Social Work, BSc (Hons)

This is a tightly structured degree comprising compulsory modules. In your first year, you will have a comprehensive introduction to social work in practice, conducting and using effective research, and law in relation to social work. As you progress, you will build on this knowledge, along with studying theories and perspectives on social work.

A-levels/Welsh Baccalaureate*: Minimum BCC

GCSE Grade A*- C, in maths and English/ Welsh or the equivalent Key Skills 2 qualifications.

*We welcome applications from Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma students. Requirements are as for A-levels where you can substitute the same non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Level Core Grade. 

Alternative Requirements 

• Access Diploma: For Distinction and Merit profile contact should contact the Admissions Tutor. Tracey Maegusuku-Hewett or Beth Pearl via swadmissions@swansea.ac.uk
• BTEC: DDM
• Irish leaving certificate: 330
• International Baccalaureate: 33-34 points

 Other 

• Applicants are required to have undertaken at least 210 hours direct social care work or voluntary experience at the point of application. 

During your degree you will have 33 hours of teaching contact time for each 20 credit module. We teach through a variety of methods including lectures, seminars and tutorials. 

Practice is an integral part of the course with 50% of the course, or 200 days, spent in practice with social work agencies, where you will have the opportunity to learn through observation, rehearsal and performance.

We assess your learning through written essays, oral presentations, group work tasks, IT based exercises  and portfolio work.

Practice placements are assessed by a combination of written work and professional assessments using the National Occupational Standards for Social Work.

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

You have the right to write and submit your coursework and to sit your exams in Welsh, even if you have chosen to follow an English-medium module. You can also choose to be interviewed through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.

You can study at least 40 credits of this course through the medium of Welsh. Continuing to study through the medium of Welsh after leaving school or college will be a natural progression for you and will give you the chance to receive the best education. It can also be a valuable addition to your CV and career development. Opportunities are available for students who are fluent and confident in the language as well as those who are less confident or are learners. It is also possible for you to choose seminar and tutorial classes taught in Welsh on modules that are taught mainly through the medium of English.

Scholarships and bursaries are available to students who choose to study 40 credits or more through the medium of Welsh. Visit the Scholarships page for further information.

Social Care Cymru

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2019/20 are as follows:

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK/EU students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but are not limited to):

• Parking and travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Printing and binding
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre of Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Your degree programme may already give you an option to study or work abroad but in addition to this you can also consider an international summer programme.

These programmes are open to all our undergraduate students and include culture and study tours, volunteering programmes and internships across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada. Programmes are typically 2 – 6 weeks long and funding is available. See our Summer Programmes for further information.

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.