Course summary
Begin your journey to become a social worker who enables positive change in people’s lives. Support diverse groups of people of all ages, and promote human rights and social justice in a worthwhile and challenging career.
Why choose this course?
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Regulated by Social Work England with all core academic staff registered as social workers
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Member of the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership
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Social Work ranked Top 10 in England (NSS 2025, broad-based universities)*
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Part of Keele's exceptional School of Medicine which has an excellent reputation in both education and research
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An international profession offering potential global career opportunities
Social Work at Keele gives you a solid grounding in this professional area of study and supports the development of key professional skills and values ready for your future career as a Social Worker. The programme has been carefully designed to allow you to apply the course theory into a range of exciting, varied and specialist social work occupations in the UK and potentially internationally.
You will explore child, adult and family social work, and cover key elements of the profession including law, social policy, ethics and values, and the socio-economic contexts of social work. You will investigate the impact of inequality and the disadvantages in society around age, race and sexuality. You will examine anti-oppressive and non-discriminatory approaches in social work whilst developing your communication, assessment and decision making skills.
*We have compared the positivity ratings of all participating UK institutions using the NSS 2025 sector data to determine Keele's position relative to other broad-based universities (i.e. excluding specialist institutions and further education colleges).
About Keele
Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.
We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.
Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.
Modules
For a list of indicative modules please visit the course page on the Keele University website.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Main Site
Study options
- BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years
Start dates
- September 2025
Apply by
29 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- L500
- Institution code:
- K12
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Keele University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
How to apply
Apply by
29 January
Application codes
- Course code:
- L500
- Institution code:
- K12
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff112 points
A levelBBC
BBC in three A Levels
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)DMM
DMM in any BTEC Extended Diploma / National Extended Diploma
Access to HE DiplomaD: 15 credits
112 UCAS points in any Access to HE Diploma including Distinction in at least 15 Level 3 credits
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme29 points
554 in three Higher Levels or 29 points
GCSE/National 4/National 5
You will also need: 4 / C in GCSE Maths or Level 2 Functional Skills Maths, plus an English language qualification (see the Keele website)
T LevelM
Merit in any T Level
Please see the Keele University website for the full range of qualifications considered
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
Additional entry requirements
- Admission tests
- Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
- A compulsory Enhanced plus Barring Lists DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Enhanced check will need to be completed by anyone accepted on the course before they begin their placements with social work practice providers. Completing placements are mandatory for all students.
- Health checks
- Whilst there is not a formal health check completed by all candidates, prospective students are required to sign a Declaration of Suitability/Fitness to Practice for Social Work form. Depending on the information supplied by candidates, the programme director may seek clarification on any potential health concerns and this may also require further consultation with your GP or the university’s Occupational Health department.
- Interview
- All prospective candidates need to complete an interview. This will usually be held at the university on the selection day where the candidate will be asked questions by a panel comprising a social work academic, a social work practitioner and a service user. Successful completion of this interview is required to be invited onto the course.
- Institutions Own Test (IOT)
- Candidates for the social work programme will be selected through a two-part process. Initially, the candidate’s application form and personal statement will be read and its suitability assessed. As well as reaching the required academic standards, the candidate’s personal statement should demonstrate a clear understanding of social work and its values. If this is achieved, candidates will then be invited to a selection day, which will include a written task, a group discussion and an individual interview with academic staff, a social work practitioner and a service user (in most cases). Only those deemed competent via this process will be offered a place. Candidates must also complete a written declaration of their suitability to undertake social work training in respect of health status, criminal convictions and other matters.
Contextual admissions
When we consider an application we take into account a wide range of information, including the context in which an applicant has gained their qualifications, work experience (paid or unpaid), extra-curricular activities and personal circumstances. A number of our applicants offer a combined portfolio or additional qualifications and these will also be taken into account. In some instances, we may make an alternative offer which will differ from the published grades.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).
It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.
Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Our 2025 fee summary is available on our website: keele.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/tuitionfeesandfunding/undergraduatetuitionfees/
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