• Undergraduate

Social Work BSocial Work (Hons)

Overview

Overview

Why study at UWL? 
  • In the top 30% of universities nationwide - The Guardian University Guide 2024 
  • University of the Year for Social Inclusion - Daily Mail University Guide 2024 
  • Best university for Student Experience and Teaching Quality in the UK - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 
  • Number 1 London university (non-specialist) - National Student Survey 2023** 

This BSocial Work (Hons) course (equivalent to a BSc/BA Honours in Social Work) has been developed collaboratively with social workers, academics, people with lived experience and students, to make certain it is innovative, dynamic, progressive, and contemporary; it is a course that meets the standards of our professional body, Social Work England.

Find out more about the role of a social worker.

Throughout your time with us, you will learn how to use your knowledge, skills, and behaviour to deliver effective, evidence-based, and person-centred social work interventions to children, young people, families, and adults. You will also develop academic, analytic, and intellectual skills, that will underpin your critical thinking on a wide spectrum of important issues in social work.

You will engage in activities that will support your exploration of your own strengths, help you build on them, and take responsibility for your own education and professional development as well as providing the scaffolding for you to develop into a robust colleague, scholar, and leader.

We recognise social work both as an art and a social science, requiring an understanding of political, legal, psychological, and social perspectives that are integrated within the course, alongside the development of communication and interpersonal skills, resilience, emotional intelligence, and the need to facilitate the development of trusting relationships.

On successful completion of this course, you will be eligible to apply to Social Work England for registration as a Social Worker. 

Social Work video

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Social Work with us?

Why study Social Work with us?

What our students say…

The social work programme is so much more than a career move, it's a life changing experience that required a person to fully hand themselves over to an organisation and trust them with the process of change, that has a huge impact on your personal life (for the better). The words at the start of this programme “You will not be the same person at the end of this course, that you are as you sit here today“, have never rung so true. Despite the struggles at times, I would choose UWL every time.

Chanell Jakeman

I am excited to say that I am currently at the early foundational stage of setting up my own small constitution charity, aimed at supporting vulnerable babies, children and their families relieving them from poverty.  I do believe had it not been for my degree and my positive experience at UWL, this idea may never had been possible.

I owe my gratitude, faith and belief to all those who were a part of my social work journey and experience, who all became a part of who I am today.  My confidence, skills and knowledge amongst many other things are always a big part of my everyday work. The support I had from the UWL was second-to-none. I thank you ALL !

Kim Godfrey
Next
statistic announcing this course has been ranked 23rd overall in the UK by the Guardian University Guide
Course approved by Social Work England
Developed within the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and the Social Work academic benchmark statements.
Specialist careers advice
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

The aim of the BSocial Work (Hons) degree is to prepare you to be a compassionate, safe, competent, and confident graduate social worker, who can positively contribute to the well-being and best interests of the people you work with. You will possess the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to meet the future challenges of a rapidly changing society and social care system.

Our curriculum reflects contemporary social work provision, influential political drivers, and current societal demands. We recognise social work both as an art and social science, requiring an understanding of political, legal, psychological, and social perspectives that are integrated within the course, alongside the development of communication and interpersonal skills, resilience, and emotional intelligence, and the need to facilitate the development of trusting relationships.

The following core ideologies relating to the role of the social worker underpin our course philosophy: those of service, social justice, community working, dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.

The overall course content is based on the Social Work England Professional Standards.

The course also benefits from:

  • teaching staff who are highly committed and specialists in their subject
  • a variety of teaching and learning strategies which will increase your confidence and capacity to learn as you progress through the course, helping you to fulfil your potential, including casework scenarios
  • a wide variety of authentic assessments relevant to your course, including essays, court reports, presentations, group work, podcasts, and portfolios
  • interprofessional collaborative learning opportunities with nursing, midwifery, paramedic, health promoters, early childhood professional and police students
  • learning opportunities with people with lived experience.
  • access to the extensive range of UWL’s student support services
  • study support and a dedicated librarian.

Social work placements

Social Work placements are an integral part of your course and are mandatory. The theoretical learning undertaken in the taught modules will underpin and enhance your placement learning experience, and your placement learning experience will underpin and enhance your theoretical learning.

Students spend at least 200 days (including 30 skills days), gaining different experiences and learning in practice settings. This is structured as below:

  • 30 days of skills days which are distributed across modules from level 4 (year 1) to 6 (year 3), among the skills learnt are cultural humility skills, time management skills, self-awareness skills, role play and interview skills
  • Year Two (Level 5) - 70-day placement which may be in statutory, private, voluntary, and independent sectors, for example, local authorities, prison services, mental health organisations, and charity organisations
  • Year Three (Level 6) - 100-day placement which may be a mix of statutory placements and non-statutory placements, but mainly local authority placements, involving high-risk decision-making and legal interventions.  

