Curious about studying Social Work - BSc (Hons)at Bucks New University? 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 Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
High Wycombe Campus
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
As a Social Worker, you’ll play a vital role in supporting some of the most marginalised groups in society, helping them in overcoming barriers to a fulfilled life. Our Social Work degree is designed to prepare you for this impactful journey with a focus on hands-on, high-quality placements, expert-led teaching, and the essential skills you need to thrive from day one. This course is approved by Social Work England, meaning upon graduating from this course, you’ll be able to register as a qualified Social Worker with this regulatory board.
Why study BSc (Hons) Social Work?\
Practice Placements\ During your time on this course, you’ll take part in two placements in practice. Here you’ll further your development, put learnt skills and knowledge into practice and get a real feel for the career you will be stepping into. We offer placement opportunities with a wide range of partners, including local authorities, healthcare trusts, and organisations in the voluntary and independent sectors, all within a 25-mile radius of our High Wycombe campus. On placement you’ll have the support and guidance of a Bucks placement tutor and a practice educator who will support your development in practice, as well as the team and management of the placement you are in. These placements not only give you real-world experience but also open doors to future employment in the areas you’ve trained in. You will have one placement working within the adults, and the other will be with children and families. This is because you will be succeeding with a generic qualification, giving you the freedom and choice to work in the practice area of your choice when you qualify.
Build valuable local connections\ This course has strong ties to local employers and organisations. These connections help us stay informed about the latest developments in the field, and more importantly, they help you stay connected to real opportunities. We regularly host career fairs where you'll meet employers actively looking for graduates with your skills. We also offer a recruitment event in your 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.
Theory paired with experience\ Throughout your time with us you’ll gain a comprehensive knowledge and skillset, study will combine classroom theory with applied practical, some of which involves working alongside current social workers and users of the social work system - we work closely with People with Lived Experience so you can hear first-hand about the impact you could make with individuals and communities. Our lecturers, all of whom are registered Social Workers, have rich experience and a wealth of knowledge from which to draw on. They’ll help to 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, many of them lead and are involved with external forums, discussing, and influencing the future of the sector.
What will I study?Our social work course helps you become a qualified social worker who has the knowledge, skills and discipline required to practice in a challenging environment. You’ll gain the necessary skills that employer’s value, like teamwork, communication, problem solving, analysis and evaluative skills. The modules you study will enable you to have greater self-awareness, which includes the ability to manage your emotions and the emotions of others. Modules also offer you the opportunity to gain relevant knowledge in theory, law, and policy and how to implement this knowledge in practice. The experiences of people who have used social work support services will also be explored and examined, both from a theoretical perspective and a practice perspective, linking up to your placement experience. You’ll also learn about how social work is framed by legislation and policy in England.
The module is designed to give you an understanding of welfare ideologies and their influence on contemporary social policy in England, focusing specifically on social care policy and policies that relate to social work. In addition, the historical development of social work in England post 1945 and current and contemporary developments will be explored in the light of welfare ideology and political philosophy. You will be given an overview and understanding of how policy impacts on service users and carers. Service user and carer contributions to the teaching on the module will articulate their experiences and perspectives.
The module aims to provide you with an understanding of social work as a professional and welfare activity. It provides an exploration of the core nature of contemporary social work in England and Wales. It aims to provide you with the understanding of the impact on social work profession of the changing political and economic landscape.
This module aims to develop your skills in ethical reasoning. It will foster an understanding of social work values in relation to your own value base. You will consider any resulting dilemmas and reflect on the processes involved in applying values to social work practice.
This module aims to introduce you to sociology and the ways in which sociological theories and perspectives can contribute to an understanding of society and social work. The module will also help to explore and explain the nature of inequality and the construction of advantage and disadvantage for certain groups in society. You will be provided with tools needed to look at social reality in depth and develop an analytical way of thinking about situations.
The module focuses on developing knowledge of key Social Work skills, including basic communication skills, ability to develop reflective writing and practice, and to also consider professional Social Work values. By the readiness-for-practice assessment (prior to the first placement), you are expected to demonstrate the ability to engage meaningfully with people with lived experience, work collaboratively within an organisational context, respond constructively to feedback, and apply foundational social work values, knowledge, and theories.
This module introduces you to key theoretical approaches underpinning social work practice, framed within the core phases of practice: assessment, planning, intervention, and review. Attention is also given to processes of closure and termination of contact. Drawing on established social work models, the module supports you in developing effective practice approaches and strengthening the skills required for meaningful and constructive intervention.
This module is designed to introduce you to primary and secondary research, including research design and research methodology. The module will enable you to critically analyse research that helps inform Social Work practice.
This module is designed to provide you with the necessary knowledge and practical skills involved in working with adults who have diagnosed mental health conditions and illnesses.
This module aims to develop your understanding of the legal and policy frameworks and guidance that inform and mandate social work and their application to practice. The module will begin with an examination of the current UK Legal system and legislation. This will then be followed by exploration of social workers’ legal duties and powers.
This module is designed to provide you with the knowledge of legislation, policies, guidance and theories which provide the framework for social work with Children and Families.
By the end of the first placement you should demonstrate effective use of knowledge, skills and commitment to core values in social work in a given setting in predominantly fewer complex situations, with supervision and support.
This module will develop skills and knowledge of contemporary leadership and management. It will offer the potential for self-development as a leader and enable you to challenge assumptions and think in new and innovative ways.
During this placement, you are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the organisational context of the social work agency, alongside the application of theoretical concepts and relevant legislation, policies, and procedures. You should integrate this knowledge with appropriate methods, skills, and theories when working with specific groups of people with lived experience. In doing so, you will evidence your progress in meeting the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and the Social Work England Professional Standards (SWEPS).
This module is a solo final year project, undertaken with supervision, that fulfils the independent study requirement for Honours. You will develop the skills of critical analysis and evaluation of research you gained in the foundation module “Research Methods”.
This module will support learners to critically analyse management, change and organisations within the current context of the social work profession. You will develop an understanding of the need for continuous professional development in changing organisations.
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