Social Work

100% of our Social Work students were in employment or further study 15 months after finishing their course - Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025

Support people to make real, lasting change with a Social Work degree that balances theory, practice, and professional development. Accredited by Social Work England, this course will prepare you to register as a qualified social worker upon graduation.

With a 50/50 split between practice and theory, you’ll study key social work theories, develop practical skills through diverse placements, and gain unique experience with Hydra, an immersive training tool originally designed for emergency services.

What you'll learn

• Meet the academic and professional standards set by Social Work England to qualify as a social worker.

• Promote social justice, equality, diversity, and human rights whilst developing strong interpersonal skills.

• Support children, young people, and adults during times of vulnerability and help them create positive change.

• Build confidence as an independent, reflective, and research-informed practitioner.

• Develop the skills to work in a complex, fast-changing, and increasingly globalised world.

Alongside expert teaching, you’ll connect with employers such as the NHS Mental Health Trust, Kent County Council, and Medway Council, building strong links to the workplace.

Graduate ready for registration, with the knowledge, confidence, and experience to begin your career as a professional social worker in the UK.

Social Work bursary
As a Social Work student, you may qualify for the NHS Social Work bursary of around £5,000 per year, awarded by the government.

Professional accreditation
Upon successfully completing the course, you will be eligible to apply for registration to practice as a Social Worker with Social Work England and go on to work in a range of settings, meeting the diverse needs of individuals, groups and communities.

Specialist facilities
Our course is the only one in the UK to use the expertise of the Hydra Foundation to develop your social work skills in interprofessional critical incident thinking and decision-making when safeguarding children and families. You will have access to other simulated environments during your course, such as our simulated social work office and courtroom.

Course Modules

For a list of core and likely optional modules, please visit our website.

https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/social-work

Throughout the course, you are assessed on a range of knowledge and skills using different assessment methods. This includes written work (essays, reflective accounts, and blogs), individual and group presentations, and a 6000-word dissertation in your final year.

Your practice will be assessed by developing a portfolio for your 70-day and 100-day placements. We want your assessments to help you develop your knowledge and skills. Each module offers you a formative assessment to provide you with the opportunity for feedback to inform your ‘formal’ or summative assessment.

You must complete all modules in each year, including your practice placements, to progress to the next year of the course (i.e. successful completion of all Year 1 modules and the Readiness for Direct Practice placement (120 credits) provides entry to the BA (Hons) Social Work course at Year 2).

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Social Work England