Social work courses

There's more than one route to qualifying as a social worker. Whether you opt for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, an apprenticeship or fast-track graduate programme learn more about the social work courses on offer

Social work degrees

Social work is a graduate profession. In order to practice as a social worker in the UK you need to be educated to at least undergraduate level and registered with one of the four regulating bodies. These are:

• Social Care Wales
• Social Work England
• Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)
• Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

On undergraduate social work degrees you'll learn about mental health, disabilities, the theory of social work, partnership working, ethics and values, and the legislation relevant to the profession. Many programmes focus on practical learning, so you'll undertake at least two work placements in a social work setting.

Entry requirements differ between institutions, so check before applying. For example, to study BA Social Work at either the University of Sheffield or Edge Hill University you'll need 120 UCAS points, while at Anglia Ruskin University they accept 112 UCAS points.

In Scotland you'll usually need four Highers of at least BBBB, if not higher, to gain a place on an undergraduate social work course. In Northern Ireland you'll need three B grades at A-level or higher.

The majority of full-time undergraduate social work degrees take three years to complete and are comprised of a range of modules.

At Edge Hill University, for instance, you'll study modules such as:

• Social work and society
• Social work law, policy and practice
• Specialist practice with adults
• Theory, research and critical practice with children, young people and families.

At Anglia Ruskin, you'll study modules in:

• Standards and skills in social work
• Contemporary issues in social work
• Applied social work theories
• Social work with adults
• Sustainable social work.

To gain a place on many programmes you'll need previous work experience in a care setting. Experience can be paid or voluntary and may include helping out at a local youth club or care home for the elderly, getting involved with a victim support organisation or advice service, or caring for a relative or friend. You'll also need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to enrolment.

Find out what you can do with a degree in social work.

Online social work degrees

As social work is practice based there aren't many online or distance learning programmes available.

However, online social work courses do exist and as they can be studied part time, they're often taken up by people who need to juggle their studies around other commitments such as work or family life.

The Open University runs a range of social work qualifications, from certificates and diplomas to undergraduate degrees. Their BA in Social Work is worth 360 credits and can be studied both full or part time. Full-time courses require 32 to 36 hours of study per week and take three years to complete, while the part-time option takes six years with 16 to 18 hours of study per week.

Robert Gordon University also offer a distance learning BA in Social Work. Designed for those already working in a related social care role, the part-time degree has a blended mode of attendance. This means it's delivered through a combination of on-campus learning, practice experience and tutor-led learning with the support of online resources.

Master in Social Work (MSW)

If your undergraduate course is in an unrelated subject, you'll need to take an MSW. Many social work undergraduates also pursue a Masters in social work to further their knowledge and specialise in a particular area.

Entry requirements vary, but all postgraduate social work qualifications specify the need for substantial work experience. During the application process you'll need to demonstrate a solid understanding of what social work entails and knowledge of current happenings in the industry.

For entry onto the Master of Social Work at the University of Edinburgh you'll need a 2:1 or above in any discipline, as well as work experience in a social care or health-related role. Kingston University expects a 2:1 in a social science subject for entry onto its MSW, as well as demonstrable experience of the social care sector.

In exceptional circumstances, candidates without an undergraduate degree may be considered if they have extensive professional experience. The best way to gain this experience is through volunteering.

An MSW generally takes two years full time, with a considerable amount of time (usually 170 to 200 days) spent on placement.

At the University of Edinburgh you'll study units including:

• Social work in communities
• Social work with individuals and families
• Doing social work research
• Working with risk, trust and complexity in social work.

The 2024/25 tuition fees for UK students cost £13,000.

At Kingston University, MSW 2024/25 tuition fees are £8,500 (full time) and £4,250 (part time). Course modules include:

• Readiness for direct practice
• Assessment and intervention
• Legal, ethical and policy frameworks for social work practice
• Human development and social environment.

Search for postgraduate courses in social work and learn more about Masters degrees.

Social Work Bursaries

Financial help is available to students on both undergraduate and postgraduate social work courses, in the form of Social Work Bursaries, supplied by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

Social Work Bursaries are non-repayable and can be used to help with study and living costs. Only a limited number are available, so there's no guarantee you'll receive support. If you're eligible and manage to secure a bursary, it'll be paid directly into your bank account. You'll keep receiving the bursary for the duration of your studies, unless you withdraw.

