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BSc (Hons)

Social Work

Few careers offer as much opportunity to support people as social work. Often, inequalities and injustices in society create difficulties for people involved with social services.

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Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    L500

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Newport

  • Campus Code

    C

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,000*

  • International students

    £15,260*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

The social work degree consists of academic and practice-based elements. Half your time will involve practice learning opportunities in statutory, voluntary and third sectors. This will help consolidate your knowledge and skills and prepare you for practice.

DESIGNED FOR

Whether you want to work with older people, families, children or people with disabilities, you could build a professional career that offers immense job satisfaction.

Career Paths

  • Social Worker
  • Family support worker
  • High intensity therapist
  • Services for adults or services for children

Skills taught

  • Communication 
  • Collaboration
  • Problem Solving

Course Highlights

Placement opportunities

Practical placements account for 50% of our social work degree, each in a different setting.

Preparing for the workplace

You’ll be prepared to work in integrated multiagency teams alongside professionals from other services such as the police, health and education.

Interactive learning

Benefit from the real-life experiences of representatives from the Service User and Carer Group, who contribute to the social work course.

Module Overview

  • Foundations of reflective and applied practice
  • Law and Social Policy
  • Communication Skills in Social Work
  • Social Sciences for Social Work
  • Introduction to Social Work Assessment
  • Outcome Focused Practice in Social Work
  • Development of Critically Reflective and Applied Practice
  • Research Skills in Social Work
  • Application of Legislation and Social Policy in Social Work Practice
  • Social work with Individuals, Families and Communities
  • Competence in Social Work Practice
  • Inter-professional working and co-production
  • Integrating Research and Enquiry in Social Work

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 96 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: CCC
  • BTEC: Merit Merit Merit
  • Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate: C and CC at A Level
  • Access to HE: Pass the access obtaining a minimum of 96 UCAS points.

Additional requirements include:

The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent.

Equivalent qualifications considered are Essential Skills Level Two in Communication or Functional Skills Level Two in English.

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child & Adult Workforce and Child & Adult Barring List and subscription to the DBS Update Service is required. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants).

An interview is required. This will consist of a written task and an individual interview.

At least 10 weeks’ work experience (approximately 360 hours) carried out in a supervised social care setting or agency with a reference from the supervisor submitted at point of interview confirming you have completed the required hours. This work experience must be completed prior to your interview, and you must clearly reference that you are undertaking a minimum of 360 hours in your personal statement. If you have previous experience that you feel could contribute towards these hours then please contact the course leader [email protected] to discuss further. Instances such as these will be assessed on a case by case basis.

We do not accept deferred applications for the Social Work degree.

Closed for International applicants 

Unfortunately, this course is not currently open to international applicants, please visit our course pages where you can find an alternative course choice. 

 

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch and we'd to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£9,000

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£15,260

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

Students may be eligible for the Social Work Bursary for Wales domicillary students from Social Care Wales.

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

This fee includes £40 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee.

Cost: £55.42

Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £13. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate.

Cost: £13

These can be claimed back if the student has been allocated a Social Care Wales bursary. Cost is dependent on placement location.

£10 per year

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

Over the three years, you will experience a diverse range of teaching methods. The social work degree is taught through traditional methods such as lectures, group debate and presentations, as well as more experiential methods such as role play and courtroom debate, or online learning.

In practice, you will learn and be assessed through supervision and direct observation.

You will also benefit from the real-life experiences of representatives from the Service User and Carer Group, who contribute to the social work course.

Teaching staff

  • Michelle Culwick
  • Bernard Dacey
  • Kathryn Johnstone

Placements

Practical placements account for 50% of our social work degree, each in a different setting. This means you’ll not only be well prepared when you qualify, but you’ll also have a good idea of the sector in which you would like to work. These block placements can often lead to employment opportunities when you graduate.

You can specialise in a particular area in the third year, for example working with adults, children or in mental health.

You’ll also be prepared to work in integrated multiagency teams alongside professionals from other services such as the police, health and education.

Facilities

Newport City is a modern campus with up to date classrooms and facilities which include access to a range of computer and IT resources, as well as an extensive library service.

Careers and Employability

Graduate Careers

Around 5,500 social workers are employed in Wales and, with demand increasing, plenty of opportunities exist for graduates with a social work degree. The majority of newly qualified social workers secure a job within six months of qualifying and starting salaries are competitive.

Possible career paths

There’s an ongoing demand for social workers, so you can expect to find employment soon after graduation. Work is widely available in a variety of roles and settings. Whether you want to work with older people, families, children or people with disabilities, you could build a professional career that offers immense job satisfaction.

Next Steps

Apply Through UCAS
Book an Open Day
Chat to Us