All students will have a minimum of one placement within a statutory setting.

Please note placements are allocated by the university, students are not able to choose their own placements.

 
Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring people with a disability are provided with equal access to their chosen course of study and facilities at the University of West London. Appropriate support can be provided to remove barriers faced in education because of a person’s disability. This support is called “reasonable adjustments”. 

We strongly encourage applicants to disclose their disability and discuss support requirements at the earliest opportunity by contacting our Wellbeing Team: online via the Student Hub or by email - wellbeing@uwl.ac.uk alternatively telephone 020 8231 2739. Early disclosure enables the University time to consider the individual support requirements that you may have and to identify whether reasonable adjustments can be made to help you with your studies prior to the start of the course. Some reasonable adjustments may not be possible in a placement setting due to professional standards and core competencies of the role so it is imperative these are considered prior to starting the course. 

It is important to understand that successful progression on this course is dependent on professional standards being met. By disclosing to the University, where reasonable adjustments can be made, the University will provide you with the support you need to meet these standards. See Social Work England Professional Standards to explore the standards appropriate to your chosen course.

Compulsory modules

  • Developing Professionalism and Resilience for Social Work Practice

    This module aims to develop the professional attributes and values required to be a social worker. The focus will be on developing your self-care, resilience, adaptability, and identifying your potential strengths and weaknesses that will impact your professional role.

  • Ethics and Human Rights for Social Work Practice

    This module is broadly divided into two main sections and aims to overview and provide the theoretical, conceptual, and practical foundation to engage in continuous professional ethical behaviour and in a human rights-based approach to social work. The first section focuses on the foundations for ethical reasoning in practice and the second section provides an introduction to the field of human rights, focusing on the core international treaties, the ways in which human rights are applied in practice and advocated for, as well as legal and cultural traditions that underline the complexity of universalism in human rights.

  • Foundations of Social Work

    This module aims to provide an introduction to the wide field of social work and is broadly divided into three sections. The first section offers an overview of the underpinning philosophy, history, and development of social work as a profession. The second section introduces the recent global definition of social work and correlates it with core conceptual frameworks whilst intersecting knowledge, skills and values. The third section provides an overview of traditional and emergent fields of practice and expand to the different professional roles.

  • Understanding Equality and Diversity for Social Work Practice

    This module aims to introduce the concepts and realities of equality and diversity; and raises awareness of equal and diverse issues. Social work professional practice requires practitioners to work with some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised individuals, families, and communities, often at the most difficult points in their lives. This module will inform you of the importance of power and structural inequalities that exist in wider society.

  • Developing Skills for Effective Social Work Practice

    This module aims to incorporate a range of important basic intervention models, interventions and techniques, which are necessary for modern social work practice and communication skills ranging from face-to-face, group work, community and online or electronic communication. You will develop your self-awareness and skills of reflection on your learning and experiences through individual activities and class discussions.

  • Preparing for Social Work Practice

    This module aims to prepare you for the readiness of direct practice. Developing and maintaining your skills relevant to your role as a student social worker. This module also aims to build your self-confidence in demonstrating core communication skills and the ability to build compassionate, professional relationships.

Compulsory modules

  • Social Work with Children and Families

    This module aims to explore social work and multiagency practice interventions applicable to working with children and families. You will examine how these are informed by theory, research, and the voices of children and adults. Understanding thresholds and the application of professional judgment underpin best practice models.

  • Social Work with Adults

    This module aims to provide a wide knowledge and comprehension of social work with adult service users and family carers. It incorporates the knowledge and skills statement for social work with adults and explore different dimensions and key concepts of social work with adults, including safeguarding, personalisation, working with learning disabilities, the toxic trio, working with older adults, vulnerability, mental health, and end of life. Strategically delivered alongside Social Policy and Law for Adult Social Care, emphasises the need for professional awareness, responsibility, and accountability in determining and applying key legislation in adult services.

  • Social Policy and Law for Children and Families

    This module aims to offer an interrelated knowledge of law, policy, and social work with children whilst scrutinising and appraising the English legal system. It provides knowledge of the relationship between children and the law, particularly surrounding the issues of criminal law for children and juvenile offenders, and an exploration of the policies intended to support children through childhood in England. Specific policy areas to be discussed include children’s rights, fostering and adoption, criminal law, antisocial behaviour, and mental health, including within that, mental capacity and consent of children and other legal procedures.

