Curious about studying Social Work - BA (Hons)at University of Staffordshire? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Stoke-on-Trent Campus
Full Time
Sep 2026
3 Year
Social Workers support people of all ages and diverse backgrounds. They promote human rights and social justice in a career that is flexible, varied and challenging. Our Social Work England regulated degree course prepares you to be a professional within your chosen field of work in a range of social welfare settings including safeguarding, community and therapeutic services. All of the staff who teach on your course have qualifications in social work and, in total, have over 120 years of practice experience in a wide variety of specialisms. We also have excellent links with employer partners across the region who will often support the teaching by bringing topics to life through case studies and discussion of contemporary issues. A total of 170 days of assessed practice learning, through highly rewarding vocational placements in the community, will also help ensure you are well prepared for life as a Social Worker following graduation. You can read more about these below. *This course is a 3 year, full-time course* On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: *BA (Hons) Social Work*
This module will help you to view the world differently! Introduction to Social Work theory is an exploration of the different ways we can understand behaviour and society, providing new insights the strengths and vulnerabilities which make us human. You will be given the opportunity to investigate key perspectives from disciplines such as Psychology; Sociology; Biology and Politics and apply them to a case study.This is an exciting and challenging module that will provide you with the essential knowledge base to make a difference as a professional social worker.
This module provides an introduction to study and research skills that are necessary for you to succeed with study at undergraduate level. This will include the skills required for formal writing, how to structure assignments and meet learning outcomes successfully and how to cite evidence to support your answers. You will also learn how to locate and utilise information from academic sources in relation to Social Work, including using libraries and technology to enhance your learning.
This module consists of skills-based learning that will prepare you for your first placement. For example, you can expect to gain practical experience in making phone calls, setting up online meetings, preparing and chairing meetings, taking minutes and notes. In Level 4 you will take part in a number of Skills Days. Whilst most of the Skills Days take place in this module, some of the days are embedded in other modules and contribute to assessing your readiness for first practice placement. As with other modules at Level 4 this module is linked to the Professional Capabilities Framework. In particular, but not exclusively, the domains:- Professionalism- Values and Ethics- Knowledge- Critical Reflection and Analysis, and- Intervention and Skills.
Relationships are at the heart of social work be it the relationship between a social worker and service user, the social worker and fellow professionals and the social worker with the family and community of individual service users. This module aims to give students the skills and knowledge needed to work effectively as a relationship based social worker. You will learn about and get the chance to practice communications skills; you will gain a greater knowledge of how to relate to others and a greater knowledge of yourself. The module doesn?t just focus on a relationship with individual service users but also looks at their communities and networks. The module will give you the skills and knowledge to identify, challenge and overcome oppression and discrimination which can be experienced by service users in their lives and their communities. As a student you will learn how to develop your professional practice and the skills which will make you an effective practitioner. Social work is a profession of continual personal and professional development; therefore, you will learn the importance of reflective practice and its place in identifying your professional learning and development needs. This module will help you prepare for practice in your level 5 (2nd year) and level 6 (3rd year) placement, where you can develop and grow as a social work professional.
This module provides you with the base knowledge of law for social work with children and adults as well as law around capacity and human rights. You will study key parts of the law that underpin social work practice and also look at how the British legal system works. The module also looks at social justice and equality laws, and you will consider how key changes in politics, specifically social policy, impact upon the lives of vulnerable people.
This fascinating module will explore the development of social work values and how these form a key component of the profession. The module will highlight the importance of understanding your own values and how, as a social work student, you will be expected to uphold a service user's autonomy and respect their values. You will be introduced to a global perspective of sociology and there will be an exploration of inequalities across the world. You will learn about the need to work with people from a variety of backgrounds which will prepare you for professional practice.
This module considers development throughout life, starting with pre-birth and child development going through to considering adulthood and old age. You will make links between what happens in someone's childhood and how this might influence who they are as an adult. You will also look at theories in depth to consider how development is interpreted and use this knowledge to plan interventions for case studies within the module, as well as for social work as a profession.
This module is open to students enrolled on the BA (Hons) Social Work Course and builds on the Level 4 skills-based module. Students will each be allocated a professionally qualified Practice Educator (and where appropriate a Work Based Supervisor) who will work with them throughout their placement to facilitate critical thinking, support the student to apply classroom learning to real world practice and promote an anti-oppressive approach to social work practice which values and celebrates diversity and respects individuals' personal, cultural and religious identities.
This module looks at concepts around the safeguarding of adults at risk.
This module is open to students enrolled on the BA (Hons) Social Work. Teaching and learning strategies encourage and enable critical thinking and research mindedness and promote a strengths-based and anti-oppressive approach to social work practice which values and celebrates diversity and respects individuals' personal, cultural and religious identities.
This is an exciting and topical module based on current and emerging social work practice issues. A generic approach is taken to the subject matter to include impact and relevance in children's services, mental health and adults services with many of the themes cutting across each discipline.
This module is open to students enrolled on the BA (Hons) Social Work and builds on both their classroom and practice learning at Level 5. Teaching and learning strategies encourage and enable critical thinking and research mindedness and promote an anti-oppressive approach to social work practice which values and celebrates diversity and respects individuals' personal, cultural and religious identities.
This module has two distinct elements: - Practice: 100 day placement and production of a professional portfolio evidencing knowledge, theory and skills mapped into the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS). Each student will have a Practice Educator and Academic Link who will support the student through the placement via formal and informal meetings and tutorials. - Academic: Professional development and awareness through 4 taught days within the university to support the student's placement experience. There is an assessed presentation at the end of the placement based on a Critical Incident and a written submission to support the presentation.
Social workers work in different kinds of organisations - from small voluntary organisations to large and complex agencies like the NHS or local government. This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to understand how these organisations work, how they are funded and the strengths and weaknesses of different types of organisation. You will also learn about quality assurance and the role of regulation and accreditation in the social work profession. The module will give you an overview of management theory and practice in social work organisations. This knowledge is useful when it comes to social work practice ? because as a social worker you will have to work in and with many different organisations. You will find an understanding of organisations and interpersonal practice will be useful for social work practice and when it comes to making career choices about the kind of organisation you might want to work in when you qualify as a social worker.
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