Social work courses bring together bits from sociology, psychology and law to help prepare students for everything they might face in a career as a social worker. It can be hard work and frustrating, but most social workers will tell you how rewarding the job is on the whole, especially as most days throw up new challenges. If you’re someone who's passionate about helping people and you want to do it on a daily basis, this could be the perfect subject for you to study at uni.
What do you need to get on a social work degree?
The ranges of entry requirements for social work are as follows:
-
UCAS points: 128–88
-
A-levels: ABB – CCD
-
BTEC Nationals: DDM – MMM
-
International Baccalaureate: 35 – 26
Learn how to write a winning personal statement.
What social work degrees can you study?
Degrees in social work include:
- BA Social Work
- BA Applied Social Work
- BA Health and Social Care
- BA Youth and Community Work
What topics does a social work degree cover?
Common modules for social work include:
- Cultures, identity and difference
- Safeguarding
- Developing effective youth and community work
- Social work theory, values and ethics
- Early child development and child observation
- Exploring social policy and social justice
- Health services planning and management
- Law for social workers
- Skills for social work
- Social issues
- Social research methods
- Working with service users
What do you learn studying a social work degree?
Studying a social work degree will help you gain industry-specific skills like:
- Nuanced interpersonal skills, specific to certain groups of people
- Knowledge of the relevant laws and practices
- Presenting written and oral reports
- Care-giving techniques and skills
More general, transferable skills you’ll pick up include:
- Decision making
- Team working
- Communication
- Research
- Attention-to-detail
- Body language
- Report-writing
- Time management
What professional accreditations can you get with a social work degree?
Most social work courses will be accredited by Social Work England, Social Care Wales (SCW), Northern Ireland’s Social Care Council (NISCC) or the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
What can you do with a social work degree?
During a social work degree students learn transferable skills, meaning there are lots of opportunities open to graduates, like:
- Advice services coordinator
- Chaplain
- Community education officer
- Counsellor
- Equality, diversity and inclusion manager
- Health promotion specialist
- Probation officer
- Service designer for a charity
- Social worker
- Teacher
- Volunteer coordinator
Check out our careers guides here.
Where to study social work?
Check the latest ranking of unis offering social work courses by the Complete University Guide.
How long is a social work degree?
A social work degree usually takes three years to study. However, some unis will give the option of a foundation year or a master’s, which will increase the course to four years.
How will you be assessed?
Social work courses usually involve assessment through:
- Exams
- Coursework
- Assessed placements
- Presentations
- Project work
- Dissertation
What are the postgraduate opportunities?
Your options for further study include:
- MA Person-Centred Health and Social Care
- MSc Public Health and Wellbeing
- MSW/MRes Social Work
- PGCert/PGDip/MRes Health and Social Care
What alternatives are there to a social work degree?
Not sure if a social work degree is right for you? Check out these related subjects: