Social Work - BSc (Hons)
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.
As one of the largest providers of social workers in the UK, our Social Work BSc (Hons) degree is regulated by Social Work England and is well known for producing excellent practitioners capable of operating in local authority, voluntary or private settings.
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City South
- Award BSc (Hons)
- Start date September 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Education and Social Work
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
This course is in the final stages of approval by the regulator, Social Work England.
As one of the largest providers of social workers in the UK, our Social Work BSc (Hons) degree is regulated by Social Work England and is well known for producing excellent practitioners capable of operating in local authority, voluntary or private settings.
What's covered in this course?
Our specially-designed degree will give you the skills and knowledge needed to make a
difference to people's lives as a professional and registered social worker.
You will learn about the social work profession and the needs of the people social workers support. We link theory and practice through a combination of academic learning and on the job placement opportunities.
You will gain a first-hand insight into a wide range of issues that you will face in social work practice, such as:
- The care needs of vulnerable people
- Safeguarding children and adults
- The impact of poverty
- Domestic violence
- Substance misuse
- Mental health issues
Through expert teaching and quality placements, you will develop a sophisticated understanding of different service user groups and the skills needed to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable people.
This social work degree course is among the most innovative of its kind, placing you where you will benefit the most - among the people and communities you will go on to support.
See what our students say...
“Some of my colleagues envy the teaching we received at Birmingham City University when they hear what we covered.”
Taiwona Kanjanda
Why Choose Us?
- We celebrate diversity and culture - we are proud to have one of the most diverse student groups in the UK, with more than 50 per cent coming from ethnic minority groups.
- We support you through exciting and challenging placements to develop your work experience and practical skills against the core competencies needed to be a social worker.
- We will develop you to be a skilled, resilient and empowering leader, making sure you'll be fit for social work in the 21st century when you graduate.
- Experienced and dedicated staff team will support you throughout the course, along with access to a personal tutor.
- The course covers all aspects of social work, enabling you to aim for careers in specialist social work agencies as well as roles in education and health. Our graduates have found jobs in children's and adult services, as well as in the private and voluntary sector.
Similar Courses
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to meet us in person. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.
Next Open Day: 29 June 2024
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2024/25.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
120 UCAS tariff points
Please note: If you qualify for our BCU Accelerate scheme, you could receive an offer that is two grades below our normal entry requirements. Find out more about BCU Accelerate.
Applicants will also need to complete an interview for this course; see interview arrangements below.
If your level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff for this course, you may be offered a place on our Education and Social Work Foundation Year instead. This course offers an alternative pathway onto our Teacher Training/Social Work courses. You do not need to submit a separate application but will automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS entry tariff. Find out more about the Foundation Year.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £9,250 in 2024/25
- Apply via UCAS
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £16,085 in 2024/25
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
Our advice for applying to a health care course
Applying for a course and preparing for an interview can be a daunting process, so we have created a series of films to help you through the process, including what to put in your personal statement.
Guidance for International students
There are three ways to apply:
1) Direct to the University
You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.
2) Through a country representative
Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.
3) Through UCAS
If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
Career plans
If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
Work experience
Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
School or college experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
Course in Depth
Download course specification
Download nowCourse structure
Our social work degree course links theory directly with practice, enabling you to engage effectively and sensitively with vulnerable groups. You'll graduate as a professional capable of ensuring the users of social work services have the maximum possible independence while still safeguarding them from harm and risk. We'll help you develop and maintain the confidence of service users, protecting their rights, effectively promoting their interests and ensuring equality.
Our degree is designed to prepare you in the best way possible for direct practice, partnering with employers to ensure you get experience in a variety of settings. You'll have the chance to work alongside a range of vulnerable groups and individuals with differing needs on placement. This may involve working in a day-care setting, for groups who require a few hours of attention daily, or in the community, carrying out assessments, developing care plans, identifying and responding to risk, managing complex caseloads and prioritising work, as well as delivering appropriate services.
In year one you'll start your training with six modules that will introduce you to what social workers do. This includes anti-discriminatory practice, law and social policy and theory related to human growth and development, as well as other vital areas of social welfare. The final two modules of year one focus on developing your core communication and assessment skills, which are essential for effective practice.
In the second year, you'll continue to build your knowledge base about the demands placed on modern social workers with a further five modules as well as your first major placement (70 days). The second year also includes an introduction to research methods.
In the final year of the social work degree, you'll develop more of your evidence-based skills and hone your knowledge of law and policy. The course features a longer, 100-day placement. You'll finish the course by working on consolidating your skills of critical reflection, giving you a robust platform from which you can begin to practice as a social worker.
