Social Work

BA Hons

  • UCAS code L500
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements BBB
  • Duration Full time 3 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 1

    1st for Social Work

    The Complete University Guide (2025)

  • 1

    1st for Social Work

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 2

    2nd for Social Work

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

Why Lancaster?

  • Study a course accredited by Social Work England (SWE) to kick-start a rewarding career
  • Benefit from our partnerships with public, private, voluntary and independent agencies
  • Learn from a team of experts committed to improving the lives of the most vulnerable in society through their research and practice
  • Receive tailored individual support to get the most out of your time on campus and placement

Everything you need to start a career in social work is here – inspiring lecturers, support tailored to your needs and insight into the issues impacting social work today in the UK. As part of our welcoming community, you’ll always have someone to turn to for support and advice throughout your coursework and placements.

Small close-knit cohort

Our course is accredited by Social Work England (SWE), and you’ll develop the skills and experience employers in this area need. An important part of your study will be your two practice placements. You’ll get hands-on experience within different organisations such as local authorities, Barnardo's or Age Concern.

Providing individualised support is important to us. That’s why we keep our social work cohort small. It means we can get to know you. It also means we’ll try to match your placement to your area of interest, whether that’s in youth offending, children and family intervention, or another area of social work.

Shape the future of social work

Our teaching team aren’t just teachers. They’re experienced social workers, advocates and change-makers. Some of the team carry out research, while others are practising social workers working in statutory sector services and charities.

Our team of experts contribute to national policy and practice discussions around vital areas like online child sexual abuse risk, family justice and youth resilience. We aim to inspire you to follow in our footsteps and become a part of a new generation of social workers who value human rights and social justice.

Course accreditation

Social Work England logo

This programme is accredited by Social Work England.

Learn more about the Social Work England accreditation

Careers

When you successfully complete this course, you’ll be eligible to apply to join the register as a professional social worker in England.

Most of our graduates go on to positions as social workers within local councils, the NHS, the private sector, charities and voluntary agencies. Some continue with their studies and complete a postgraduate degree.

Your degree will open doors across a whole range of areas:

  • Children and their families
  • Disability
  • Older adults
  • Mental health
  • Offending and substance misuse

If you want to pursue further research instead of going into Social Work practice, you might decide to look into postgraduate degrees in Sociology, Social Policy and Research.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring that you gain a highly reputable degree. We are also dedicated to ensuring that you graduate with relevant life and work-based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award, which offers you the opportunity to complete activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development.

Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

Each year we accept a wide range of entry qualifications including BTECs, A levels, and Access to HE Diplomas. Applicants must also meet specific English requirements, and we accept a wide range of qualifications that meet these. We also want to ensure that you have some relevant understanding before studying with us. In your personal statement please outline relevant academic learning and learning through reflecting upon your experiences, which may include voluntary work, employment, personal experience and holding positions of responsibility. These experiences do not need to be extensive but your reflection on your skills in leadership and skills in working with and alongside others is essential. There is further information below but please contact us if you have any questions.

A Level BBB

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit

Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject with 24 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 21 Level 3 credits at Merit

International Baccalaureate 30 points overall with 15 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects

English Requirements

GCSE English Language grade C or 4

We will accept other qualifications in English including O level grade C, CSE grade1, Functional Skills Level 2 Pass.

English language requirements (if English is not your native language)

IELTS 7.0 overall with at least 7.0 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages. Please check with the admissions office for the higher grade equivalents required.

Interviews

Candidates with appropriate qualifications will be invited to take part in one of our interview days, where applicants can learn more about our programme, and complete assessments that inform our final decision, such as an individual interview and a written test.

Suitability Process

The Lancaster social work course is approved by Social Work England, and they require us to assess applicants’ suitability to commence social work education. All offers made for social work are on condition of the assessment of suitability.

We ask for information related to conduct, health and character so that we can consider your potential to complete the learning and mandatory placements. A disclosure may not necessarily preclude someone from commencing social work education and we ask applicants to be open and honest with us. However, failure to declare is viewed very seriously and will normally result in students being withdrawn from the course.

Selected applicants will be required to complete a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and the Declaration of Suitability for Social Work process.

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2025/26 home undergraduate entry fees have not yet been set.

Home International
TBC £24,700

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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