Social Work
BSc(Hons)

Course summary and entry requirements

Course duration
Full-time: 3 years
Part-time: 4 years

UCAS code L500

Professional accreditation
On July 31st 2012 regulation of social work training moved from General Social Care Council to Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) . The course was approved by GSCC in 2010 and has transitional approval from HCPC, with an approval visit scheduled in 2013.

About the course

Social Work BSc(Hons) combines academic study with practice learning in agencies providing social care and social work services. There is a focus on the inter-professional context of social work and shared sessions with occupational therapy, nursing, physiotherapy, education and medical students. Like all our social work courses, this course will be run in partnership with local agencies (Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council) and with users of services and carers.
Social work practice is demanding and challenging. Practitioners must have sound knowledge and skills to work in a meaningful way with individuals who may be vulnerable, marginalised and in need of support and protection. Social work requires commitment, a willingness to examine own attitudes and values, good organisational skills and emotional resilience.
The social work degree leads to a generic social work qualification after which you choose an area of practice in which to specialise.

Typical entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are for students starting their course in 2014. Entry requirements for students thinking about starting a course in 2013 can be found in the online prospectus. Individual offers may vary
A-levels:
ABB.
BTEC
DDD.
International Baccalaureate:
34 points.
Access to HE Diploma
pass (at least 45 credits at level 3), with 30 credits at merit or distinction, including level 3 credits in written communication, study skills, and reading and writing skills. Social work courses preferred.
GCSE (minimum grade C) or Access Equivalent
a good profile including maths and English.
For non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in the other elements.
Other:
experience in either a social work agency or similar setting, paid or voluntary.
Course content

Course structure

Year 1 introduces social work practice. There is learning about how the social sciences inform social work, and a focus also on social work skills and theory. The inter professional practice context is introduced.
Year 2 develops more specialist practice knowledge and skills. There is inter professional learning on specific topics, on evidence-based practice and the first practice placement takes place.
In year 3, the second placement enables further development and consolidation of more complex practice. Learning continues on research mindedness with an in-depth social work practice project of your choice.
.

Syllabus

Modules cover learning on the following areas, with inter- professional learning across all three years:
Year 1
Introduction to Social Work Practice
Human growth and development
Social Policy: Social Welfare, Social inclusion and Individual Needs
Law for Social Work
Preparing for social work practice - Social Work skills, theory and methods
Service User and Carer Needs and Resources
Year 2
Developing Specialist knowledge and Skills for Professional Practice with:
- Children, Young People and Families
- Mental Health, Disability and Older People
Developing reflective practice
Practice learning in placement
Year 3
Evaluating and Reviewing Research Evidence: research methods applied to social work practice
Contemporary Social Work Practice: becoming a professional social worker in an integrated environment
Project related to social work practice
Practice learning in placement

You can view the programme specification for this course as a PDF file by clicking on the link below:

Programme Specification
Fees and costs

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2013-14. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

BSc Hons Social Work [L1EG001]

UK/EU (Full Time) 9,000 GBP
Island Students (Full Time) 9,000 GBP
International (Full Time) 12,900 GBP
Location

Location Falmer

Our Falmer campus is located on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the outskirts of Brighton. Approximately 7,000 students are based here.
View campus maps and directions
Living in Brighton
Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.
Social scene
Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Arts
The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.
Sports
Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.
Career opportunities

This is an important time to enter the social work profession. There continues to be a need for social workers nationally.
Employment opportunities arise in local authorities and voluntary agencies for practice with children, older and disabled people and those using mental health services.

Visit the careers service website.
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Excellent Facilities

The School of Applied Social Science is located on the attractive Falmer campus, only four miles from central Brighton. Facilities at Falmer include a state of the art computer centre, extensive library and a media resources centre for student use.

Other student support services include the university’s careers centre, welfare service, a counselling service, chaplaincy and childcare provision.

Research

Our lecturers in social work are all involved in national and international research cultures, publishing and speaking to national and international audiences, and are frequently reported in local, national and international media.

Ongoing research work informs our teaching, making it contemporary, innovative and dynamic.

Our degrees enable students to acquire the essential research skills needed for investigating experience and behaviour, supporting students to develop the ability to conduct research independently.

Community participation and development

Teaching and research within the School of Applied Social Science is supported by our links with local communities.

The School’s close working relationship with the university’s Community University Partnership project (Cupp) allows us to offer our undergraduate students the opportunity to combine practical experience within a community or voluntary organisation with academic study.

The Community Participation and Development (CPD) module offers the opportunity to explore some of your personal values and aspirations while working for 30 to 50 hours on a relevant placement. Staff and students provide their skills and expertise, working alongside community organisations to help them achieve their aims. For example students on criminology courses may wish to work with a crime prevention organisation while sociology students may wish to work in a homeless shelter or a local pressure group.

It is offered in 10- and 20-credit modules at levels 2 and 3, and assessment is based on reflective as well as analytical assignments which encourage you to look at your own personal journey as well as the policy and practice of the organisation in which your placement is based.