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Social Work with Integrated Foundation Year

  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about University of Plymouth

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Start your journey into social work and make a real difference in people’s lives. The foundation year is designed to build your confidence, develop your academic skills, and deepen your understanding of key social issues. You’ll draw on sociology, psychology, criminology, and social work theory to explore effective interventions and approaches to practice
Professional Recognition
On successful completion of the full programme, you will graduate with a degree accredited by Social Work England, giving you eligibility to apply for professional registration. 95% of graduates are in employment or further study within six months.
Immersive Real-World Experience
During your foundation year, you’ll begin to develop the core skills needed for practice through applied learning and preparation for placement. As you progress onto the degree, you’ll complete 200 days of hands-on experience across diverse adult and children’s social work settings, learning directly from service users, carers, and professionals.
Supportive and Innovative Learning
The foundation year offers a supportive learning environment to help you transition into university study. You’ll benefit from integrated teaching, small group support, and expert staff who bring real-world and global perspectives. As you progress, you’ll study in our purpose-built InterCity Place and grow as a reflective, ethical, and internationally aware practitioner.
This course is for you if…
You want to build your confidence and academic skills before starting a social work degree
You’re compassionate and motivated to support people through life’s challenges
You want a clear pathway into a professional social work qualification
You value learning from experienced professionals and real-world practice

Modules

For up to date information, please refer to our website

Assessment method

For up to date information, please refer to our website

Professional bodies

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

  • Social Work England

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

This course is available in Clearing. If you have submitted an application, you can add this course. If you haven’t sent us an application yet, you can do this until 24th September 2026.

This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.
This course is subject to validation. You can still apply for this course while it is being approved.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 21 September 2026

Apply by
14 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:
L503
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Foundation

University of Plymouth 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
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
L503
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated Student Immigration Advice (SIA) service who will support you from the day you accept an offer at the University, right through to graduation. They will offer help and advice so you can get the most out of your studies, and your time in the UK, visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/services/international-students/international-student-advice for more information. Once you have applied through UCAS, your conditional offer letters will also be sent to you by email, so be sure to enter your current email address on your application and to check this email regularly. You'll need your unconditional letter, and the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that we'll send you, when applying for your student visa to the UK. A tuition fee deposit will be required before we'll send you the CAS. We're a licenced Sponsor under the Points Based System. To comply with our duties as a Sponsor, we're required to check other aspects of your application in addition to your academic achievements, for example any previous studies, financial status and your immigration history in the UK. For course entry requirements (inc. English requirements) please refer to the specific page for the course you are interested in (www.plymouth.ac.uk/study). A recognised English language qualification (e.g. IELTS) would be required or successful completion of one of the University's pre-sessional English Language courses. Check our country pages to find out more about application from your specific home country www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/study/international-students-country-guides. International fees, please visit our fees and funding pages www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees. If you have any questions please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

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Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
32 points

A level

32 UCAS points

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
PPP

In a science related subject

Access to HE Diploma

Pass a Science/Combined Studies/Natural Science/Nursing Access

Scottish Higher

32 UCAS points

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
24 points

to including GCSE English and Maths equivalent

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants need to achieve 5 GCSE passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include English and Maths, equivalents are considered

T Level
Pass (D or E)

Preferably in Health or Science pathway

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Interview

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)7 With 6.5 in all elements.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/english-language-requirementshttps://www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements

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

For all information about tuition fees, please visit our fees and funding pages at www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees

  • Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

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