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Southampton Solent University logo

BA (Hons)Social Work

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Starting in2025
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UCAS code: L501
Institution code: S30
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why study a social work degree at Solent University

Make a positive change and pursue a fulfilling career in social work: on this degree you will gain the knowledge and practical experience key to making a difference to the lives of vulnerable people.

  • 0%
    positivity score for teaching on the course (NSS 2024)
  • 0%
    positivity score for learning resources (NSS 2024)
  • Top0%
    for teaching quality, out of 131 institutions (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
  • 88% of employed graduates who responded to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (from 2021 to 2024) were in high-skilled employment.
  • Solent ranked in the UK's top 10 for career prospects in social work (out of 69 institutions) (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
  • The course is led and taught by qualified and registered social workers.
  • The course is designed in partnership with social work practitioners, service users and carers, ensuring you’re up to date with the latest developments in the field.
  • You will complete two significant periods of work experience thanks to our partnerships with local authorities, as well as many other social care organisations.
  • We offer extra-curricular, part-funded International Placements opportunities through the Turing Scheme.
  • You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.
Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.

Course overview

The first two years of this degree concentrate on learning the basis of social work theory as well as looking at subjects such as law and sociology. For their final year, students can choose to specialise in adults or children and families to help focus their career path upon graduation.

You’ll complete two significant periods of work experience in either local authorities or voluntary, private and independent organisations in the region. We have partnership arrangements for practice learning placements with four local authorities (Southampton City, Hampshire, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight), as well as many other social care organisations. 

The course team’s strong links with local employers, service users and carers within the industry have allowed previous students the opportunity to practice the theory they’ve learnt in work placements, enabling them to build their skills and confidence as a social worker and develop their professional network.

These established links with the industry have also allowed past students to attend regular guest lectures where they have benefitted from talks delivered by social work professionals  such as Chief Social Worker for Adults, Lyn Romeo, giving valuable insight into the industry and the career opportunities available. The culmination of your degree will be at our annual wellbeing conference where you can showcase your final major project to industry practitioners.

We have partnership arrangements for practice learning placements with four local authorities (Southampton City, Hampshire, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight), as well as many other social care organisations." Add: These include social care settings for children and families, social care settings for adults, residential care for people with disabilities, community mental health teams, hospital social work departments, voluntary organisations working with both children and adults, advocacy agencies, drug and alcohol treatment centres, homelessness projects.

The course also provides opportunities for optional international placement experience.

Both an academic qualification and, importantly, a professional qualification, this course is approved by Social Work England – this means that you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker on successful completion of your degree.

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Approved by:

Approved by Social Work England, logo

Course features

  • Foundation year available

    If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years

  • Professional membership

    You have the opportunity to obtain a professional membership as part of this degree

Who is this course for?

This BA (Hons) Social Work programme prepares students for a wide range of social work and community care roles. You’ll need a non-judgemental attitude, an appreciation of diversity, self-awareness, flexibility and openness to new ideas. In addition, you’ll be able to demonstrate relevant skills such as empathy, active listening, negotiating and advocacy. Ideal candidates should aspire to work with vulnerable members of the community. Applicants typically come from a wide range of academic backgrounds.

What does this course lead to?

Social workers have opportunities to work with other professionals such as the police and doctors, to plan support and offer services to those in need of care and support.

If a social worker is successful in enabling change, it can mean that a child or vulnerable adult may achieve a new lease of life and positive possibilities for the future.

Our graduates have gone on to roles such as:

  • social worker
  • care manager
  • missing children and child exploitation coordinator
  • family support worker
  • housing adviser
  • domestic abuse adviser
  • adult wellbeing manager
  • primary mental health worker
  • learning disability practitioner.

Graduate stories

Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.

Read more stories
The lecturers showed us how to navigate the reality of social work with patience, resilience and curiosity.

Headshot - Adam Virani

Adam Virani

Child Contact Officer, and Male Domestic Violence Case Worker

Meet the team

On this course you will usually be taught by a team of qualified and registered social workers, with knowledge and expertise relevant to the content of the module. This includes academic staff and qualified professional practitioners, whose specialisms include children and families, relationships, reflective practice and supervision, diversity and ethnicity, as well as law and social work methods. You will also benefit from 'Skills Days' which includes regular guest sessions with experts in the sector. The course team ensure they are up to date with the latest research and theory and are committed to preparing students to have the knowledge and skills to be confident post degree, and to enable them to act effectively and professionally.

The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

Facilities

Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces.

Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.

    International opportunities

    Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.

    Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.

    For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.

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