Social Work BA (Hons)

• Overview

  Our Social Work BA (Hons) 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/registered social work academic staff that are actively engaged in research and regularly contribute to publications, consultancy and direct practice.

  We will support you to achieve your career and study ambitions, which is why if you complete our Employability Plus Gold programme or Changemaker Gold certificate alongside your studies and if you haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating* we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you, or support you into postgraduate study.

  *with a 2:2 degree classification or higher

  Course

  Highlights

  • Approved programme by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  • A range of placements are available to give you practical experience.
  • This course meets the definitions set by International Federation of Social Work.
  • Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.

  HP Laptop and software included with this course.*

  *Terms and Conditions apply

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  Social workers deal with some of the most vulnerable people in society at times of heightened stress. By the end of the course you will have been assessed against the Standards of Proficiency for Social Work and the Professional Capabilities Framework and will be able to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) 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 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.

  In your course 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. You will have an opportunity to undertake a five-day shadow placement in your first year with an employer provider. The first year is designed to prepare and assess you on your ‘readiness for direct practice’ prior to your first practice placement in your second year.

  Please note: As a student Social Worker you will be expected to travel efficiently and independently for all of your placements. Your placements will be within a 60 mile distance of the University of Northampton. Whilst on placement you will also be expected to travel effectively and independently. Being a holder of a current UK driving licence is desirable.
  

  Social Work students participate in a team day at Nene White Water Centre

  Students experienced a task-based day of fun, while learning to work as a team. They worked together to design, build and race a hand-made raft.

  The students answered questions about how building a raft will help them respond to anxiety provoking situations, how it will prepare them for forthcoming placements and what the event as a whole told them about their own personality.

  Assessments

  You will be assessed both in theory and practice, in placements as well as through coursework and a law exam in the first year. Please note that all modules are compulsory. You will undertake a law exam in your first year only.

  Methods of Learning

  This course 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.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Work Experience

  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 Northampton. All placement providers are quality assured by the University. It is desirable that you hold a current UK driving licence.

• Careers and Events
  • The Northampton Employment Promise.

    *We promise to secure paid experience for you, if you need it.

    We work with employers to understand what they’re looking for and we’re confident that if you follow one of our structured awards, as well as committing to your studies you’ll be in a competitive position when it comes to applying for graduate jobs.

    We’re so confident, that we promise to secure a paid 3-6 month internship for you, if you need it. Find out more about the Northampton Employment Promise, including how it works and who is eligible.

    
  • Open Days

    Discover your Course

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying with us.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    Employment prospects for Social Work graduates are excellent and you will be able to pursue social work careers across the country.

    Successful graduates can apply to the HCPC for registration, please note that you are only eligible for this if you graduate with a BA (Hons) Social Work degree. This is because Social Work is a protected title. If you graduate with an ordinary degree you will not be eligible to apply for registration to the HCPC and cannot be awarded the title of Social Worker.

    
• Requirements

  You must have Maths and English Language GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent. A typical offer would be BBC at A Level or DDM at BTEC. An Access Course must include 30 level 3 credits at Merit and 15 at Distinction.

  Acceptance on this course is subject to a health declaration and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

  In addition to standard entry requirements, you must demonstrate that you possess the entry level requirements under the Professional Capabilities Framework. This framework includes:

  • awareness of social context for social work practice
  • self awareness
  • ability to develop rapport and potential to develop relevant knowledge
  • skills and values through professional training

  You will need to have had some experience of working in a social work/social care setting.

  For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 6.5 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Stage 1
  • Stage 2
  • Stage 3

  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 course. The Skills for Practice module is designed to develop your skills and understanding about 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.

  • Social Work Theories and Models (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK1008

    Core Module Y
  • Academic Literacy – Thinking and Reasoning (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK1054

    Core Module Y
  • Understanding Law and Policy in Social Work (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK1067

    Core Module Y
  • Psychological and Sociological Perspectives of Human Behaviour (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK1068

    Core Module Y
  • Readiness for Practice (40 Credits)
    Module code: SWK1069

    Core Module Y

  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.

  • Direct Work with Service Users 1 & 2 (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK2006

    Core Module Y
  • Emancipatory Social Work Practice (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK2033

    Core Module Y
  • Research for Social Workers (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK2010

    Core Module Y
  • 70 Day Practice Placement (40 Credits)
    Module code: SWK2011P

    Core Module Y
  • Assessing and Managing Risk in Social Work (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK2070

    Core Module Y

  You will undertake a 100-day assessed placement learning opportunity in a social work setting or other appropriate area 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.

  • Dissertation (40 Credits)
    Module code: SWK4007

    Core Module Y
  • 100 Day Practice Placement (60 Credits)
    Module code: SWK3005P

    Core Module Y
  • Managing the Professional Social Work Task (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWK3022

    Core Module Y

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  • The programme is approved by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  • Prepares you for professional social work practice.
  • Enables you to develop your practice skills.
  • Develops your skills and knowledge in working with other professions.
  • Raises your political awareness and encourages you to be creative, critical and reflective thinkers.
  • The Social Work subject team sign up to and hold the International Federation of Social Work definition of social work.
  • You will have the opportunity to develop a range of communication skills in the first year through experiential teaching and learning facilitated by Service Users and Social Work Practitioners in readiness for direct practice.
• Further Studies
  • Postgraduate Opportunities

    Further your 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 to give yourself a CV that will catch the eye of employers.

    Social Work MA

    Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services MSc

    
  • Research

    at the University of Northampton

    We are committed to delivering outstanding research that makes a difference to society. Our Research Institutes and Centres work closely with external partner organisations, locally, nationally and internationally. We produce internationally renowned and relevant research and disseminate knowledge on an international scale.

    Visit our Research Hub page for more information.

    
  • Business and Enterprise

    Opportunities Available

    We are committed to supporting and encouraging business growth and we are involved in a variety of initiatives which seek to benefit the wider community as well as students and staff of the University.

    Discover what businesses we work with and what opportunities may be available to you on our Business and Enterprise pages.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,450 per 20 credit module

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,400 per 20 credit module

  Additional Costs

  Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associated with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.

  Placements are located within a 60 mile radius of the University- please make this clear throughout.

  There is also a five day ‘shadow’ placement in the first year which may lead to you incurring additional transport costs.

  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.

  Social Work bursary

  The Social Work course 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.

  Please note that tuition fees for EU students will remain the same as UK fees for 2020/21. For more information, please visit the Gov UK website.

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,900

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,500

  Additional Costs

  Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associate with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.

  Placements are located within a 60 mile radius of the University.

  There is also a five day ‘shadow’ placement in the first year which may lead to you incurring additional transport costs.

  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.

  Social Work bursary

  The Social Work course 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 as an international student, please see our International scholarships page.

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  Sir Thomas White Scholarship

  The Sir Thomas White scholarship will support and acknowledge an academically gifted student, with the proviso that the selection panel is confident that there is…

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

  Wilson Endowment Scholarship

  The Wilson Endowment Scholarship provides a £1,500 scholarship to undergraduate students from the Northamptonshire area. The endowed scholarship was donated in memory of Mr Lynn Wilson,…

*Course data provided by Unistats