  • Social Policy and Law for Adult Social Care

    This module aims to offer an interrelated knowledge of law, policy, and social work with adults whilst scrutinising and appraising the English legal system. It provides knowledge of topics related with development, implementation and evaluation of law and social policy/welfare in the UK, focusing on the correlation with oppressed, underrepresented, and vulnerable groups in the UK. Specific policy areas to be discussed include mental health disabilities, healthcare, child welfare, criminal justice, and the elderly.

  • Evidence and Research in Social Work Practice

    This module aims to provide an understanding and examination of the principles and theory underlying scientific enquiry and the practices of social work/science research. Ethical standards of scientific enquiry are discussed with a particular lens to protecting and promoting the wellbeing of vulnerable and oppressed groups. The module into two major sections. The first section focuses on the evidence-based practice (EBP) process and on the development of associated skills to conduct extensive evaluations of existing evidence to improve practice. In the second section, research from social work and related fields is critically examined and both qualitative and quantitative research designs are reviewed.

  • Social Work Practice Placement 1

    This module will introduce you to Work Based-Supervisors (WBS) and Practice Educators (PE) and will support you during your first practical experience to apply the knowledge and theory gained in your modules as part of your development towards professional registration. You will extend and broaden the skills gained in level 4 (year 1) of your social work course. *This module includes your 70-day placement (70-days is a minimum requirement and can be extended if necessary)

Compulsory modules

  • Leadership for Social Work Practice

    This module aims to offer an overview of the leadership models and skills at the core of social work practice. It expands on leadership attributes and strengths, and infers on supervision, value-driven decisions, power in leadership, management challenges in the social work environment and institutions, the role of mentors and the communities of practice.

  • Contemporary Social Work Practice

    This module aims to focus on examining and discussing contemporary theoretical frameworks to mezzo- and macro- social work practice within organisational, community and political contexts. It will critically analyse the dynamics of risk, oppression, advocacy, and social change locally and globally, within existent and emerging economic, digital, cultural, demographic, and environmental contexts of practice.

  • Advanced Communication Skills for Social Work Practice

    This module aims to revisit the complex scope of communications skills in social work practice (level 4) whilst increasing: (a) the level of exigence in effective oral and formal written communication in working with diverse individuals, families, groups, organisations, communities and colleagues, and (b) stimulate the awareness of the impact when failing to communicate effectively. It invites you to consider wider questions about the place of communication in human affairs and to learn about more specialist practices of communication which will be of direct use to you in the workplace.

  • Effective Multiagency Working

    This module aims to build upon your other modules and placement experiences and emphasises the importance of understanding and evaluating the legal, social, and political context for multiagency working in social work practice. Issues of professional and practical constraints to effectively develop interinstitutional work are considered and different models of partnership are discussed and explored.

  • Evaluating Quality Social Work Practice (Dissertation)

    This module aims to build upon evidence and research in social work practice (level 5) and underpins the final year honours component of the BSocial Work (Hons). It offers support and guidance through scheduled seminars and structured tools/materials and the allocation of a designated supervisor. The supervisor will support you in the planning and execution of a secondary piece of research based on the research proposal developed in the Evidence and Research for Social Work Practice module.

  • Social Work Practice Placement 2

    This module aims to develop your understanding of progression beyond this course into the world of social work. Your Work-Based Supervisors (WBS) and Practice Educators (PE) will support you on placement during this subsequent practical experience to apply knowledge and theory gained in modules as part of your development towards professional registration. You will extend and broaden the knowledge and skills gained in level 5 (year 2) to prepare you in readiness for practice. *This module includes your 100- day placement (100-days is a minimum requirement and can be extended if necessary)

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

112-120 UCAS points required from level 3 qualifications

These can include:

  • A-Levels at grade B, B and C, or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma with Distinction, Merit, Merit
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • T Levels

You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents.

 

Non-UK applicants who meet the residency requirements of a home student should achieve a minimum score of 7.0 overall in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment (full academic version of the test). This should have been achieved in the last 5 years.

Experience

Prior experience is not required to apply for this course, however it is desirable.

Other requirements:

All offers are subject to:

  • A satisfactory character reference (must not be from a friend or a family member).
  • A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This initial check is funded by UWL. N.B. On commencement of the course, students must sign up to the Disclosure and Barring Service annual online update service at a cost of £13.00 per year (funded by the student).

