BA (Hons)
Social Work
Successful completion of the programme will provide you with a solid academic and professional base from which to enter employment.
Length 3 years full-time
UCAS code(s) L500
Fees UK and EU full-time students: £9,000 · Non-EU full-time international students: £11,000
International fee band 2 · More information
Location Didsbury Campus, Manchester where is this?
Department Department of Social Work and Social Change
Features & benefits of the course
- This degree is the nationally recognised professional social work qualification and has been accredited by the General Social Care Council.
- Placements available in most areas of Social Work.
- Wide choice of electives on offer.
This degree is the nationally recognised professional social work qualification and has been accredited by the General Social Care Council.
Placement options
Placements are available in a diverse range of social work areas.
About the course
Units you will study
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Year 1
In Year 1 you will study a range of units that will provide a framework to understand the context in which social work exists. Units will include sociology and social policy in social work, communication and engagement in social work, professional studies in social work and human growth and development in social work.
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Core Units
Communication and Engagement in Social Work
Exploration of key issues in interpersonal communication and engagement with services users supporting you to develop academic and verbal communication skills. It covers topics such as : influences on the communication process including self awareness and psychological and physical blocks; and theoretical and practical understanding of counselling skills and approaches.
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Core Units
Human Growth and Development in Social Work
Exploration of the life course and influences upon it from structural, social and individual levels including impact of factors on the individuals’ development (e.g. environmental/ psychological).
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Core Units
Professional Studies in Social Work
This unit sets the foundations for the development of the knowledge, skills and values for professional social work. You will study the concept of professionalism considering codes of conduct, ethics and principles relating to social work along with the broad discourses of therapeutic helping, socialist-collectivist and individualist-reformist views.
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Core Units
Sociology and Social Policy in Social Work
An exploration of social phenomena and the contribution of social theorists to our understanding of the social world, social welfare and provision. It includes topics such as: the contribution of key writers to the development of social science; power, ideology and difference and how they relate to understanding our social world and social problems; and how their implications for social policy, welfare provision and social work.
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Year 2
In Year 2 you will explore the skills and knowledge required by social workers in units that include the study of professionally relevant law, welfare and social exclusion. There is a placement during this year.
In Years 2 and 3 you will have a choice of electives, which (subject to availability and level of study) can include: personalisation and social work; working with older people; immigration, asylum and social work; fostering, adoption, looked after children and their carers; and conflict resolution.
We are currently reviewing Years 2 and 3 of this course to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the latest online learning technology. Information on specific core and option units will be updated as soon as it becomes available.
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Core Units
Contemporary Issues in Social Work
This unit is designed to help students understand the key theories, concepts and ideologies underpinning the delivery of welfare to a range of service user groups in the UK. This will include an historical examination of the development of welfare with particular attention to the themes of “Nation” and “Family”. There will be an exploration of the concept of welfare delivery in relation to vulnerable people generally and more specifically to the student’s chosen service user groups.
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Core Units
Law, Policy and Practice
This unit explores current legislation and policy relating to social work practice. This includes consideration of the effectiveness of the law in protecting service users and promoting the rights of vulnerable people. The ethical dilemmas for social workers in considering moral rights and responsibilities, whilst acting as statutory agents and in upholding the law, will also explored.
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Core Units
Social Work Practice
This unit will provide underpinning social work theories and methods in preparation for social work practice, informing their work with service users and carers. This will include an exploration of the range of social work theories and methods and consideration of evidence based practice and the current assessment frameworks and practice criteria for children and adults in relation to assessment of need.
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Year 3
In Years 2 and 3 you will have a choice of electives, which (subject to availability and level of study) can include: personalisation and social work; working with older people; immigration, asylum and social work; fostering, adoption, looked after children and their carers; and conflict resolution.
In Year 3 you will undertake a placement scheme and also study units in power and social movements, interprofessional studies, understanding research, and professional studies.
We are currently reviewing Years 2 and 3 of this course to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the latest online learning technology. Information on specific core and option units will be updated as soon as it becomes available.
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Core Units
Contemporary Social Work Practice
The unit will offer opportunities to critically explore debates and reflect on the practice/theory nexus of qualified social work practice with an emphasis on understanding and developing anti-oppressive practice. This will include an examination and analysis of individual and structural oppression of marginalised groups.
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Core Units
Risk and Inter-professional Practice
The unit is designed to reinforce the need for multi-disciplinary and partnership working when work alongside risk. This will include an exploration of current legislation and policy relating to risk assessment and risk management when working with vulnerable people. There will be consideration of different professional perspectives that inform the delivery of multidisciplinary and partnership working when working with service users and carers at risk.
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Core Units
Social Work Research and Practice
This unit prepares students to understand, design, undertake, manage and evaluate research within the field of social work. This will include an introduction to research methods and a critical approach to evaluating existing literature and research.
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As part of our drive to deliver the very highest quality programmes we are reviewing our undergraduate courses to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the latest online learning technology. Some of the details given here may not yet reflect these improvements and information will be updated as it becomes available.
Assessment details
Written assignments, presentations and practice experience.
Career options after the course
90%* of health, psychology and social care graduates go straight into employment and/or further study.
Successful completion of this course will mean that you qualify as a social worker.
*Source: DLHE survey 2009 for all respondents available for employment or further study and whose destinations are known.
This degree is the nationally recognised professional social work qualification and has been accredited by the General Social Care Council.
Typical entry requirements
We will interview you as part of your application.
UCAS Tariff points/Grades required
280
280 at A2 or acceptable alternatives (such as BTEC National at Level 3 or Advanced Diploma).
Specific GCSE requirements
GCSE grade C or (or alternative) in English Language and mathematics.
Non Tariffed Qualifications
A relevant Access to HE Diploma with 45 level 3 credits at merit will be considered for entry to this course.
International Baccalaureate points
29
Additional Requirements
Interview. Evidence of interest in and experience of the relevant field (Please see the ‘Personal Statement’ section for this course on the UCAS website for further details before writing your personal statement).
Satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau/Independent Safeguarding Authority disclosure and health screening.
There’s further information for international students on our international website if you’re applying with non-UK qualifications.
Open Days in June
Come and find out more about this course and our facilities at our open days in Manchester and Cheshire.
Book a place on an open day