Course summary

Social workers overwhelmingly work with the most marginalised and oppressed within society. The people we work with in our professional lives face a range of difficulties and traumas. As social workers our task is to understand such traumas and offer support, help and guidance to those in need during times of trouble. Very often this means understanding the public causes of individual private pains. The Social Work degree is shaped by a very strong commitment to social justice. As a Social Work student, you will study aspects of sociology, social policy, psychology, law, social theory and social work methods, skills and practices. You will explore barriers such as poverty, disability, racism and sexism that service users often face in society. Such barriers impact on people in a range of negative ways and it is important we understand the nature of the society in which we live and the way it can affect people in their lives. In your second and third years, you will undertake a total of 170 days in a social work setting. The degree is taught by a teaching team who are all published in the field of social work and are experts in particular fields of the discipline. The School plays an important role in the Social Work Action Network (SWAN). SWAN is a national organisation within social work comprising practitioners, students, academics and service users. During your second year you will have the opportunity to undertake a social work placement in either India or Gambia, or a four-week mental health Summer School that includes an exchange trip to Michigan, USA We are the only social work course in England that offers you these options . Please note this subject to a successful interview, a satisfactory Health Check Statement and application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (unfortunately, due to requirements of the placement providers we are unable to consider any applicants with convictions within 5 years of the start of the course). Please note that this professional qualification can be greatly oversubscribed so applicants are advised to apply early.