The UCAS application form makes provision for applicants to declare any disabilities/health conditions that could impact on their studies and their ability to fully participate during their placements. We strongly encourage applicants to disclose their disability and discuss support requirements at the earliest opportunity by contacting our Wellbeing Team: online via the Student Hub or by email - wellbeing@uwl.ac.uk alternatively telephone 020 8231 2739. Early disclosure enables the University time to consider the individual support requirements that you may have and to identify whether reasonable adjustments can be made to help you with your studies prior to the start of the course. Some reasonable adjustments may not be possible in a placement setting due to professional standards and core competencies of the role so it is imperative these are considered prior to starting the course.

Selection Process

If you have the qualifications for this course, you will be invited to attend a selection day comprising the below:

Written Assessment – duration up to 60 minutes. On the day of the interview, applicants are emailed a short case scenario to read and are asked to answer questions based on their understanding of the scenario. This is a timed assessment, submitted via email.

Individual online interview via Microsoft Teams – duration 20 minutes. The interview panel will be composed of three panel members; two academics from the social work team (one of whom will be a registered social worker) and a person with lived experience. Applicants are asked three questions, these encompass:

  • Motivation for applying for a social work course
  • Understanding of the role of the social worker
  • Key issues in society relevant to social work
Fees & funding

Fees & funding

{{ formatCurrencyValue(currentVariantData.field_p_cv_uk_eu_main_fee.name) }} per year

You may be entitled to a bursary, if you meet the entitlement requirements, to support your studies for year 2 and 3 of this course.  These bursaries are administered by the NHS Business Services Authority on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. The bursary includes a non-income assessed basic grant and a Placement Travel Allowance. 

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. In recent years, hundreds of students have received our Full-time Undergraduate Student Bursary. 

View full details, including conditions and eligibility.

Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Arlene Weekes

Dr Arlene P Weekes

With over 30 years’ of experience in the social work profession, Arlene has held many roles, including Probation Officer, Leaving Care Team Manager, Child Protection Chair, Fostering and Adoption Panel Chair, and IRO for both foster carers and children. She has also served as a CiN/LAC Service Manager. She is currently dividing her time as a freelance trainer, lecturer, and Service Manager. She holds a Diploma in Management Studies, Practice Teacher and, as well as a PhD in social work, Arlene currently works as an SGO and Connected Persons Service Manager, and as a lecturer initially at London South Bank University, before moving to UWL. 

Arlene’s PhD research, awarded in 2021, explored how the biographies, attitudes and values of an individual influence their role and decision-making. One of the conclusions of this research was that, to execute their roles effectively, individuals need to be more self-aware, and manage conscious and unconscious influences. As a result, she introduced and developed the concept of Effective Personal and Professional Judgement (EPPJ), as a model of helping individuals improve the decisions and actions, they take in meeting the needs and behaviour of children, by understanding the effect of internal and external influences. Namely, “Increased personal awareness increases professional effectiveness”.

With over 30 years’ of experience in the social work profession, Arlene has held many roles, including Probation Officer, Leaving Care Team Manager, Child Protection Chair, Fostering and Adoption Panel Chair, and IRO for both foster carers and children. She has also served as a CiN/LAC Service Manager. She is currently dividing her time as a freelance trainer, lecturer, and Service Manager. She holds a Diploma in Management Studies, Practice Teacher and, as well as a PhD in social work, Arlene currently works as an SGO and Connected Persons Service Manager, and as a lecturer initially at London South Bank University, before moving to UWL. 

Arlene’s PhD research, awarded in 2021, explored how the biographies, attitudes and values of an individual influence their role and decision-making. One of the conclusions of this research was that, to execute their roles effectively, individuals need to be more self-aware, and manage conscious and unconscious influences. As a result, she introduced and developed the concept of Effective Personal and Professional Judgement (EPPJ), as a model of helping individuals improve the decisions and actions, they take in meeting the needs and behaviour of children, by understanding the effect of internal and external influences. Namely, “Increased personal awareness increases professional effectiveness”.

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A female doctor with a  clipboard talking to a woman who looks sad

On successful completion of this course, you will be eligible to apply to Social Work England for registration as a Social Worker.

Social Work can open the door to many rewarding jobs and assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) opportunities. These include working in a wide variety of contexts including:

  • a local authority
  • the health sector
  • the education sector
  • non-governmental organisations (NGOs) 
  • the private and charitable sectors

A qualified social worker can also study postgraduate qualifications and can train to become a practice educator* and take on a student in their agency. 

*Social Workers will need to be in practice for two years after qualifying before they can train as a practice educator (PE).

How to apply

How to apply

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2022 and 2023 - Based on an average of all 27 questions. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.