BA (Hons) SOCIAL WORK
BA (HONS) SOCIAL WORK
Train to become a first rate social work practitioner at UEA. You’ll be studying at the forefront of the innovative research being undertaken in this subject. We were ranked 4th overall for research quality in Social Work and Social Policy in the Times Higher Education REF 2021 Analysis.
Social work is about working with people, usually to help them achieve their goals, sometimes to protect them or others.
You could work with children, young people, parents, people with mental health problems, people with physical disabilities or learning disabilities, older people, and with relatives and friends who care for them. At UEA, we see social work as a practical and ethical profession that helps people and makes a difference to their lives.
Our social work training is among the most highly regarded in the country. You’ll graduate ready to start your social work career. In time, you could become a leader in the field as an innovator, practice leader, senior manager, policy maker, researcher or lecturer.
About
Social work is ideally suited to intelligent, compassionate, hard-working and caring students.
At UEA, we have an international reputation for the excellence of our social work teaching and research. We are approved by Social Work England, and your Social Work degree will support you to develop the academic knowledge and professional skills you’ll need to register as a qualified social worker.
We are part of a Social Work Teaching Partnership with Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils and the University of Suffolk, ensuring that you’ll benefit from close links between teaching, research and practice now and in your future career.
Our graduates are highly regarded by local employers and many of our students begin their careers with UEA partners thanks to links established while on student placements.
When applying for this course, remember that your interpersonal skills are as important as your educational background. Your application should reflect your potential in both areas. That means we want to hear about your experience of working with people. You might have done voluntary or paid work in a school, residential home or in home care. Or you may have done other work with children, families or vulnerable adults who need extra care or support. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people who’ve just left school or college, and mature students.
Due to the nature of the course, you will need to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service screening. You will also need to provide two references: one regarding your academic achievements, and the second telling us about your experience in work or helping people. You must also inform us about any major health concerns that could affect your studies.
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Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.After the Course
You’ll graduate with a professional qualification and a body of knowledge and skills that open up a wide range of exciting, rewarding and challenging employment opportunities. Many of our graduates work in local authority children’s or adults’ services departments and NHS Mental Health Trusts.
As a social worker, you could work with a wide range of service users and carers. You might focus on child protection, work with young people in care and care leavers, children and adults with disabilities, foster carers or adopters, people with dementia, those with drug and alcohol addictions, and people with mental health problems. You'll also work with a wide range of other professionals – teachers, health visitors, police, doctors, psychiatrists and community nurses.
You must be registered to work as a social worker in England. Our degree is by Social Work England and offers a dual qualification, academic and professional, so you'll be able to apply to register as a social worker as soon as you graduate.
Our employability rates reflect the success of our students’ success.
Career destinations
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers you could enter include:
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Local Authorities
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Fostering and adoption agencies
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Charity and Voluntary sector e.g. NSPCC, Age UK
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NHS mental health trusts
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Advocacy services
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Hospitals
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Assessment for Year 1
You’ll experience a range of assessment methods throughout the course, including essays, presentations, an exam, recorded role-plays and portfolio reviews.
In each module, you’ll undertake a formative assessment, on which you’ll receive feedback. This will help prepare for your summative assessment which contributes to your overall mark. This helps you achieve the best possible result.
All summative assessments must be passed before a student can progress to the next year of study.
Assessment for Year 2
You’ll experience a range of assessment methods throughout the course, including essays, presentations, an exam, recorded role-plays and portfolio reviews.
In each module, you’ll undertake a formative assessment, on which you’ll receive feedback. This will help prepare for your summative assessment which contributes to your overall mark. This helps you achieve the best possible result.
All summative assessments must be passed before a student can progress to the next year of study.
Assessment for Year 3
You’ll experience a range of assessment methods throughout the course, including essays, presentations, an exam, recorded role-plays and portfolio reviews.
In each module, you’ll undertake a formative assessment, on which you’ll receive feedback. This will help prepare for your summative assessment which contributes to your overall mark. This helps you achieve the best possible result.
All summative assessments must be passed before a student can progress to the next year of study.
Assessment for Year 1
You’ll experience a range of assessment methods throughout the course, including essays, presentations, an exam, recorded role-plays and portfolio reviews.
In each module, you’ll undertake a formative assessment, on which you’ll receive feedback. This will help prepare for your summative assessment which contributes to your overall mark. This helps you achieve the best possible result.
All summative assessments must be passed before a student can progress to the next year of study.
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.Assessment for Year 2
You’ll experience a range of assessment methods throughout the course, including essays, presentations, an exam, recorded role-plays and portfolio reviews.
In each module, you’ll undertake a formative assessment, on which you’ll receive feedback. This will help prepare for your summative assessment which contributes to your overall mark. This helps you achieve the best possible result.
All summative assessments must be passed before a student can progress to the next year of study.
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.Assessment for Year 3
You’ll experience a range of assessment methods throughout the course, including essays, presentations, an exam, recorded role-plays and portfolio reviews.
