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Social Work and Applied Social Studies BSc (Hons)

3 years, starting in September 2026

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This course is closed to applications from Overseas students for September 2026 entry. We are still accepting applications from Home students.

Gain knowledge and skills in social work, leading to eligibility to register with Social Work England. You'll mix academic learning and practice placements.

This course will prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career in social work. You’ll receive comprehensive training to enable you to apply to register as a social worker and practice in a range of settings.

You’ll be based in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences. Our teaching staff work closely with colleagues across the disciplines of sociology, social policy, criminology and international development. Because of this, you’ll benefit from their diverse knowledge and our 50 years of experience in training social work practitioners at the University.

Local practitioners, service users and carers also contribute to the course, ensuring your learning is up-to-date and relevant. This helps to prepare you for the reality of social work practice.

In Year 1, you’ll study social work alongside psychology, sociology and social policy. You will develop your awareness of social inequality and social justice, which will give you the foundation to enhance your social work skills in readiness for your practice placements.

In Year 2, you’ll do your first practice placement and advance your study of social work. You will explore core social work units, such as social work with children and families, social work with adults and mental health.

In your final year, you’ll continue your social work studies. In your last semester, you will undertake a final practice placement. During this, you’ll build on the knowledge and skills you have developed in previous years and apply this to your practice with service users and carers.

Informed teaching to advance your learning

You’ll learn from teaching staff with diverse backgrounds and international expertise. Their passion, knowledge and research impact their teaching and contribute to your learning experience.

Develop your professional skills

Throughout the course, you will develop skills and knowledge that you can apply to your placements or future career. You will have the opportunity to apply them in practice and will learn from professionals working within those settings.

We will provide you with the tools and support to prepare you for employment such as:

  • research methods
  • critical reflection
  • critical analysis
  • ethics and values

Professional standards

This course is approved by Social Work England (SWE) and prepares you to meet the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for newly qualified social workers and SWE Professional Standards. You will be able to apply to register as a professional social worker.

Prepare for your future career

As a professionally qualified social worker, you might work in a range of health and social care settings. The course will also provide you with knowledge, skills and experiences that are transferable to many careers outside of social work.

Examples of where our recent social work graduates have gone on to work include:

  • Bath and North East Somerset Recovery Team
  • NHS
  • Preferred Living
  • Shining Stars Fostering Agency
  • Wiltshire Council
Find out what our graduates go on to do

2026/2027 Academic Year

Before you apply for a course, please check the website for the most recently published course detail.

We understand that you will want to know more about the shape of the academic year. We work hard and plan for different scenarios, to be able to welcome you to the University of Bath at the start of each semester.

Course structure

This course lasts 3 years. It starts in September 2026 and ends in 2029. Welcome week starts on 21 September 2026.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Units

At Bath, our courses are made up of units of study. Compulsory units cover core concepts that you'll need to understand as part of your degree programme. Some of our courses also offer the opportunity for you to study optional units. These allow you to specialise in particular areas of knowledge that interest you.

As an undergraduate, you will be expected to take 120 credits (60 ECTS credits) in each academic year. Credits are usually split evenly across your two semesters of study. 120 credits (60 ECTS credits) are the equivalent of 1,200 notional hours of study; this includes contact time with staff and your own independent learning.

All credits displayed on this page are ECTS credits.

Year 1

Compulsory units

  • Community social work

    5 credits

  • Introduction to social work

    10 credits

  • Psychology for social work

    10 credits

  • Readiness for direct practice

    10 credits

  • Research for social work

    5 credits

  • Social problems, social change and the state

    10 credits

  • The making of modern society

    10 credits

Year 2

Compulsory units

  • Applied social work practice 1: practice evidence

    5 credits

  • Applied social work practice 2: anti-discriminatory practice plan

    5 credits

  • Applied social work practice 3: discrimination and empowerment

    10 credits

  • Applied social work practice 4: critical reflection

    10 credits

  • Mental health social work 1

    10 credits

  • Social work with adults 1

    5 credits

  • Social work with children and families 1

    10 credits

  • Theories and methods 1

    5 credits

Year 3

Compulsory units

  • Mental health social work 2

    5 credits

  • Qualifying practice 1: practice evidence

    5 credits

  • Qualifying practice 2: critical analysis of organisation

    5 credits

  • Qualifying practice 3: ethics and values

    5 credits

  • Qualifying practice 4: critical reflection

    15 credits

  • Social work with adults 2

    10 credits

  • Social work with children and families 2

    10 credits

  • Theories and methods 2

    5 credits

Placement

This course includes two mandatory social work practice placements. These take place in the first semester of Year 2 and the final semester of Year 3.

