Social Work - BSc (Hons)
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
If you want to have a positive impact on people’s lives by providing solution-focused support for social and interpersonal difficulties as well as promoting human rights and wellbeing, then social work could be the career for you. One of your key roles as a social worker will be in safeguarding vulnerable children and adults, working directly with people to support choice and independence....
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City South
- Award BSc (Hons)
- Start date September 2025
- 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
If you want to have a positive impact on people’s lives by providing solution-focused support for social and interpersonal difficulties as well as promoting human rights and wellbeing, then social work could be the career for you.
One of your key roles as a social worker will be in safeguarding vulnerable children and adults, working directly with people to support choice and independence. From providing early intervention to enable a family under pressure to stay together through to supporting someone with mental ill-health, social work is challenging and often emotional, but also a very rewarding career with a variety of routes and specialisms open to you once you qualify.
We have over 50 years’ experience training people to become social workers in the super-diverse and cosmopolitan city of Birmingham. Our BSc (Hons) Social Work degree programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to meet the professional competencies required of a social worker and make a difference to people’s lives.
Our BSc (Hons) Social Work degree programme is designed to support you to become an excellent practitioner able to work with children and adults in a variety of social work settings spanning voluntary organisations, children and families, youth justice, adults and mental health. Successful completion of the degree will enable you to apply for registration with the social work regulator, Social Work England, and to hold the protected title of “Social Worker”.
What's covered in this course?
We provide an academic learning with you as students at the centre of our planning. While we do deliver some online lectures, most of your time will be spent in sessions on campus and in service delivery settings within the community on practice-based placements, reflecting the nature of social work as both an academic and practical discipline.
You will learn in a range of ways, including lectures, workshops and seminars, complemented by online resources and independent study. Your lecturers and tutors will include experienced social work academics, current practitioners, academics from other relevant disciplines, and service users and carers who are ‘experts by experience’. Each will assist you to develop the knowledge, skills, values and professional capabilities you will need for effective social work practice in today’s complex world. By bringing together these elements, you will learn to identify and navigate the complexities of social work to promote and protect wellbeing.
The course involves direct practice experience through professional (work experience) placements. These are provided by our practice partners in both the second and third year of the course. While on placement you will be supported by a team of people, including a dedicated and qualified practice educator who will always be a registered social worker. Our practice partners include Local Authorities, and established private, independent, and voluntary sector agencies.
Recent changes to our course plan mean that you will experience a range of assessment methods in addition to written assignments, such as role plays and presentations.
“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 learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Open Day: 19 October 2024
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.
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.
Essential requirements
120 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about 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 you have non-standard qualifications but you have significant relevant experience, you may be eligible for our portfolio route - see additional information below for further details.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Prior to enrolling on this course, successful candidates will be required to obtain a satisfactory occupational health check and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) via the Faculty, as well as a Social Work declaration check. You will receive details of what is required if you are offered a place on the course. If you have any queries please refer to DBS Frequently Asked Questions or contact admissions@bcu.ac.uk.
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 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £9,250 in 2025/26
- 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 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £17,690 in 2025/26
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, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
This module will introduce you to social work, its definitions and the role of social workers in contemporary UK society. It will explore the history of social work and its changes within historical, political and societal contexts, and will establish what it means to be a social worker today.
The module focuses on providing understanding of professional standards and capabilities that are required in social work, including key concepts such as professionalism and will explore their meaning and application in both social work studies and practice. It will also highlight the complexities of social work and some of the dilemmas social workers may face.
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.
The module contributes towards the programme philosophy, and your personal and professional development by ensuring you:
Central to the delivery of high quality professional social work is the ability to understand the link between identity, inequality, and injustice and to apply anti-discriminatory principles and approaches during practice.
This academic module is delivered as preparation prior to professional practice. You will learn fundamental theoretical perspectives, find factual data and evidence relating to the prevalence of discrimination and oppression in society, and consider the relevance of your own and other’s identity. You will learn that good practice must be anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive.
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. Various court cases have emphasised the need for a sound knowledge of the relationship between social work practice and the law, with increased calls for legal literacy amongst social workers.
The module provides students with the introduction to legal frameworks and social policy for social work, and the application of these frameworks to diverse social work situations. Students will be able to gain an understanding of the importance of law in social work practice and how to apply this through use of case scenarios and working with Experts by Experience who will share experiences of statutory interventions in their lives. Students will understand how social workers apply legal and policy frameworks as well and appreciate the role of social workers in influencing policy developments. This will be linked to the social work Professional Capability Framework and Social Work Standards.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme and your personal and professional development, this module supports your academic learning as you develop your social work skills and knowledge. You will develop your understanding of the theoretical and evidence-based work which informs social work practice.
There will be a focus on the goal of “transforming lives” and moving towards positive outcomes, by providing a range of the key knowledge required to facilitate this. The module also contributes to the “Knowledge” requirements of the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Workers.
This module will introduce you to social work skills with a particular focus on the role and responsibilities of the social worker and partnership working with service users, carers and other professionals in the context of assessment. A key part of the module considers theories, models and approaches to assessment and how these are used in social work practice.
This module aims to give students the skills and knowledge needed to work effectively as a person-centred and relationship based social worker. In turn, you will learn about the importance of the use of self, self-care and resilience. Underpinning this module is a focus on social work values and how these may be used to engage in anti-discriminatory practice and empower.