Undergraduates can apply for a Social Work Bursary from their second year. The basic bursary rate for 2023/24 is £4,862.50 if you attend a university outside of London, and £5,262.50 if you attend a university inside the capital.

Postgraduates can apply from their first year of study. If you’re eligible for a Social Work Bursary it will be paid directly to your university. In 2023/24 the NHSBSA provided a maximum tuition fee contribution of £4,052 per academic year. If your university charges a higher amount than the contribution covers you are responsible for meeting the difference.

Year by year this is subject to change, so check with the institution you're applying to before committing to a course.

Discover more about funding postgraduate study.

Social work apprenticeships

If university study isn't for you and you'd like to qualify without the burden of student debt then you should consider a social work apprenticeship. Taking approximately three years to complete, apprentices gain an honours degree in social work, enabling them to register with Social Work England, the regulator for social workers.          

See social care apprenticeships for more information.

Frontline

If you're a career changer or a graduate from an unrelated discipline, a number of organisations provide fast-track training options to help you enter the field of social work.

Frontline is a two-year graduate programme that provides a way into children's social work. With a focus on leadership development, the scheme gives you the opportunity to qualify as a social worker through on-the-job training and academic study.

The programme starts with a five-week Summer Institute where you'll learn about good social work practice from leading academics. During the first year you'll spend around 200 days on placement with a local authority child protection team and 46 days studying towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. On completion you'll be able to register with Social Work England as a qualified social worker. Learn more about postgraduate diplomas.

In year two you'll work as a newly qualified social worker, responsible for your own caseload, in your local authority's Children's Services department. Your employer and Frontline will support you to complete the on-going leadership development programme. You'll also continue your studies and work towards a Masters in Advanced Relationship Based Social Work with Children and Families.

To be eligible for the programme you'll need:

• a 2:2 or higher in your first degree
• GCSE maths and English at grade 4 (C) or above (or equivalent)
• IT literacy and good spoken and written English
• the right to work and study in the UK.

Your first year tuition fees and Summer Institute accommodation is covered by Frontline, and you'll receive a tax-free, National Insurance-exempt bursary to support you through your studies. This ranges from £18,000 in regions across the UK, to £20,000 if you're based in inner London.

In your second year you'll earn a newly qualified social worker salary, which (depending on your location) will typically range from £25,000 to £34,000.

The organisation also runs the Pathways programme - a national leadership development programme for social workers consisting of multiple pathways for four different levels of leadership.

Step Up to Social Work

Another option is the government's Step Up to Social Work initiative - an intensive, full-time training programme covering everything that trainee social workers need to know in just 14 months.

The course covers social work ethics and practice, child development, assessment of risk and the legal framework surrounding social work. Trainees receive a £19,833 bursary for the duration of the course.

Entry requirements are subject to change, so check the website for the latest information You'll typically need:

• a minimum 2:2 qualification in any discipline except social work
• six moths full-time direct experience (either paid or voluntary) of working with vulnerable children, young people, families or vulnerable adults
• GCSEs in English and maths at grade 4 (C) or above.

Think Ahead

The Think Ahead programme aims to train mental health social workers within two years.

The scheme starts with a five-week Summer Institute where you'll gain an understanding of the different approaches to mental health social work.

In year one you'll receive a tax-free training bursary of £18,000 (£20,000 within London), paid monthly over a 14-month period, and work alongside other Think Ahead participants with adults with mental health problems. In order to gain a rounded experience you’ll also work with children and family services, child and adolescent services and forensic services under the supervision of an experienced consultant social worker. By the end of your first year you'll have gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work and will be qualified to register with Social Work England.

In year two you'll work more independently as a newly qualified social worker on a 12-month contract in a mental health setting within your local NHS Trust or local authority. Salaries will vary depending on your location and employer, but are typically in the region of £21,000 to £33,000. You'll also continue your academic studies as you work towards a Masters degree in social work.

For a place on the scheme English will need to be your first language and you'll need the right to work in the UK. Necessary qualifications include GCSEs in maths and English at grade 4 (C) or above, and a 2:2 undergraduate degree in any subject other than social work.

Applications are made online. If successful you'll take a series of online tests and attend an assessment centre before being offered a place on the programme.

Find out more

• Learn more about Frontline.
• Take a look at how to become a social worker.
• See what else the social care sector has to offer.
• Learn how to answer social work interview questions.