We have established strong partnerships with local agencies to provide you with a wide range of placement opportunities and experiences. All placements will be based within a 50-mile radius of Bath.

In your practice placement, you will apply your knowledge, skills and professional understanding to direct practice with service users. You’ll be supported by your Practice Educator, Practice Supervisor and University Tutor.

Students have completed placements within a range of organisations and teams, including adult and children’s safeguarding, hospitals, community teams for people with learning difficulties, youth offending teams, adoption and fostering, and community mental health.

We work in partnership with several local councils and social care providers that supply our professional practice placements. These include:

  • Alzheimer’s Support
  • Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership
  • Bath and North East Somerset Council
  • Curo
  • Developing Health and Independence drug and alcohol service
  • Julian House homeless service
  • NSPCC
  • Somerset County Council
  • Swindon Borough Council
  • Wiltshire Council

Travel for your placement

In the social work profession the use of a car is often necessary so that you can visit people and services across a large geographical area, particularly when this includes a rural area. If at all possible, you are strongly encouraged to have a driving licence, valid for use in the UK, and access to a vehicle with appropriate insurance before the start of your second year of studies. If there is a reason this is not possible, we would still encourage you to apply.

If you have any questions about driving and placement opportunities, please get in touch with admissions@bath.ac.uk

Learning and assessment

You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.

Learning

  • Lectures
  • Practical sessions
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Assessment

  • Essay
  • Examinations
  • Placement
  • Portfolio work
  • Presentations

These lists are to give you an idea of some, but not all, of the learning and assessment methods used on this course. They are not exhaustive lists and methods are subject to change.

Learning and teaching

Contact hours

Timetabled contact hours, which may be made up of lectures, practical sessions, seminars, tutorials and workshops, vary throughout your course and between courses but are typically between 12 and 15 hours a week in your first year.

Our teaching for this course is delivered through in-person learning on campus, supported by high quality online provision. The significant majority of contact hours over the duration of your course will be in person, and this will be enhanced by some online delivery which will constitute a smaller proportion of these contact hours, depending on your programme of study, year of study and chosen optional units. This may be supplemented by additional activities such as a small number of online learning sessions (not live), skills development sessions, and personal tutorials.

The amount of timetabled sessions on campus in later years may vary to allow you time for your independent work.

Independent learning

In addition to timetabled contact hours, you are expected to undertake independent learning and assessment activities. Typically, this might be around 20 to 28 hours per week in your first year, and include individual research, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments, presentations, or revising for exams. After your first year, the emphasis on independent learning may become greater.

Assessment breakdown

You will be assessed in a range of methods designed to develop and test your skills and knowledge.

5% to 10% of your course will be assessed through examinations.

90% to 95% will be assessed through essays, presentations, portfolio work, and your placement.

The final degree classification is determined by your second and final year marks and each contributes 32% and 68% respectively. 

We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities, take a look at our Disability Service’s pages for information.  

Professional accreditations

This course is approved by Social Work England (SWE) and prepares you to meet the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for newly qualified social workers and SWE Professional Standards.

The Social Work England logo

This course is approved by Social Work England

Recognition of professional qualifications

As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).

The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.

‘One of the best things about Bath was the quality of the lecturers. They're still actively producing research; some are still actively working in social work.’
— Gabriel Alves BSc (Hons) Social Work and Applied Social Studies (Graduating year, 2020)

Entry requirements

Your application should demonstrate that you have personal, volunteering and/or employment experience that's relevant to social work or social care, and that you are capable of studying social work at degree level.

We accept a wide range of qualifications for this course, and your academic profile will be considered on its individual merits. We do recommend that at least one of your qualifications is in a related subject area:

  • Anthropology
  • Childcare or Childhood Development
  • Criminology
  • Education
  • Health and Social Care
  • Law
  • Psychology
  • Social Policy, Social Sciences or Sociology
  • Social Work

We will give consideration to candidates who wish to claim accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) status on a case-by-case basis. However, the practice placement units cannot be accredited through prior learning from other institutions or from personal or practice experience and must be completed as a part of the course. Please contact us to discuss any application involving APEL before applying.

We know that the context in which you are studying can have an impact on your ability to perform your best in exams and coursework, or limit which subjects or qualifications you are able to study at your school or college. We consider any application based on its merits, including your background and circumstances, including through:

We do not consider applications for deferred entry to a later start year for this course, except on exceptional health grounds.

Origin of qualifications

British qualifications

GCSE requirements

  • GCSE Mathematics grade 4 or C
  • GCSE English Language or Literature grade 4 or C (or equivalent from English language category B)

Read more about how we consider GCSEs.

UCAS Tariff Typical offer

120 UCAS Tariff points

We make offers for this course using UCAS Tariff points.

