Course summary
Are you a people person? Do you possess patience and perseverance? As a Social Worker, you’ll work with some of the most marginalised groups in society, supporting them to overcome barriers in order to lead a fulfilled life. Why study this subject? Knowing how to work with someone to overcome the challenges they face in life isn’t easy, but this course will give you the insight and understanding to do just that. As a Social Worker you’ll be aware of the impact of social issues including poverty, deprivation and exclusion. Social Workers aim to work in partnership with individuals and families to find solutions to unique problems. They also work towards improving quality of life. As a Social Worker, you’ll work with complex situations and learn to balance tensions between care and control. You’ll also engage in relationship-based practice whilst fulfilling the expectations of your employer. The choice to become a Social Worker shouldn’t be taken lightly. We welcome students who are committed to their future career and determined to make a difference to the lives of others. Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? At BNU you’ll gain experience working with people who might need Social Work support because your study will combine classroom theory with real-life experience, some of which involves working alongside current Social Workers. We also work closely with People with Lived Experience so you can hear first-hand about the impact you could make with individuals and communities. We work with a broad range of partners to offer interesting Social Work placements including Local Authorities, Healthcare Trusts, and organisations from the voluntary and independent sectors, all of which are within a 25-mile radius of our High Wycombe campus. Our MSc Social Work programme is accredited by Social Work England which means you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a Social Worker in England as soon as you graduate. Our lecturers, all of whom are former Social Work practitioners, have rich experience from which to draw on. Our lecturers will help you make sense of the theoretical elements of your studies by introducing their practice wisdom to lectures. Our tutors remain up to date with the latest sector changes and many of them lead and are involved with external forums, discussing and influencing the future of the sector. We also have course lecturers who are published authors in the field of Social Work. One of the most rewarding elements of studying Social Work is sharing your experience with other students. Some days will be intensely emotional, so it’s important that you have a friendly team around you. We pride ourselves in our ability to get to know all our students, so you’ll be supported by personal tutors in groups of no more than ten. This will help you to get to know us as well as each other. What are my career prospects? We're proud of our consistently high employability rate for our graduates. We have good relationships with local employers who are always impressed with how prepared our graduates are for the transition from University to work. We offer a recruitment event in the final year where you're able to meet with employers to explore the next steps in terms of your first year of newly qualified status. We also encourage you to start networking in your final year placement which is often a springboard to future employment. We recognise that your journey to becoming a Social Worker doesn't simply end with us and we strive to ‘mind the gap’ between your education and new career. Once qualified, you can work within a range of settings including local authorities, hospitals, and voluntary services for drug and alcohol users or youth justice services.
Modules
Year one Sociology, Psychology and Social Policy Preparation for Intervention with Service Users Putting the Law into Practice Practice Learning 1 Developing Social Work Skills for Practice Year two Research Methods for Social Work Practice Learning 2 Inter-Professional Practice Dissertation
Assessment method
Modules are taught to encourage independent study and will enable you to develop your own critical thinking, reflection and research skills – all of which will assist you in practice as an autonomous worker. As well as group workshops, simulations, presentations and tutorials led by industry experts, you’ll also complete two placements where you’ll further develop your learning and understanding. You’ll be required to work the hours of the agency you’re placed with, while receiving on-going support and guidance from your Practice Educator and/or Onsite Supervisor, as well as your personal tutor. You’ll be assessed through exams, essays, presentations and a personal portfolio, all in order to ensure you’ve grasped the key concepts in this important field. In your final year, you’ll explore a specific subject of interest through your dissertation project, meaning you can focus on an area of social work you’re particularly passionate about.
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:
- B94
- Campus name:
- High Wycombe Campus
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
For information about applying to Buckinghamshire New University as an International applicant, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/international
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff
Additional entry requirements
Admission tests
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Interview
Institutions Own Test (IOT)
Group Activity.
Institutions Own Test (IOT)
Written Excercise.
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6 | We require an IELTS score of 6.0 (with no element lower that 5.5) or a recognised equivalent. |
If English is not your first language or if you have studied in a non-majority English-speaking country, then you will typically be required to demonstrate your English language ability (speaking, listening, reading & writing) by way of a test such as IELTS.
BNU English Language Requirements
Student Outcomes
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £9250 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
EU | £15000* | Year 1 |
International | £15000* | Year 1 |
*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
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
Sponsorship information
Buckinghamshire New University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/financial-support-bursaries-and-scholarships
Provider information
Buckinghamshire New University
Queen Alexandra Road
High Wycombe
HP11 2JZ