BSc (Hons) Social Work
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2025
You can also study this course:
As a Social Worker, you’ll help some of the most marginalised groups in society, supporting them in overcoming barriers to a fulfilled life. Our Social Work course is focused on our high-quality placements, teaching you skills that prepare you for your first job, and helping you get registered with Social Work England.
A career in Social Work is a rewarding and worthwhile profession, with no day being the same, make sure you’re properly prepared for the future with a Social Work degree from BNU.
Embarking on a Social Work degree with BNU was the best decision of my life. I received a high standard of education and guidance from course tutors and other university staff.Zerbrina Peel
All our social work lecturers are former practitioners so have great links with local employers and people. We regularly host career fairs where you can speak to employers who are eager to hire someone with your skills. This local network keeps us up to date with what’s happening in social work and helps us provide the skills you need for the future. We work with a broad range of partners to offer Social Work placements in Local Authorities, Healthcare Trusts, and organisations from the voluntary and independent sectors, all of which are within a 25-mile radius of our High Wycombe campus. Our BSc Social Work degree is accredited by Social Work England which means you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a Social Worker in England as soon as you graduate.
At BNU you’ll gain experience working with people who need Social Work support, as your study will combine classroom theory with real-life experience, some of which involves working alongside current Social Workers. We work closely with People with Lived Experience so you can hear first-hand about the impact you could make with individuals and communities. Our lecturers, all of whom are former Social Work practitioners, have rich experience from which to draw on. Our lecturers will help you make sense of the theoretical elements of your studies by introducing their practice wisdom to lectures. Our tutors remain up to date with the latest sector changes and many of them lead and are involved with external forums, discussing, and influencing the future of the sector.
Social Work is a challenging profession and at BNU you will benefit from a tight knit community and one to one support from lecturers and emotional support from fellow students. We can support you with different methods of learning if you are struggling with the course at any point. One of the most rewarding elements of studying Social Work is sharing your experience with other students. Some days will be intensely emotional, so it’s important that you have a friendly team around you. We pride ourselves in our ability to get to know all our students, so you’ll be supported by personal tutors in groups of no more than ten. This will help you to get to know us as well as each other.
I chose to study at BNU because of a range of different career prospects, high reputation in health and and social care courses and work experience opportunities.Remi Baganza
What facilities can I use?
With fantastic facilities in the Buckinghamshire area, Our High Wycombe campus is located only 35 minutes from central London which makes commuting super easy and stress free.
Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments, and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.
Most of the placements on your course are in Buckinghamshire and surrounding counties, in addition, we have hosted exciting placement opportunities with various organisations around London, Oxford, Berkshire and Hertfordshire.
We will also sign you up to our Virtual Learning Environment, which means you will have access to lots of online resources wherever you are!
Embarking on a Social Work degree with BNU was the best decision of my life. I received a high standard of education and guidance from course tutors and other university staff.Zerbrina Peel
What will I study?
Social work is a challenging yet rewarding profession which involves professionals from a range of roles working together with some of the most vulnerable groups in society, whether that’s children, families or adults.
Our social work course develops you into a future proof social worker who has the knowledge, skills and values required to practice in a challenging environment. Developed in consultation with employers and local social work organisations, we will provide you with the skills, knowledge and ability to fulfil demand both locally, nationally and abroad.
We recognise how crucial Social Workers are in the community and this course will prepare you to work with marginalised people across the lifespan, from birth to death. You’ll gain the necessary skills that employer’s value, like teamwork, communication, problem solving, analysis and evaluative skills.
The modules you study will enable you to have greater self-awareness, which includes the ability to manage your emotions and the emotions of others. Modules also offer you the opportunity to gain relevant knowledge in theory, law, and policy and how to implement this knowledge in practice. The experiences of people who have Social Work support will also be explored and examined, both from a theoretical perspective and a practice perspective, during your placement experiences.
Our modules cover important topics like Ethics and Values, Society and Social Work and you’ll learn about how Social Work is framed by legislation and policy in England.
My course offers bespoke teaching, good employment prospects and help with personal and professional development. My final year placement has been very challenging and I do not believe I would have made it through without the support of my tutor and the Practice Learning Lead.Collett Small
How will I be taught and assessed?
Our Social Work programmes are full-time. Modules are taught to encourage independent study and to enable you to develop your own critical thinking, reflection, and research skills – all of which will assist you in practice as an autonomous worker.
As well as group workshops, simulations, presentations, and tutorials led by industry experts, you’ll also complete two placements where you’ll further develop your learning and understanding. You’ll be required to work the hours of the agency you’re placed with, while receiving on-going support and guidance from your Practice Educator and/or Onsite Supervisor, as well as your personal tutor.
You’ll be assessed through time constrained assessments, essays, presentations, and personal and professional portfolios, all to ensure you’ve grasped the key concepts in this important field. In your final year, you’ll explore a specific subject of interest through your dissertation project, meaning you can focus on an area of social work you’re particularly passionate about.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 104 - 128 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
You must have GCSE English Language at Grade C/4 or above, or an equivalent qualification such as Level 2 Functional Skills.
Social Work is both an academic and vocational course so it's important you evidence any relevant experience you have, either in paid employment or as a volunteer.
Every application is considered on an individual basis.
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For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Those with no previous study, work experience, or who do not meet the specified entry requirements, including demonstrating the necessary knowledge and understanding, are welcome to apply for the 3-year BSc (Hons) degree, however may be offered the four-year programme which includes a Foundation Year.
Selection days
If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to attend a Selection Event. This will include completing a written test to assess your written English ability, a group activity to assess your verbal English ability, and an individual interview.
Information about health, criminal, employment and personal history will be collected as part of the Selection Event but will not be disclosed to the interview team or used to make a decision about making you an offer.
If you disclose something that needs further exploration, this will be done separately from the interview process and any offer of a place will be made on a conditional basis, while your circumstances are assessed further.
All offers are subject to passing the Social Work Selection Event and you will be informed of the outcome either via UCAS Track or directly by us.
You will also require a clear occupational health assessment alongside the declaration of suitability for social work and satisfactory DBS checks (an admissions requirement).
You can also find information and guidance about applying for the Social Work Bursary here:
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
Home
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Home Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £5,760 *
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Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 per year *
International
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Overseas/International Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 *
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 per year *
Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.
Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.
Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.
Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.
We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.
The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.
What are my career prospects?
We see your journey with us as much more than a degree, and we are committed to supporting you to carve out the route to your chosen career and life beyond university. We will help you develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable, and good business leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.
We’re proud of our consistently high employability rate for our social work graduates. We have close relationships with a range of Local Authority employers, and many of our graduates work with them now. We offer a recruitment event in your final year where you’re able to meet with employers to explore the next steps in terms of your first year of newly qualified status.
Our employer partners are very keen to ensure that they provide opportunities for our successful graduates every year. We also encourage you to start networking in your final year placement, which is often a springboard to future employment. We recognise that your journey to becoming a Social Worker does not simply end with graduation and we strive to provide a clear path from your education to your new career. You are also well-placed, on successful completion of our degree, to pursue further academic development via postgraduate routes such as our MSc Social Work course or MSc Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding.
When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to apply for professional registration with Social Work England (SWE) and your degree can also be recognised and accepted in other countries around the world.
Bespoke teaching, good employment prospects, and support with personal and professional development are just a few reasons why I would recommend this course.Collett Small
Course leader
