Social Work and Applied Social Studies (including Placement) BSc (Hons)

Gain the knowledge and skills to practice as a registered professional social worker. You’ll combine academic learning and a placement on this course.

This course will prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career in social work. We offer comprehensive training that will allow you to register as a social worker and practice in a range of settings. You’ll study the social sciences as a foundational base and develop more specific social work knowledge, values and skills.

You’ll be based in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences and our teaching team work closely with colleagues across the disciplines of sociology, social policy and international development. You'll benefit from their expertise and our fifty years of experience training social work practitioners at the University.

In your first year you'll study core social work units alongside sociology and social policy. Areas include social work and the law, psychology and social work theories and methods. You'll develop an awareness of social inequality and social justice that will underpin your training, and enhance your social work skills in readiness for your practice placements.

In your second year you'll begin your Professional Practice Placement and advance your study of social work. Alongside your placement you will also explore topics such as social work with children, families and adults.

In your final year you'll continue your social work studies and in your last semester you will undertake a final Professional Practice Placement. You’ll build on the knowledge and skills you have developed in previous years and apply this to your practice with service users and carers.

Professional practice placement

This course includes two mandatory social work practice placements. These take place in years 2 and 3.

In your practice placement, you will apply your knowledge, skills and professional understanding to direct practice with service users. You’ll be supported by your Practice Educator, Practice Supervisor and University Tutor.

We offer practice learning opportunities in a range of organisations, such as user-led agencies, small or large voluntary groups, independent or private agencies, local authority social work teams and health trusts.

Professional accreditations

This course prepares you to meet the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and Social Work England standards for newly qualified social workers. You will be able to register as a professional social worker.

Prepare for your future

As a professionally qualified social worker, you might work in a range of health and social care settings, including the NHS, social services, and private and voluntary social care providers. Employment opportunities arise in multidisciplinary settings where social workers work alongside education, health care and legal professionals.

The course will also provide you with knowledge, skills and experiences that are transferable to many careers outside of social work.

Companies and organisations our graduates have gone on to work for include:

• Bath and North East Somerset Council
• Bristol City Council
• First Steps
• Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust