BSc (Hons) Social Work
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three Years
- Start Date: September 2024
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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
Why study this subject?
Knowing how to work alongside someone with complex needs and overcome the challenges they face in life isn’t easy, but a Social Work degree from Buckinghamshire New University(BNU) gives you the insight, skills and understanding to do just that and more. Become an effective Social Worker and discover your new and exciting future with BNU.
As a Social Worker, you’ll be aware of the impact societal issues such as poverty, deprivation and exclusion have on your work. Social Workers aim for positive partnerships with individuals and families and find solutions through understanding and relationship building between people and communities.
Social Workers campaign tirelessly to improve the quality of life for those around them and those in need. You’ll deal with complex emotional situations and learn to balance care, personal safety, client safety and self-control.
The demand for Social Work is increasing globally, and it affects the most vulnerable. Choosing to gain a degree in Social Work means you’re taking the responsible decision to act now and play a crucial role in caring for our society. At BNU we will support you in gaining local placements in the Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire areas to give back to our local community and help you be the best you can be no matter where you choose to work.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
At Buckinghamshire New University (BNU), you’ll benefit from our strong reputation within the world of Social Work. You’ll be able to work in high-quality placements, locally and in the London area, to enhance your skillset as well as gain valuable work experience throughout your degree.
Many of our graduates have gone on to become employed with their degree placements due to the highly desirable skillset and the relationships they built while studying at BNU. You can work closely with people with lived experience, so you can hear first-hand about the impact you could make on individuals and communities. We believe the theory we teach in the classroom should transfer to work in the field.
We collaborate with a broad range of partners to offer placements within local authorities, healthcare trusts, and organisations from the voluntary and independent sectors, all of which are within a 25-mile radius of our leafy High Wycombe Campus.
We understand employers want to see experience, skills, your knowledge of legal and ethical issues, and a proactive attitude to learning. BNU offers you the opportunity to not only demonstrate that you have gained that, but also benefit from a passionate and engaged course team that proactively takes an interest in your future.
On top of all the learning opportunities, friendships, networks and work experience you can gain, our 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.
Combined with your practice hours, you’ll be in the perfect position to pursue a career in Social Work. Our tutors remain up to date with the latest sector changes and many of them lead external forums, discussing and influencing the future of the sector. We also have lecturers who are published authors in the field of Social Work.
Our easy to reach location makes fitting independent study around you a breeze with access to 24/7 study space. Students on our social work course are welcomed into a supportive and friendly community, with friendships made for life, experiences you won’t forget and access to free societies, sports, events and lessons as part of the big deal.
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, we are the only institution that can offer our equipment in High Wycombe and the immediate surrounding area. Our High Wycombe campus is located only 35 minutes from central London which makes commuting super easy and stress free.
At our High Wycombe Campus, we have purpose-built facilities, including well-equipped simulation clinics and rehabilitation teaching rooms. 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 degree will be delivered separately at two sites – High Wycombe and Uxbridge and both cohorts will be taught separately.
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. At the end of your course you will be able to demonstrate knowledge about the nature of social work practice across a range of settings, with the ability to apply your understanding of social sciences, law, research and social work theory.
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. You’ll graduate with a highly specialised skillset and a deep theoretical knowledge backed up with working experience.
This social work course is designed to provide you with a good base and the skills required to practice social work professionally. You are required to undertake placement at year two and three where your knowledge, skills and values are further developed to help you become adequately prepared to enter the world of social work.
Our social work degree is delivered by academic staff whom have vast experience in social work and working with service users, so you will have a well-rounded social work training experience.
Our social work course is designed to help you develop both personally and professionally and has been developed to meet the standards for education and training of Social Work England (SWE), Social Work England Professional Standards, the QAA Benchmarking Statements for Social Work, the Professional Capabilities Framework and the Knowledge and Skills Statements.
We aim to help you graduate BNU as a self-aware reflective practitioner, self-motivated and interested in continual professional development.
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?
A variety of strategies will be used to assess your degree and you will be assessed on both your theory and your practical’s.
Skills learning will occur throughout the course in the dedicated skills development sessions and while on placement. This is supported by presentations, courtroom skills, and simulations where service users and carers work with the university to design and present realistic practice scenarios and the development of practice learning portfolios.
You must also have undergone an Occupational Health Assessment and achieved clearance, alongside satisfying DBS checks (an admissions requirement).
Assessments are usually carried out through:
- practice portfolios
- essays
- exams
- presentations
There are several formative assessment opportunities for you to receive feed-back on development before submitting work.
Readiness for Practice
You will not be permitted to progress to the first Practice Learning Placement unless they have achieved a pass in the following modules:
- HSC4006 Preparation for Practice (20 Credits)
- HSC4008 Context of Social Work (20 Credits)
- HSC4010 Skills Development (20 Credits)
80% minimum attendance is required within the programme and is monitored in line with the Attendance and Engagement Policy.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 104 - 128
For this course, you must hold GCSE English Language at Grade C/4 or above, or equivalent qualifications such as Level 2 Functional Skills in Literacy.
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A Levels, BTEC’s and Access to Higher Education courses in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form - you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
Every application is considered on an individual basis. For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
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 decide 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 Worker Selection Event and you will be informed of the outcome either via UCAS Track or directly by us.
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
Home, Academic Year 2023 - 2024
£9,250 per year
International
Overseas/International, Academic Year 2023 - 2024
£15,000 per year
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