Course breakdown
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module provides you with an understanding of the role of the social worker in different contexts and will provide an experience in social work practice.
It is intended that you will identify the expectations of the regulatory body and the role of the social worker in current practice. There is an acknowledgement that the current practice environment is complex, challenging, multi-dimensional, constantly changing alive with ethical dilemmas and tensions. Social Work is constantly changing as a result of learning from current practice including contemporary issues and is informed by student and service user feedback.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will focus on pursuing excellence in social work practice, and assisting you to become practice-led, employable and have a local, national and global outlook.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will develop social work professionals whose work is informed by theory and evidence, with the goal of "transforming lives", by providing a range of the key knowledge required to facilitate this.
This module aligns with the overall philosophy and aims of the BSc (Hons) Social Work degree programme and the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency by providing an understanding of the impact of human growth and development across the life span in relation to and in preparation for social work practice. The module also contributes to the "Knowledge" requirements of the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Workers. It promotes an analytic and comparative approach to perspectives on personal development and change, with a focus on the chronological life-course. It explores the relevance of physiological, psychological, sociological and environmental perspectives to understanding personal and social development and functioning.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, and in order to prepare students for the complex and constantly evolving nature of modern social work practice this module enables students to develop their knowledge and understanding of law.
The module aims to:
- Develop a practical awareness of court processes and the roles of social workers in various legal and regulatory contexts
- Develop the skill of reading and evaluating legal and policy documents
- Begin to develop an awareness of the policy and legal frameworks of practice specialisms
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, and central to the delivery of high quality social work is the ability to understand and develop competence in using and applying a range of professional skills in direct practice with service users, carers and other professionals.
Determined by the Professional Capabilities Framework at ‘Skills and Readiness for Practice Level’, this Level 4 module teaches and assesses foundational skills in professionalism, communication, assessment, reflection, emotional resilience, Anti Discriminatory Practice, relationship building, recording, and initial awareness and understanding of evidence, risk, safeguarding, organisational context and leadership in social work. It includes skills simulation sessions and the opportunity to shadow a qualified social worker. Professionalism includes the ability to separate personal and professional values, draw on a professional knowledge base, use power positively, engage in ethical decision making and maintain professional boundaries with vulnerable people. This module is a ‘professional requirement’ and must be passed before you are considered ready and eligible to safely undertake your First Practice Placement working directly with vulnerable people. Service users, carers and qualified practitioners work alongside academic tutors as part of an interactive and practical approach to delivery and assessment.
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will provide you with the opportunity to engage with law and policy, and the knowledge needed to safeguard and protect vulnerable service users as specified by the professional requirements for social work.
You will need to reflect on your legal roles and responsibilities as a social worker with a duty of care so that you can practice professionally and be prepared for employment. The module will examine the court process and structure and prepare you to present evidence in court and to write formal reports. You are required to analyse relevant law and policy with an emphasis on the process of joint working and the individual responsibilities of practitioners working in the areas of children and families, adult care, and mental health.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will prepare you for the complex and constantly evolving nature of modern social work practice, enabling you to develop your knowledge and understanding of theory and methods of intervention.
You are required to not only learn about the theories but to develop skills for using these in practice whilst demonstrating the ability to work in an anti-oppressive/anti-discriminatory manner. The BSc (Hons) Social Work programme is clear in its aim to develop social work professionals whose work is informed by theory and evidence, with the goal of transforming lives.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will focus on pursuing excellence in social work practice, and assisting you to become practice-led, employable and have a local, national and global outlook.
This module is designed to provide an introduction to research, research design and research methodology. You will learn the relevance and purpose of research in the context of social work practice, how to carry out research and follow a research process whilst taking into account research paradigms, research approaches, sampling, piloting, data collection, data analysis and data presentation.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, the First Placement module will focus upon practice learning. Social work is a practice led profession and this is reflected in practice learning being integral to the social work programme. The First Placement module will support you to link your developing knowledge, skills and values to practice through the provision of a 70 day practice placement that will provide opportunities for you to work directly with service users, carers, colleagues and other professionals. This module also contributes to the programme philosophy and aims by enhancing your interdisciplinarity, for example by developing your ability to work with and learn from other professionals; and employability, for example by giving you opportunities to develop your professionalism and practice excellence in a service delivery setting, and be work ready.
Year Three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will focus on pursuing excellence in social work practice, and assisting you to become practice-led, employable and have a local, national and global outlook.
