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Social Work

BA (Hons)

Typical offer for 2025
Duration
UCAS code

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 approved logo

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.

The occupational health screening

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening. This will involve completing an online occupational health questionnaire and attendance if required at a medical appointment.

Students on social work programmes must be able to meet Social Work England standard regarding health and wellbeing. Occupational health screening and assessment will consider the students’ health and wellbeing and their fitness to study and practice. Progress on the course is dependent on your continued fitness.

This screening process complies with Public Health England requirements for the protection of the public and students and staff working in health and social care.

All offers of places are made subject to satisfactory health clearance.

The University is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities to enable them to fulfill the required competencies of the programme. Candidates who are concerned about health issues are strongly advised to contact us prior to applying.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

All places are also offered subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously known as CRB check) disclosure. This is due to the fact that you may be required to work with children or vulnerable adults on your clinical placement, and will need to demonstrate that you can safely work with these groups upon registration with Social Work England.

English language requirements

Minimum IELTS at 7.0 or the equivalent.

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, and you have a UKVI approved IELTS, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course. See the Language Centre for more details. For further information on English Language requirements please see the dedicated international entry requirements page.

Foundation Year entry

If you are a UK student and do not meet the entry requirements for this course, our Foundation Year has a route to Social Work BA (Hons).

Foundation Year entry requirements

88 UCAS points or equivalent plus an English Language and a Maths qualification equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 and a minimum of 100 hours of relevant social care work experience and reflective personal statement.

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.

Study and progression requirements

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.

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.

What you will study

All module information is for 2022 entry, and is subject to change.

Placement Year

We offer hands-on practical skill development sessions on top of your academic modules.

These sessions prepare you for your first placement, providing structured opportunities to practice key skills and to develop your understanding of the social work role, without the immediate pressure of assessment, and without the need to be in a social worker role with service users and carers.

We also provide opportunities later in the course to develop more advanced skills.

In years two and three you will undertake two assessed practice placements in contrasting settings, one of which must include statutory tasks.

The first will run for 70 days in year two and the second for 100 days in year three.

Placements are full-time. The first placement (70 days) will take place in Year 2 between January and May.

The second placement (100 days) will take place in Year 3 between November and May.

We have a dedicated team of Practice Learning Tutors who will manage and support you on your placement.

You will need to be prepared to travel to practice placements within a 30-mile radius of the University of Bradford, and many placement providers will expect students to possess a full UK driving licence.

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.

Official programme specification

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: £9,250
  • 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.

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.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.