Social Work BA (Hons)
UCAS Code: L500|Duration: 3 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply
About the course
Social workers primarily support the most marginalised in society. The people we help face many challenges and traumas. Our job is to understand these traumas and provide support during tough times. Often, this means recognising the public reasons behind personal pain. The Social Work degree emphasises a strong commitment to social justice.
As a Social Work student, you'll study sociology, social policy, psychology, law, social theory, and methods. You'll explore barriers like poverty, disability, racism, and sexism that users face. These barriers negatively impact people, so it's vital to understand how society affects lives. In your second and third years, you'll complete 170 practice days in a social work setting.
The Social Work degree is taught by a team of published experts in social work. There are optional opportunities for national and international field trips, placements, and exchange programmes, which may vary each year.
Course structure
Teaching in this degree is organised into lectures and seminars, where all students are taught together, and weekly tutorials. Throughout the three years of study, there are several field trips, and you also have the opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with your tutor each week.
Each year of study includes approximately 12 teaching hours per week. In addition to these teaching hours, you are expected to spend time studying independently each week, as well as collaborating in groups to prepare for any group assessments.
Accreditation
Our single honours Social Work Degree is approved by Social Work England (SWE) and has achieved full reapproval in 2022. Upon successful completion of the degree you will be eligible to apply to register with SWE as a professional social worker.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study you will have a number of assessments, including written exams, essays, posters, practice portfolios, and case study work. In your final year you also complete a research project with the support of a supervisor.
You will be given written feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in more detail.
Year One
Introduction to Social Work
In the first year of the social work degree, there are two main teaching and learning themes, structured across four 30-credit modules. Together, these modules provide the foundation of the knowledge, skills, and competencies required of students at this level.
These two themes are titled Social Work in Context and Social Work in Practice. The teaching and learning content for this social work degree has been mapped to Social Work England's Professional Standards (2019).
Social Work in Context
These modules are divided into two key areas, with content delivered through weekly lectures, seminars, and tutorials:
- Human growth and development from a life course perspective
- Sociological and policy context of social work
Social Work in Practice
These modules are divided into two key areas, with content delivered through interactive seminars:
- Social Work in Practice: Values and Social Justice
- Social Work in Practice: Skills and Professionalism
The content for these sessions includes:
- An introduction to key themes for social work, including values and ethics, anti-oppressive practice, identity, critical reflection, cultural competence, and social justice
- An introduction to key areas of practice – mental health; working with children and families; working with older people; supporting people with learning and/or physical disabilities; substance use; acquired brain injury; and domestic abuse
- Skills development, including communication skills, social work processes (assessment, care planning, reviews), counselling skills, critical thinking, report writing, using ecomaps and genograms, working with service users, and narrative approaches
Year Two
Explorations in Social Work
The curriculum at Level I of the social work degree consists of four thematic strands: Law and Ethics, Theories and Methods of Social Work, Advanced Practice Seminars, and a 70-day practice placement.
Law and Ethics
Children and family law: These sessions cover key statutes including the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, Children and Families Act 2014, Adoption and Children Act 2002, and Children and Social Work Act 2017, along with associated policies and guidance.
Mental health and adult law: Sessions focus on the Care Act 2014, Mental Health Act 1983, and Mental Capacity Act 2005, with associated policies and guidance. Teaching references the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010.
Consideration is given to where legislation overlaps and intersects in practice, the interface with human rights and civil liberties, and autonomy versus protection dilemmas in the use of law in social work practice.
Theories and Methods
Theory topics usually include (but are not limited to): Marxism and alienation in social work; neoliberalism and social work; climate change, environmentalism and social work; values and ethics in social work; queer theory, feminisms; critical race theory; and intersectionality in social work.
Methods topics usually include (but are not limited to): person-centred work and the recovery model; systems theory; strengths-based work; crisis intervention; task-centred work; groupwork; community work; communication skills; and working with looked after children.
Advanced Practice Seminars
The Advanced Practice Seminar (APS) series builds on introductory themes from the first year, exploring key aspects of social work with children, families, and adults in greater detail.