Your points must include at least one qualification equivalent to one or more A levels, such as:

  • A level
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
  • BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
  • BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
  • BTEC Extended Certificate (RQF)
  • Cambridge Pre-U Principle Subject
  • IB Higher Level Certificate
  • Scottish Advanced Higher
  • T Level (achieved in full)
  • WJEC Applied Diploma

Other qualifications with UCAS Tariff points can contribute to your total.

You can calculate your UCAS Tariff points using UCAS' calculator.

We can also consider applicants with qualifications not covered by the UCAS Tariff points. If you would like to know if we can consider your specific qualifications, please email admissions@bath.ac.uk.

We do not make contextual or alternative offers for this course.

English language requirements

Category B

If you do not meet our English GCSE requirements, you will need a suitable English language qualification. Examples include:

  • IELTS: 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in all components
  • IELTS Indicator: 7.0 with 6.5 in each component
  • TOEFL IBT: 100 overall with a minimum 24 in all 4 components
  • TOEFL iBT and iBT Special Home Edition: 100 overall with 24 in each component
  • The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 69 with no less than 62 in any element
  • The Pearson Test of English Academic Online (PTE Academic Online): we do not accept this qualification
  • Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): 185 with no less than 176 in all elements
  • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): 185 with no less than 176 in all elements
  • Duolingo (taken up to 1 July 2024): 130 overall with sub scores of Literacy 130, Comprehension 140, Conversation 125, Production 110
  • Duolingo (taken after 1 July 2024): 130 overall with sub scores of Literacy 130, Comprehension 130, Conversation 130, Production 130
  • LanguageCert SELT: C1 Expert Pass in both the Speaking test and the Listening, Reading, and Writing test

See the full list of accepted English qualifications.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Social Work and Applied Social Studies BSc (Hons)

Fees

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees

Fee information is not yet available for this course. Tuition fees are liable to increase annually for all University of Bath students.

Find out more about student fees

Extra costs

The following course-related costs are not included in your fees:

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

You are required to pay for a DBS check. This will be payable at the start of your course at an approximate cost of £55.

You will also be required to register with the DBS update service for each year of your degree. The current cost of the update service is £16 per year.

Placement travel costs

You are responsible for covering the cost of travel to and from your placement in years 2 and 3. These costs will vary depending on your placement location.

If you are eligible for a social work bursary, then you may find some of these costs covered through the Placement Travel Allowance. The NHS bursary website has further details.

Read more about advice for budgeting and see more information about day-to-day costs.

How to pay

Tuition fee loans

If you are studying an undergraduate course, you may be able to take out a loan for your tuition fees and living costs.

Read more about tuition fee loans

Scholarships and bursaries

You could be considered for a bursary or scholarship to help you study at Bath. This is in addition to your student loan and you do not have to pay it back.

The NHS offers a bursary for this course.

Read more about bursaries and scholarships

Other payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer. You may also be eligible for a student loan to help you pay your fees.

Read more about your payment options

Budgeting

You will need to budget at least £100 for the cost of photocopying, printing and binding. You will also need to budget for the cost of textbooks.

Some courses involve visits away from campus and you may be required to pay some or all of the costs of travel, accommodation and food and drink.

If you’re on a placement, you’re responsible for your own travel, accommodation and living costs. You should also consider the financial implications if you go on an unpaid or overseas placement. If you are thinking about studying or working abroad as part of your course, you may have to prove that you have a certain amount of money in your bank account to get a visa.

Please read the information about planning your finances for your placement year which includes potential sources of funding, travel insurance, and visas.

Application information

Selection process

If you pass an initial assessment based on your application you will be invited to attend an interview. You will also be provided with guidance on this in advance if you are invited to an interview, so you can come fully prepared.

Due to the nature of this degree, you will be asked to declare whether or not you have any relevant spent or unspent criminal convictions as part of completing your UCAS application. Should you declare that you have a conviction we will contact you for further information and you will be considered in line with our policy on applicants with criminal convictions.

You will also need to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check when you join this course. You will be asked to register for the DBS update service for the duration of your degree which allows you to keep your DBS certificate up to date for practice placements.

We are unable to consider applicants for deferred entry due to the nature of the selection process.

Immigration requirements

If you need a Student visa to study in the UK, you will not be able to join this course.

If you are an EU or EEA national (except an Irish citizen), you will only be able to join this course if you have Settled or Pre-Settled status in the UK (or hold other relevant immigration permission that allows you to study without a Student visa).

If you join this course on immigration permission which subsequently expires and you are unable to secure a suitable alternative, you may be unable to complete your course or receive a final qualification.

If you have any concerns regarding this please contact admissions@bath.ac.uk for further advice.

Course enquiries

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