Course summary
Both an academic qualification and, crucially, also a professional qualification, this course is approved by Social Work England – meaning you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker on successful completion of your degree. Why study BA (Hons) Social Work at BU?
- This practical degree blends a powerful combination of academic study with essential practical experience
- Placements during the course mean you will gain lots of relevant experience operating in real-world settings and will develop strong working relationships with those already in the profession
- Our cohorts are small and extremely well supported
- Our staff team is research active across a wide range of topics relevant to current social work practice, and this informs the curriculum and the learning experience of students
- Each student is allocated a Personal Tutor from the teaching team
- People with lived experience are actively and meaningfully involved in all aspects of the course, through the Public Involvement in Education and Research (PIER) partnership. The involvement of service users and carers was developed in social work and is now a feature across the faculty.
Modules
Year 1: The Context of Social Work Practice in the UK, Human Development – Applying Theory to Practice, Academic Skills for Social Work Study, Learning from the Living Experience, Communication Skills and Professionalism, Readiness for Direct Practice in Social Work and Law in Social Work Practice. You will benefit from extensive placement opportunities from year one, including a 70 day placement in year two and a 100 day placement in year three.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Social Work England
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- L500
- Institution code:
- B50
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 112 - 128 points
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM
Access to HE Diploma
Scottish Higher
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC 90-Credit Diploma (QCF)
Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
Scottish Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Extended Project
GCSE/National 4/National 5
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma
T Level - M
AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff. Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website. Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information. Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.
Additional entry requirements
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Occupational Health (OH) Checks This course is physically and mentally demanding and you will need to be mentally and physically able to undertake your chosen course. Places are offered subject to passing an OH check, and this will be carried out at the University Hospital Southampton. Health conditions need to be dealt with on an individual basis e.g. deafness, blindness, eczema (or other dermatological allergic reactions) on exposed areas, epilepsy, back problems, or mental health conditions, eating disorders and other disabilities. These do not automatically exclude you but please ensure that you fully disclose your condition to OH. The University can then consider the recommendations made by OH and whether reasonable adjustments can be made to support you on your chosen course. If you require more guidance please contact us for more information. You will be required to provide a record of your immunity status or be vaccinated or have the required blood tests. Please see this table for the required immunisations. You may need to ask your GP or current OH department or find your childhood vaccination record for details of your past immunisation records. You should be aware that there may be charges made (for which you will be liable) relating to your gaining the appropriate immunity required prior to starting your training programme.
Interview
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 7 | IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component of writing, speaking, listening and reading. |
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £9535 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
EU | £19700 | Year 1 |
International | £19700 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Bournemouth University
Talbot Campus
Fern Barrow
Poole
BH12 5BB