It is important that you have an opportunity to develop your research knowledge for practice based on a social care issue within the context of a pluralist society. You are required to demonstrate a critical understanding to recognise the ways in which research needs to address differences of equality, race, gender and culture, at local, national and global perspectives.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will provide you with an understanding of the legal system in England and Wales and the knowledge needed to safeguard and protect vulnerable service users as specified by the professional requirements for social work.
You will need to reflect on your legal roles and responsibilities as a social worker with a duty of care so that you can practice professionally and be prepared for employment. The module will examine the court process and structure and prepare you to present evidence in court and to write formal reports. You are required to reflect on the process of joint working and the individual responsibilities of practitioners working in the areas of children and families, adult care, mental health and youth justice
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme the Last Placement module will focus upon practice learning. This practice-led, knowledge applied module contributes to the programme philosophy and aims by further enhancing your interdisciplinarity for example, your ability to work with and learn from other professionals; and employability for example, giving you opportunities to develop your professionalism and practice excellence in a service delivery setting, and be work ready. The Last Placement module is a professional requirement that builds on the level 5 First Placement module.
Welcome to the Critical Reflective Practice Module, this is the last module of Year 3 of the BSc (Hons) Social Work Degree which is taught in Semester 3 of the programme. This module focuses on providing you with the opportunity to promote a critical reflective approach to practice.
The Critical Reflective Practice module is a core module in preparing you for completion of the BSc (Hons) Social Work Degree and future employability through enhancing your presentation skills and your ability to critically reflect and analyse your work.
Employability
Employment opportunities
After successfully completing our social work degree, you are eligible to register with Social Work England, enabling you to practise as a professional social worker.
With half of the course taking place in practice settings, this course is highly regarded by employers. The experience you will gain with us as a social work student gives you excellent employment prospects.
Placements
Placements take place across a range of agencies including local authorities, voluntary and independent organisations, in a variety of settings such as residential, day care, schools, housing, hospitals and Social Work teams.
A significant period of time on the programme is spent on placement, observing and engaging with the realities of social work with at least two contrasting placements with different service user groups, and the final year placement will always involve working and learning in statutory social work interventions.
You will undertake a minimum 170 days of placements over the three years of the course, working in different settings with service users and professional colleagues. In addition, you will be expected to undertake 30 skills days within the core skills modules during Year One. Group learning is an important part of ensuring you engage with a diverse range of undergraduate peers and staff.
Our broad partner network means we are able to offer placement opportunities in the public and independent sectors, drawing on strong links with Birmingham City Council, Walsall Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, and Warwickshire County Council among others as well as charities including Barnardo’s.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Our facilities
Our School of Education and Social Work is based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.
We’ve spent £41million expanding the education facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice. Alongside classrooms and lecture theatres, we also have a range of specialist teaching and learning spaces for specific subjects including science, design and technology, drama and physical education.
As well as subject-specific rooms, our facilities include the Primary Innovation Lab, which houses £24,000 worth of LEGO. This room is a special resource for our education students, offering an innovative and creative way to approach subjects across the curriculum – from computing to English, mathematics to art. The lab responds to research that children and young people learn best from practical experience.
Our Social Work students have access to a home environment room and mock hospital wards which offer an opportunity to gain experience of working with service users in different situations.
Computer facilities
The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.
Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
- Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
- Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
- Microsoft Office software
- Research and statistical software
- Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.
Our staff
Caroline Lee
Associate Professor and Subject Lead for Social Work
Caroline qualified in 1999 and first practiced as a generic adult social worker in Warwickshire before moving on to the Learning Disability Resettlement Team in Birmingham in 2002. In 2004 she qualified as an Approved Social Worker and continued to specialize in working with adults with a learning disability accessing forensic services, before...
More about CarolineFungisai Mushawa
Senior Lecturer
Fungisai qualified as a social worker in 1990 and has worked as a social worker in generic, rehabilitation, hospice and local authority settings. Fungisai has worked as a Child Protection Social Worker, Fostering Social Worker, Independent Social Worker and as a Team Manager in these settings.
More about FungisaiMichael Greenhouse
Michael Greenhouse is Lecturer in Social Work. Prior to working in education, he has worked as a supervising social worker, fostering assessment social worker, and in child protection teams. He has expertise in direct work with children, relationship based practice and social work skills, and holds academic qualifications in psychology and social...
More about MichaelSimon Hall
Senior Lecturer
Simon qualified as a social worker in 1995 and has worked as a practitioner and manager in most adult service user groups. He has also managed post qualifying social work training provision within a local authority for a number of years.
More about Simon