PGDip Step Up to Social Work
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: 14 Months
- Start Date: January 2026
Step Up to Social Work is a 14-month postgraduate intensive full-time qualifying programme and is funded by the Department for Education.
Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling you to apply to register and practice as a social worker.
This intensive, full-time program enables you to qualify as social workers in just 14 months, significantly reducing the time typically required to enter the profession.
You could receive a tax-free bursary of £19,833 over the duration of your course, covering tuition fees and providing financial support to you.
Our course includes practical placements within local authorities, offering you real-life experience in social work roles and enhancing employability upon graduation.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
This is an employer-led course delivered by the Berkshire Regional Social Work Partnership on behalf of the Department for Education together with BNU. The programme only runs once every two years, dependent on government funding, so make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to apply.
It’s fully funded: you can receive a tax-free bursary of £21,995. This will allow you to change or start a new career in social work and be able to continue to pay your bills and cover your living costs while you are studying. It’s also a fast-track course, meaning after 14 months you can qualify as a social worker, register with Social Work England and be able to seek employment.
It’s employer-led: you are hosted by one of the Local Authorities in the partnership, undertaking 170 days on placement and gaining real social work experience, knowledge and skills in combination with academic study.
The campus is close to home: within 35 minutes from London and located within High Wycombe, we are easy to get to and fit around your schedule. We also aim to support you in achieving employment in the local area.
What facilities can I use?
Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assignments – you’ll have access to hundreds of specialist books, articles, industry publications and specialist online resources. All resources you require for completion of this course will be provided on our High Wycombe campus such as access to our 24/7 library, which is open all day and night and has computers with all the relevant software.
We also provide laptops on loan, and you can access our AppsAnywhere service, which allows you to use software from a personal computer at home or loaned from the University.
What will I study?
Step Up to Social Work is an intensive full-time, fully funded, Postgraduate Social Work training programme with the objective of helping you to become a qualified social worker in just 14 months.
We are looking for people who are committed to making a difference for disadvantaged children and families. You need to have a willingness to learn, be emotionally resilient and be able to undertake this challenging yet hugely rewarding academic degree programme.
This course aids you in changing or starting a new career in social work and provides support so you can continue to pay your bills and fund your living costs while you are studying. The programme runs once every two years, dependent on government funding, so if you are interested, make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to apply.
We will have a total of 20 places across our region partnership which includes, Slough - Children First, Reading - Brighter Children for Future, Bracknell Forest council and West Berkshire Council.
Successful applicants will start the Step Up to Social Work programme in January 2026 and finish in March 2027. This is a unique opportunity to earn while you learn, as the Department for Education provides funding via a tax-free bursary payment of £21,995, over the duration of the programme, and payment of your fees for successful applicants.
Further information
For more information please visit:
Please note the application is through the (and not the Buckinghamshire New University website).
What are the course entry requirements?
You will need to have a copy of your degree qualification certificate and your GCSE in Maths and English grades A-C or equivalent at the time of applying. These documents will be needed by us should you be offered a place.
To apply to the programme, you’ll need to apply on the site. You will need to have a minimum of:
- 2:2 undergraduate degree qualification in any subject (level 6)
- 6 months’ full-time (or equivalent) direct experience, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, of working with vulnerable children, young people and/or families, carers or vulnerable adults
- GCSEs in English or English language and mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above (or an approved equivalent)
- Attendance of an assessment day or interview may be required
- ID proof such as a driving licence may also be required
For more information please .
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Department for Education funding
Students will receive a bursary from DFE of £21,995 for the duration of the course. This may be subject to change. Contact our partner at Bracknell Forest Council: DianDian.Lin@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.
What are my career prospects?
This training programme allows you to become a qualified social worker in just 14 months. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling you to register and practice as a social worker.
This course will also allow you to apply to register with as a qualified social worker. Once you have achieved the qualified status, you could look at jobs with a starting salary of around 33k per annum, although BNU does not guarantee you a job after graduation, or a salary, this course could help you increase your chances of securing employment locally and nationally.
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment in the local area after graduation with our career success service.
Course leader