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.
This module is a ‘professional requirement’ and must be passed before you are considered ready and eligible to safely undertake your First 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, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
This module links to the Level 4 module Foundation Law and Policy and develops your knowledge and skills in understanding the complex relationship between social workers exercising governmental authority and upholding the rights of individuals and families.
The module will provide you with the knowledge needed to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults in line with the professional requirements for social work. You will begin to reflect on social worker legal roles and responsibilities in preparing for professional practice and employment.
This module links to the Level 4 Foundation Law and Policy and develops your knowledge and skills in understanding the complex relationship between social workers exercising governmental authority and upholding the rights of children and families.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to engage with law and policy needed to safeguard and protect children and families in practice. You will begin to reflect on social work legal roles and responsibilities in preparing for professional practice and employment. You will be able to understand social work statutory powers and duties and the ability to make complex decisions in practice.
Social workers have an ethical and professional responsibility to know, understand and apply a range of established and researched theories within their practice which are consistent with, and grounded in the values and principles of social work. When working with individuals, families, groups and communities, social workers must hold different explanations in mind and be able to evidence sources of knowledge informing decision-making processes.
Social Work Theories in Practice supports and enables you to develop the required knowledge and understanding of a range of social work theories to prepare you for the complex and evolving nature of social work practice. The module will provide you with a grounding in both established and current theories, focusing upon their implication within and to social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities.
Social Work Methods in Practice: Advanced Skills concentrates upon methods of intervention and enables and supports you to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required of social work practitioners to promote the welfare of and safeguard individuals, families, groups and communities whilst empowering them to make and sustain positive changes.
This module links to Social Work Theories in Practice and further builds upon Social Work Skills for Practice in focusing upon you developing the skills, knowledge and confidence required when using and applying methods of intervention within your social work practice, preparing you for Practice Placement One.
This module has been designed to help social work students develop ‘research mindedness’ and to acquire and practice critical thinking skills to be able to appraise and use knowledge from social work practice and research, and from the experiences of people who use services.
The module is specifically designed to provide an introduction to research design and research methodology. Students will learn the relevance and purpose of ‘systematic enquiry’ in the context of social work practice and how to carry out good quality, ethically sound research that takes full account of different paradigms and methodological approaches including sampling, piloting, data collection, data analysis and data presentation to ensure impact.
The Practice Placement One module is a professional requirement that builds on the Social Work Skills for Practice module. The successful completion of the Practice Placement One module is a pre-requisite to commencing your Practice Placement Two in year three.
The Practice Placement One is a 20-credit module that commences with a five-day preparation period provided by the University. This preparation period includes teaching on professionalism, supervision, and reflective practice.
Year Three
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
In line with the philosophy and aims of the 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.
The module has been designed to provide you with the necessary knowledge of safeguarding practices and legal insight needed to become effective social work practitioners in the complex world of modern social work practice through safeguarding and protecting vulnerable service users.
It contributes to the programme’s aims of pursuing excellence in safeguarding practice, applying legal knowledge to practice, developing your ability to understand the roles, and to work in partnership with other agencies and professionals, enhancing your employability and preparing you for your practice placement.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will support you to understand, critically evaluate and be ready to work within the changing social, political and economic contexts in which social work operates.
Its focus upon local, national and global contemporary issues, themes and perspectives, recognises and reflects the ever evolving and dynamic nature of society which includes ongoing systemic, and structural changes driven by social, political and economic factors and events e.g. the Covid-19 Pandemic and rapid developments in information and communications technology (ICT) have led to significant societal impacts and changes.
How can and should social work practice respond to the opportunities and challenges presented by these factors which have meaningful impacts on the citizens we serve?
Welcome to the Research Enquiry for Evidence-Based Practice module. This module introduces you to a range of research literature and illustrates how research is an essential part of social work and has a pivotal role in informing practice. Social Work England and British Association of Social Workers (BASW), as guardians of the Professional Capabilities Standards, require social workers to be able to gather information from multiple sources and evaluate research used to underpin and inform their practice decisions, recommendations, and interventions (SWE 2020; BASW, 2021).
The Critical Practice module is the last module in Year 3 of the social work programme following a 100-day practice placement. This module is a core module of year 3 of the BSc (Hons) Social Work degree and this will prepare you for future employability by demonstrating your ability to consolidate your learning over the three-year period and apply this to practice.
This is an opportunity to critically reflect and analyse your own intervention by focusing on a case you have worked with. You will be encouraged to examine your approach, decisions values, judgements, and interventions to improve your practice. Numerous reviews of social work reinforce the need for practitioners to think critically, make informed decisions and formulate the best plans for the citizens they work with by developing their self- awareness and emotional intelligence. This will be done in context of ensuring that your practice is inclusive and anti-discriminatory.
This module builds upon the knowledge, skills, and values you applied during your Practice Placement One and integrates your ongoing learning from the academic modules undertaken in years one and two.
The Practice Placement Two module is a zero-credit module, it is practice-led and provides you with the opportunities to apply and embed your theoretical and legislative knowledge to the practice setting, and to develop and apply skills of critical reflection and critical analysis to your own practice and the complexities of social work issues. The Practice Placement Two module including the 100 days of practice learning will help prepare you for employability.
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:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- 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