In each module, you’ll undertake a formative assessment, on which you’ll receive feedback. This will help prepare for your summative assessment which contributes to your overall mark. This helps you achieve the best possible result.
All summative assessments must be passed before a student can progress to the next year of study.
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.Entry Requirements
A Levels
BBBT Levels
Obtain an overall Pass including a B in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism. Acceptable subjects are: Education and Childcare, Health, Healthcare Science.BTEC
DDMScottish highers
AABBBScottish highers advanced
CCCIrish leaving certificate
2 subjects at H2, 4 subjects at H3Access course
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 45 credits at Level 3European Baccalaureate
70%International Baccalaureate
31GCSE offer
You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE (this can be made a condition of offer if listed as being taken at the time of application.)
Additional entry requirements
Application Process
Following initial screening an 800-1000 word essay will be requested and has to be submitted, prior to consideration for an interview. Full instruction for the essay will be sent to applicants at the time of request. We also require a Declaration of Suitability form to be completed, which will be sent you at the same time as the essay request.
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
Experience
All applicants are required to have gained at least 6 months paid or voluntary work experience of helping people and working with others in a Social Work/Social Care environment. Further information about work experience can be found in our Work Experience Leaflet. We recognise that work experience opportunities may have been limited, please do contact Admissions to discuss your experience.
Where a course includes client facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
If shortlisted and invited to interview, applicants will be required to provide an additional reference. This should be a professional reference providing details of your ability in a caring/helping capacity, to complement your academic reference provided on the UCAS application.
We advise you review Research - School of Social Work - About - UEA to assist you with your decision of studying Social Work.
Disclosure and Barring Service
The course you are applying for is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) on your UCAS application.
The amendments to the Exceptions Order provide that certain ‘spent’ convictions and cautions are 'protected' and are not subject to disclosure, and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service Website. Further information can also be found on the Nacro website https://www.nacro.org.uk
Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Alternative Qualifications
We welcome and value a wide range of alternative level 3 qualifications. If you have a qualification which is not listed here, please contact us via Admissions Enquiries.
Placements
As this course includes client facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
Placements are compulsory as part of the course.
Important note
Once enroled onto your course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include your eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enroled.
Students for whom english is a foreign language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
- IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in all components)
Interviews
Interviews take place on the university campus.
The first part of the admissions day consists of an observed group activity. The activity will be observed by members of the interview panel and will involve a university lecturer, social work practitioner or manager and a person with lived experience and gives you an opportunity to participate and communicate in a group. The group will consist of 4 – 6 social work applicants and your group members may vary in age and experience. However, the focus of the activity is on how you participate and communicate during the task and not your specific knowledge or experience and there is no ‘right’ answer for this activity.
Later in the day the interview will last around 40 minutes and the interview panel is made up of a University lecturer, a Social Work practitioner or manager and a person with lived experience where possible. The interview will enable the panel to look at your personal background and circumstances, essay and group activity participation and your understanding of Social Work, your current studies and your suitability for the programme.
Gap year
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year.  We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
Intakes
The BA Social Work course is not open to overseas students.
Social Work England is the new, specialist regulator for all social workers in England. It is an independent public protection body, setting professional, education and training standards for social workers. In its role, Social Work England also investigates and manages 'fitness to practice' cases brought against social workers.
Social work England’s professional standards are specialist to the social work profession. The standards are the threshold standards necessary for safe and effective practice. It also reflects the value and diversity of social work practice and the positive impact it has on people’s lives, families and communities. The professional standards apply to registered social workers and social work students in all roles and settings.
Social work is a regulated profession. This means that to be able to practise as a social worker in England, individuals must be registered with Social Work England. Once registered, all social workers are listed on a public register. The register is a statutory list of individual social workers who practise in England. It provides assurance that the people who practise as social workers in England have the right skills and qualifications and are capable of safe and effective practice.
You can apply to join the register when you have received official confirmation from the University that you have successfully completed your course. Further also evidenced by the University submitting the list of people who passed the course. However, it is important to know that there is no guarantee of entry onto the registration once the course has been completed, because Social Work England is the regulator and makes the final decision.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Undergraduates students will be ranked and nominated for bursary funding for their second and third year.
Course related costs
Scholarships and Funding
NHS bursaries are currently available for our Social Work BA, but the provision of NHS bursaries is currently subject to review by the Department of Health. For further information visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/student-services
Decisions about bursary allocations are made at the end of the first year and before the second year commences. In line with Department of Health guidance, academic performance and attendance are factors affecting nominations. It is anticipated that the School of Social Work will not receive the full number of bursaries for the number of places due to the Department of Health’s review.
View our information about Additional Course Fees.
We’re 4th for research quality!
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How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once.  Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you have submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to you chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:
We’re 4th for research quality!
Adoptions
Ask an Academic
What's included in your fees
We’re 4th for research quality!
Adoptions
Ask an Academic
What's included in your fees
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