
Mark Allenby
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
DiscoverUCAS Code:
L500
Level:
Undergraduate
Duration:
3 years Full-time
Starting:
September
Fees UK 23/24:
Full Time: £9,250
Fees International 23/24:
Full Time: £14,750
Location:
For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:
Our BA Social Work degree aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills and values appropriate for work in a variety of social work settings. The teaching and learning on this course is delivered by qualified and registered social work academic staff that are actively engaged in research and regularly contribute to publications, consultancy and direct practice.
This social work university programme was approved by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and by the current regulator Social Work England (SWE).
The programme enables graduates to register with Social Work England as Social Workers.
By the end of the degree in social work you will have been assessed against the Professional Capabilities Framework and Social Work England (SWE) Professional Standards will be able to apply to Social Work England for registration.
Updated 26/05/2023
Social workers deal with some of the most vulnerable people in society at times of heightened stress. By the end of the BA Social Work degree, you will have been assessed against the Professional Capabilities Framework and Social Work England (SWE) Professional Standards and will be able to apply to Social Work England for registration.
Competent practice is essential for the award and you will undertake 200 days of practice learning (placement and skills for practice) during the programme. Practice learning through placement experience is undertaken in blocks throughout the course. You will complete 30 days of experiential skills for practice at level four (in the University); 70 days (in placement) at level five and 100 days (in placement) at level six.
Throughout this social work degree, the value base of social work is emphasised, and you will engage in teaching designed to support your learning and understanding of anti-oppressive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice in a model that promotes social justice. In the first year, you will attend a practice knowledge development week where you will meet and hear from a variety of organisations, learn about the many different settings in which social work takes place and gain a better understanding of the placements you will undertake in years two and three of the programme.
The University of Northampton is central to the Northamptonshire Social Work Teaching Partnership. This Department of Education led initiative ensures that there is a close working relationship between the University of Northampton, as education providers of qualifying Social Work programmes (BA (Hons) Social Work and MA Social Work) and the statutory services of Northamptonshire Children’s Trust and Northamptonshire Adult Social Services, who provide services for a wide range of identified need in the county.
This also means that as a University, we work closely with our partners to develop the undergraduate Social Work degree curriculum to ensure it is current, innovative and reflective of practice, identify practice placement opportunities within statutory settings (Children, Mental Health, Adult Services) and prepare graduates for employment.
The Teaching Partnership will additionally progress partnership working between a range of programmes at The University of Northampton that offer training and education in Health and Social Care, Youth Work and a range of statutory and non-statutory service providers.
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 22/23. The modules relating to the academic year 23/24 will be available from June 2023.
You will be introduced to the knowledge and skills required for best social work practice which will continue to be developed throughout the duration of the social work degree. The Skills for Practice module is designed to develop your skills and understanding of social work through teaching and learning that takes place in the University and is delivered by a range of qualified social work academics, service users and social work practitioners.
You will develop your understanding of different service user groups and service provision in social work settings. You will be provided with opportunities to work in small learning sets developing your reflective critical thinking skills, and develop your understanding of oppression, discrimination and inequality of gender. A 70-day assessed placement learning opportunity will be completed in a social work setting or other appropriate area of practice.
You will undertake a 100-day assessed placement learning opportunity in a social work setting or other appropriate areas of practice. The teaching and learning at this stage of the course will focus on helping you to understand the importance of managing the professional task of social work. There will be opportunities to explore how services are provided with an emphasis on understanding risk and uncertainty in the assessment process.
All social work university applicants must have GCSE in Maths and English Language grade C/4 (or equivalent)
In addition to one of the following:
In addition to standard entry requirements, you must demonstrate that you possess the entry level requirements under the Professional Capabilities Framework. This framework includes:
You will need to have had experience of working with people who are experiencing challenges. This can be through volunteering or in paid employment. This experience should be over a period of at least six months and have totalled at least 250 hours.
All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
After applying via UCAS and meeting the entry requirements, you will be invited to an interview. You will be interviewed by a panel which may consist of a social work academic, service users, carers and practitioners or other stakeholders.
You will receive further information and the interview preparation instructions from us by email before your interview. If you have any questions, please email us at: interviews@northampton.ac.uk
In preparation for your interview, you may want to look at:
Fees quoted for the degree in social work relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2022/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associated with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.
You are not required to purchase any textbooks as we endeavour to ensure that all necessary material is available for free in the University library or online.
The Social Work degree attracts a very limited number of Social Work bursaries, which you may be eligible to apply for at the start of your course. However, the number of these bursaries allocated are minimal and you should therefore make appropriate financial arrangements to support your study.
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.
If you join this full-time degree in social work at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.
Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.
To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.
* UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)
BA Social Work prepares you for professional social work practice by developing your practice skills and your skills and knowledge in working with other professions. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to develop a range of communication skills through experiential teaching and learning facilitated by Service Users and Social Work Practitioners in readiness for direct practice. The course raises your political awareness and encourages you to be creative, critical and reflective thinkers.
The Social Work subject team are committed to the International Federation of Social Workers definition of social work and the curriculum is informed by it.
Our social work degree promotes an approach to learning that actively engages you with key issues and themes in Social Work practice. Teaching methods that are used on this course include group work, role play, individual skills development, enquiry-based learning, seminars and lectures.
You will be able to incorporate your academic learning to two supervised and assessed placement learning opportunities. Over the three years you will experience a range of social work services and work with service users.
Assessment of learning during the course takes many forms and covers both theory and practice. Each module is assessed against the learning outcomes for the module. The format of the assessments includes essays, posters, reports, presentation, and workbooks of evidence.
There is only one exam in the course, a law exam in the first year. Second and third-year placements are assessed through portfolios. In your third year you will complete a dissertation.
Throughout your programme of study you will have access to the Social Work Online Workbook. This workbook is designed to support you to:
Throughout the BA Social Work degree, you will undertake 170 days of practice learning (placement). You will complete a student profile during your first year and, through strong partnerships between the university and employer providers, will be matched to a specific service.
Placement learning opportunities can be outside of Northamptonshire. All placement providers are quality assured by the University. It is desirable that you hold a current UK driving licence.
Please note that as a student Social Worker you will be expected to travel efficiently and independently for all your placements. Your placements will be within a 65-mile radius from the University’s location.
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
DiscoverSenior Lecturer in Social Work
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
DiscoverSenior Lecturer in Social Work
Social Work BA (Hons)
DiscoverEmployment prospects for Social Work university graduates are excellent and you will be able to pursue various social work careers across the country.
Successful graduates will need to apply to Social Work England for registration. As Social Worker is a protected title, you need to have this registration before you can practice as a social worker. Only those graduating from a social work course can apply for this.
If you leave the course before completion, you may be able to be awarded an intermediate award, but you will not be able to register as a social worker.
Successful completion of the BA social work degree could lead on to a postgraduate study.
Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees.
"I feel that all of the knowledge gained on the course has supported me to feel confident in my career. The information which has been taught on the degree has always been detailed and critical analysis has always been offered to encourage us to ‘think outside of the box’." - Peter Meech -
The degree is designed using real-world material that equips you for employment either within Social Care or working with specific communities.
The course will provide you with the opportunity to develop and enhance key skills in working with service users, colleagues and professionals from a range of backgrounds.
See the service from the patient’s perspective and learn how you can make positive changes through evidence-based knowledge and practical skills. Apply now