuals, families, and communities through challenges such as poverty, disability, safeguarding concerns, mental health issues, and social disadvantage - while promoting rights, dignity, and social justice.
What you'll study
Most Social Work degrees cover:
Social work thory, values, and professional practice
Safeguarding, child protection, and adult protection
Human development, behaviour, trauma, and mental health
Social welfare law, ethics, and policy
Working with families, communities, and diverse groups
Assessment, intervention planning, and multi-agency collaboration
Skills You'll Gain
A Social Work degree builds strong academic and practical skills, including:
Communication and empathy – engaging sensitively with people facing emotional or complex challenges.
Assessment and decision-making – gathering information and making informed, ethical judgements.
Safeguarding and risk management – identifying risks and acting to protect vulnerable people.
Intervention and support planning – developing strategies that promote wellbeing and independence.
Professional reflection and resilience – managing emotional demands and evaluating your own practice.
Pathways, Placements and Work Experience
CAREERS
Career Pathways
Most graduates become registered Social Workers and work in areas such as:
Child protection and safeguarding
Adult social care
Mental health services
Hospital discharge and community teams
Fostering, adoption, and family support
Criminal justice, youth offending, and rehabilitation
Housing, homelessness, and community services
Work Experiences & Placements
All professionally recognised Social Work courses include mandatory placements, often totalling around 170–200 days across two or more settings. Examples include:
Local authority children’s or adult services
Mental health teams
Hospitals and NHS community services
Schools, youth offending teams, and family support services
Charities, voluntary organisations, and advocacy groups
Homelessness, disability, or substance-use support services
Placements are supervised and assessed to ensure readiness for professional practice.
Salary Profile
Coming soon
Qualifications, Personal Satement, What to do Next?
AM I ELIGIBLE?
Entry Requirements
A-levels or equivalent. Most universities accept a broad range of subjects. Sociology, Psychology, Health & Social Care, or Law are beneficial.
Personal Statement Tips
Explain why you want to support vulnerable individuals and families.
Show awareness of social issues, inequality, and safeguarding.
Mention volunteering or work in care, support work, mentoring, or community roles.
Reflect on empathy, resilience, communication, and ethical awareness.
Demonstrate commitment to professional values and social justice.
What to do Next
Research programmes that offer professional accreditation.
Gain voluntary or paid experience in care or support roles.
Attend open days or virtual sessions to meet staff and students.
Explore reading on social justice, mental health, and welfare systems.
Wider Reading
Essential Social Work: A Handbook for Practice — AdrianDominelli
A clear overview of key social work roles, values, and foundational practice.Introduction to Social Work — Craig Pierson & Karen Kollegger
Presents core concepts, interventions, and professional responsibilities in social work.The Sociology of Health, Illness, and Health Care — Rosemary Rizik-Burton
Introduces social factors influencing health and wellbeing — relevant to many social work settings.Working with Children, Young People and Families: A Social Work Approach — Karen Healy
Focuses on child and family work — a common area in UK social work practice.Social Work: An Introduction — Joyce Lishman (ed.)
A foundational text used on many UK social work degrees covering theory and practice.