BA (Hons) in Social Work England

Disabled woman with carer

Study at The Open University

If you are new to studying with The Open University, useful information is available on our What it's like to study page.

The OU offers a work-based route to the BA (Hons) degree in social work. Successful graduates are eligible to apply to register with the regulatory body, Social Work England (SWE). If accepted onto the register you’ll be able to practice as a qualified social worker.

This programme is available only to staff who are working in social care agencies and are supported by their employer, including students employed on traineeship contracts. If you don't work in social care currently, you will need to consider other options which may include studying for a Certificate of Higher Education in Social Care for which you don’t need to be sponsored.

Funding options

Fees and funding in England – ways to pay for your studies

What's it like to be a social worker?

Spend a day in the life of a social worker and hear from service users and carers.

What are the entry requirements?

Educational qualifications and checks

Academic study skills

How to implement our Social work programmes in your organisation

Employer Handbook

Sample Collaboration Agreement – England (non-Apprenticeship programmes)

Sample Collaboration Agreement - England

Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF)
PCF entry level capabilities

What will I study?

Find out what you’ll study on the degree programme

Help for employers with selection

Mapping OU selection tools to the PCF (Word)

Considering academic potential

SWRB recommendations for selecting students (pdf)

Service user and carer involvement in student selection and practice learning (pdf)

Group Exercise – please contact us for examples
email: WELS-SW-Enquiries@open.ac.uk

The Open University changed my life

It’s easy to sum up the value of my Open University degree – I wouldn’t be in my post without it. In that respect the OU changed my life!
David Jennings
Operations manager for the Over 18s Support Intervention Team at Brighton & Hove City Council

One of the benefits of the OU programme is that it offers a degree of flexibility to both employees and employers not available through more traditional academic institutions. This benefits both by providing the opportunity for adult learners to continue working while studying. The training material is always well thought out and presented and the support from tutors complement this. Personally, I have always found the advice of the regional office to be friendly, helpful and informative with a genuine willingness to work in partnership with our organisation; being responsive to suggestions for changes and seeking solutions to any difficulties.
Susie McLagan
Social Work Qualifying Lead Development Officer, Shropshire Council