Social Work (Qualified Status)

Why choose this course?
Our BA (Hons) Social Work course offers a detailed and dynamic perspective of social work, covering theoretical perspectives, underpinning values and ethics, legislation and social policy and the impact of poverty and practice in Wales.

You will:
Benefit from our partnership arrangement alongside Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham Local Authorities, enabling you to be hosted by and build relationships with potential future employers
Be eligible for registration with any of the UK’s four Regulatory Bodies for Social Work upon graduation
Undertake at least one guaranteed placement in a statutory (Local Authority) based setting
Be taught by academics from a range of backgrounds with varied professional experiences and interests
Have the opportunity to experience elements of practice within a safe, supported environment
*This course is part of a subject area ranked 1st in Wales for Teaching Quality in the Social Work subject area league table in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025.

*This course is part of a subject area ranked 2nd in the UK for Teaching on my course and top 10 in the UK for Learning Opportunities and Assessment and Feedback in the National Student Survey, 2024.

*This course is rated 1st in Wales for Career Prospects in the Social Work subject area league table in the Guardian University Guide, 2025.

Key Course Features:
Diverse range of placements based on your identified learning needs
Throughout this course, we undertake teaching sessions alongside other professional courses such as Policing, Nursing and Occupational Therapy, enabling you to understand different professional perspectives and training
This course gives you the opportunity to work alongside Outside In, a unique group of individuals who are considered experts through experience and enable you to ‘complete the circle’ of learning by hearing from those individuals who have had involvement in social work, either by receiving services, caring for those that have or who potentially may need to access social workers in the future
You will undertake a dissertation project in your final year around a chosen area of practice

Please note, Social Work students must be registered with Social Care Wales, which is the regulatory body for all Social Workers in Wales.

What you will study
YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)
The first year of study encourages you to develop academic learning skills and initial understanding of core aspects of social work. With a significant focus on co-production, this year will build your confidence in entering the professional world.

MODULES
• Foundations of Co-production
• Introduction to Poverty and Social Policy
• Values and Ethics
• The Life Course Perspective

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)
Year two builds on level four by expanding concepts and developing critical thinking. Considering more complex ideas and theoretical frameworks, you will explore the impact of decisions and actions in practice.

MODULES
• Social Work Skills
• Law in Social Work Practice
• Research in Social Work Practice
• Interpersonal Dispositions
• Conflicts and Dilemmas
• Social Work in Wales

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)
The final year of study encourages you to engage in critical discourses around social work practice and the nuanced balance required of personal and professional identities and application of creative practice.

MODULES
• Dissertation
• Safeguarding in Context
• Integrating Social Work Theories
• Creative Practice

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Teaching & Assessment
Assessment is carried out in a variety of ways: presentations, essays, reflective learning logs, dissertation, and more.

Students are encouraged to undertake learning needs assessments in year 1 if needed – this will lead to the best form of learning support being offered to students on an individualised basis.

Teaching and learning
Effective social work is about an integration of theoretical and practice understanding. Consequently the programme is taught in a range of ways and through various media. Students can expect to experience straightforward didactic information giving, as much as interactive role playing and group work. Demonstrating intrapersonal communication and team work skills are fundamentals of social work practice, so you are expected to actively participate and engage in all learning opportunities and styles.

The programme is typically taught on campus with online sessions being scheduled as and when required in accordance with the ALF. It is a full-time course, with 3 days per week timetabled during periods of academic teaching and 5 days per week whilst students are on Practice Learning Opportunity (placement). Practice Learning Opportunities span 140 hours (approximately 20 working days) in Year 1, 560 hours (approximately 80 working days) in Year 2 and 700 hours (approximately 100 working days) in Year 3.

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.