APS focuses on direct practice skills, including approaches to supporting and empowering children and families through assessment and intervention, and supporting adults with specific needs across statutory, voluntary, private, and charity sectors. APS content complements the theory and methods and law and ethics teaching in the social work degree.
Practice Placement
In the second year of the social work degree, students complete a 70-day practice placement. Placements take place with agencies in the private, voluntary, independent, or charity sectors and may involve any service user group.
Year Three
Advanced Studies in Social Work
Advanced Studies in social work comprises four main strands: Professionalism, Partnership and Empowerment (PPE), Contemporary Issues in Social Work, Research and Critical Thinking, and an Assessed Practice Placement (100 days).
Professionalism, Partnership and Empowerment (PPE)
The PPE third year strand provides students on the social work degree the opportunity to critically explore professionalism, partnership, and power/empowerment, applying theory to practice.
Topics include PPE in the context of: international social work; adult mental health; child and adolescent mental health; child protection processes; children’s voices; street children and child labour; early intervention with children and families; work with older adults; and work with people with disabilities.
Contemporary Issues in Social Work
This strand critically reviews contemporary issues in social work and social welfare. The curriculum structure and strong links to current practice ensure that content can be adapted to include emerging issues.
Topics are subject to change but have previously included: CAFCASS; child protection and the voice of the child; trauma-informed work with adults; writing court reports; transgender experiences and rights; harmful practices (forced marriage and female genital mutilation); and family court proceedings.
Research and Critical Thinking
The social work degree curriculum enables students to enhance critical understanding of social work research and develop skills in gathering, analysing, and evaluating information to inform practice.
Students will gain an understanding of the research process, key concepts in social work research, and major theoretical and methodological perspectives. This strand supports students in preparing their Practice Project (dissertation), focusing on literature-based research rather than empirical studies.
Placement
Third year students complete a 100-day practice placement in the statutory sector. Students may request a preferred service setting, such as mental health or child protection, which is usually accommodated. A practice placement portfolio must be completed to demonstrate that students have met the required levels of the Professional Capabilities Framework.
Practice Project (Dissertation)
Third year students are required to complete an 8,000–10,000 word practice project (formerly dissertation) before beginning their final year placements. The Research and Critical Thinking teaching strand supports this assessment.
Dissertations are literature-based, with students assigned a supervisor from the teaching team at the beginning of the year.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBB |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | Minimum of 120 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications. |
| BTEC | DDM |
| Access to HE | Minimum of 120 Tariff Points |
| IB | 28 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | Minimum of 120 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | In addition, you need a GCSE Grade C or above in English (Grade 4 or above in the new grading system). Offers will be subject to a successful interview, a satisfactory Health Check Statement and application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (unfortunately, due to requirements of the placement providers we are unable to consider any applicants with convictions within 5 years of the start of the course). Please note that this professional qualification can be greatly oversubscribed so applicants are advised to apply early. |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Non-UK applicants should achieve a minimum score of 7.0 overall in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment (or an equivalent assessment). We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
Social work equips you with the knowledge and skills required to apply for recognition as a qualified social worker. Social work skills are also highly transferable and valued by potential employers. By the end of your time with us you will be suitably qualified to embark on a career in social work. This could include (amongst others) working with children and families, older people, people with learning disabilities, disabled people, mental health, young people, substance users, alongside homeless people or people with HIV and AIDS.
The vast majority of our graduates are in employment within six months of graduating. Alternatively, those who wish to engage in further study, you can choose to pursue a masters at Liverpool Hope University or elsewhere. At Liverpool Hope we offer a suite of masters programmes such as MSc Public Health.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
Studying Social Work at Liverpool Hope University includes 170 days on placement in professional settings. These placement opportunities provide you with the skills and knowledge to begin your successful career as a social worker.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
Unfortunately the Study Abroad option is not available for this degree.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are £9,535* for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,535*.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
*subject to Council approval.
Additional costs
If you want to apply for membership of SWE once you graduate, there is an initial annual subscription fee, full details of costs can be found on the SWE website.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
For students who opt for an International placement or fieldtrip, there will be additional costs for travel and accommodation.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £14,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.