Social work

Single Honours 

• Social Work 

• Health and Social Care 

• Youth and Community Work 

Joint Honours 

• Psychology and Social Work 

• Social Work with Public Health 

• Social Work and Education 

Alternative options 

• Foundation years Foundation years in social work introduce key concepts and practices. It’s a great option for anyone who wants to get a head start on their degree studies and can also be used to improve English proficiency. 

• Sandwich degrees Sandwich degrees allow you to work for a year, in the middle of your degree, usually between Years 2 and 3. The additional ‘sandwich’ year can be used to gain practical work experience, or to experience a new culture through a study abroad programme. 

• Integrated Master’s These degrees offer a Master’s qualification by extending your undergraduate degree by one extra year. You’ll be able to develop an area of specialisation within the field of social work and gain a postgraduate degree with relatively little extra cost to an undergraduate degree. 

• Degree apprenticeships Social work apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with academic study, allowing you to earn a qualification and a wage, all at the same time. What’s more, your employer will cover all your tuition fees and you’ll graduate with a network of professional contacts. 

SOURCE: WHATUNI

Entry requirements for social work programs typically don’t include specific A-level subject (or equivalent) qualifications. Relevant subjects involving communication such as sociology, psychology, or languages may be advantageous, and universities also consider any relevant work or volunteering experience. 

It’s true that there are many ways to help others, and it’s also true that people have many different needs and requirements for care. Social work covers a diverse range of specialisations, to ensure that there is help available for people of all backgrounds. Some specialisations within the profession include: 

• Policy advocacy Policy advocacy involves campaigning for social change and policy reform to address systemic societal inequalities. Advocates work to advance social justice, enforce human rights, and equitable access to resources and opportunities for marginalised and vulnerable groups. 

• Community development Community developers engage in grassroots schemes and collaborative problem solving to address social issues, promote social cohesion, and improve quality of life. It involves identifying the needs of various types of community, creating a dialogue between public authorities and funding platforms, mobilising resources, and implementing sustainable solutions. 

• Gerontology Gerontology is the study of ageing and the ageing process. Gerontologists work to promote healthy ageing, while supporting the independence and quality of life in the elderly population. This involves addressing issues such as ageism, elder abuse, and long-term care. 

• Mental health Mental health professionals provide counselling and support services to address mental health issues in people of all ages, helping to improve well-being for individuals, families, and communities. 

• Child welfare Child welfare focuses on promoting the safety and well-being of children and families. Child welfare professionals work to prevent child abuse and neglect, provide support services to families in crisis, and ensure that children are placed in safe and nurturing environments. 

• Social work theory and practice 

• Social policy and legislation 

• Safeguarding 

• Mental health 

• Social work ethics 

• Diversity and inclusion 

• Research methods 

• Youth and community work 

• Early child development 

• Health services planning  

You’ll be equipped with advanced knowledge and social work skills needed to support individuals and communities facing various life challenges. You’ll gain nuanced interpersonal skills, specific to certain groups of people, enabling you to communicate effectively and with sensitivity.

You’ll study all the relevant laws and practices required to work professionally in social care, while developing care-giving techniques and learning how to present written and oral reports that allow you to take a range of different employment positions in practice. 

Upon graduation, social work students are prepared for roles in social care, healthcare, education, criminal justice, and community organisations, ready to make significant contributions to the effect of positive social change. 

You’ll also develop transferable skills, such as: 

• Team working 

• Communication 

• Body language 

• Report writing 

• Time management 

In the UK, most allied healthcare programmes are accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council HCPC. 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), ensuring that programs meet rigorous professional standards. 

There are several alternatives to a social work degree, which cover many similar modules and areas of study, such as: 

• Psychology 

• Sociology 

• Health and social care 

• Counselling 

• Community development 

A career in social care can be immensely rewarding, as every single day you'll be going to work and directly improving the lives of others. Your degree will set you up to work in a variety of possible career roles, and these roles can involve working directly with individuals and communities, providing support, advocacy, and intervention to address social issues and promote well-being.  

You can choose to specialise within a particular area, group of people, community, or social issue, and your work has the potential to make life-changing impact for the people you work with. 

Career pathways include: 

• Advice services coordinator  

• Chaplain  

• Community education officer 

• Counsellor 

• Equality, diversity and inclusion manager 

• Health promotion specialist 

• Probation officer 

• Social worker 

• Teacher 

• Volunteer coordinator 

These are just a few of the most common job roles. You'll find plenty of other options available to you, and you can also continue your studies by completing a postgraduate degree in social work or a related subject.