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Social Work

BA (Hons)

Typical offer for 2025
Duration
UCAS code
Start date
Location

Suitable for applications.

Overview

Become a Social Work England-accredited social worker, equipped to practice in a range of settings, with the BA (Hons) in Social Work.

You’ll learn the latest theory and gain hands-on practical experience, in a research-led learning environment. The programme has been developed in close collaboration with partner social work agencies to ensure you develop the skills you need to excel in this challenging profession.

You will study subjects such as:

  • Human rights
  • Social justice
  • Ethics and values in social work
  • Effective communication
  • Social policy and legislation
  • Psychology and sociology

You will learn a range of practice skills to ensure you can work effectively with individuals, families and groups, including the use of art, play and role play.

In years two and three you will develop real-world experience on practice learning modules, enabling you to apply your knowledge in social work settings.

On graduation you will have a wide range of career opportunities open to you in both the public and private sector. You will also have the tools you need to go on to further study, teaching, and research.

Professional accreditation

The professional status of social worker is conferred by Social Work England. Successful graduates are eligible to register with Social Work England as a qualified social worker.

Social Work England Logo, showing course approval

Entry requirements

Typical offer - 120 UCAS tariff points.

Gain work experience to help your application

Bradford Care Association and SkillsHouse can help you gain crucial health and social care work experience, to help you meet the entry requirements for your chosen course.

Both organisations can help you access a variety of roles, as well as progression opportunities, training, and support.

A levels

BBB, including at least 80 points from two full A levels.

T levels

Merit - there are no specific subject requirements.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM - there are no specific subject requirements.

Applicants on Access Programmes

Meet UCAS Tariff of 120 - there are no specific subject requirements.

International Baccalaureate Requirements

120 UCAS tariff points to include at least 80 points from 2 HL subjects. Plus HL 3 or SL 4 in Maths and English Language and Literature A or English B.

Plus minimum of

GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4 (equivalents accepted).

Additional entry requirements

At the point of application, applicants need to demonstrate they have a minimum of 100 hours of relevant social care work experience. This should have been undertaken within the last two years.

Experience in a social care setting (either paid or voluntary) is essential. We also welcome experience in social work overseas, either because you lived there or because you have undertaken paid or voluntary work in another country. Relevant social care experience includes direct work with people and could include:

  • Direct work with people who need practical or emotional help or support either through face-to-face work or on an individual or group basis or telephone work
  • Mentoring or counselling
  • Care work (such as working as a health care assistant)
  • Youth work
  • Working with children or young people who are socially excluded or have additional emotional and/or practical support needs.
  • Placements through school or college which has been undertaken within the last 2 years at the point of application
  • Personal experience of caring for a relative or friend where you have had first-hand experience of social services or social work intervention; having a parent(s) who is a foster carer
  • Personal experience as a service-user of social work intervention

We attach importance not only to the amount of experience that you have gained but crucially to the learning that you have gained from it and are able to bring to the course and your professional development. It is helpful if you include the following information in your personal statement:

  • Your roles and responsibilities
  • Reflections on the ways in which your experience has helped to prepare you for social work

As part of the selection process, we interview short-listed candidates prior to making decisions.

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

English language requirements

Minimum IELTS at 7.0 or the equivalent.

Foundation Year entry

If you are a UK student and do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you may be nominated on our Foundation Year in Clinical Sciences and Medicine programme.

Pass each module and achieve a programme average of at least 40%.

If you do not have the required Maths entry qualification you must study Maths and Stats for Higher Education.

Participate and be successful in the selection/interview process for the degree programme. Successfully complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a health check.

If you are an international student and do not meet the entry requirements for direct entry onto this course, you may be interested in our International College.

Transferring from another university

Applications for advanced entry will not be considered for this programme.

Teaching, learning and assessment

We recognise that students all learn in different ways and our teaching and assessment methods reflect this.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, and tutorials.

You will be allocated a personal academic tutor who will support you in your studies. Assessment methods include academic essays, group presentations, poster presentations and portfolios.

In addition to your academic studies, the Division of Social Work and Social Care has a strong history of supporting our students to develop their employability skills.

Our facilities

Students have access to the Communal area of the ground floor of the Pembertron building and can also book meeting rooms in the library for collaborative learning and groupwork.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2025

  • UK: £9,535
  • International: £20,538

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs.
You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Study support

Research

Terms and conditions of study

The University has a set of terms and conditions for all students accepting an offer to study on a course here at Bradford. This is called The Student Contract. This document sets out the Terms and Conditions which apply when you accept an offer of a place on a programme of study at the University of Bradford.

View our Student Contract for further details.

Transparency statement

Information about this programme and its modules has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, but changes may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of teaching. Any change which impacts the terms and conditions of an applicant’s offer will be communicated to them.