Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £16,655 per year
Employability
100% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating, with 100% in highly skilled employment or further study (2019/20 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Course summary
- Study the theories, methods and values that inform social work.
- Develop your skills to prepare you for a rewarding career.
- Apply your learning and experience in practice placements.
- Benefit from supervised practical work in a range of social work settings.
On this course you will learn how to work with children, families and vulnerable adults who experience problems in their lives, or whose actions cause problems for others. You will be learning at university, on practice placements and through skills days. We will make sure your learning is up to date and informed by current research evidence.

Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Accredited by
This course was approved by the previous social work regulator, the Health and Care Professions Council. From 2 December 2019, responsibility for the approval of courses transferred to Social Work England. This course remains approved by Social Work England. This means that people qualifying from this course can apply to become a registered social worker.
How you learn
Your lecturer's view
Student View
Watch student Kayley Brownhill talk about the BA Social Work course at Sheffield Hallam University.
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Our staff are qualified and experienced social workers. We also invite practitioners, service users and other professionals to discuss issues that are relevant to the profession. You will have a personal tutor to assist with your learning and academic progress – and you will learn with, from and about students studying on other courses.
This intellectually rewarding course allows you to engage with the world beyond the university. You will apply research-based knowledge to make a positive impact on the real world of social care – including service users, future employers and other health and social care practitioners.
You learn through
- work placements
- role play
- real-life case studies
- simulated practice scenarios
- written assignments
- individual and group presentations
- exams
There are also currently opportunities to study and work abroad – with the possibility of funding.
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Work placements
You will apply the theory you study to practice-based learning experiences. Here you will develop critical and ethical approaches to your practice – preparing you to become a life-long, competent professional. The experiences you are provided with are compulsory to achieve the course’s practice-based learning outcomes.
These experiences will help you build your skills, confidence, creativity, resilience, integrity, and curiosity. They will take place in different practice-based learning environments – reflecting the range of ways services are currently delivered. This might include simulated learning and virtual placements, alongside real-world experience of services delivered face to face to service users.
We ensure the practice-based learning element of your course complies with the requirements of the Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) which governs the social work profession. So by the end of your course, you have the opportunity to show that you meet the requirements to register as a qualified social worker.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a child and adult social work career in
- local authorities
- independent and third sector organisations
- national and local voluntary organisations
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
120
from A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. We do not accept AS levels. We accept A level General Studies.
For example:
- BBB at A Level
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma
- Merit overall from a T level qualification
- A combination of qualifications, which may include general studies
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
Or
- Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in health studies, health science, social sciences or nursing. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3 of which at least 15 level 3 credits should be graded at distinction level.
- If you are in the process of completing the FdSc Professional Practice in Health and Social Care at one of our partner colleges and are looking to progress your career as a registered professional, we would welcome an application from you. Please note the different application routes below:
- Completing the level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Professional Practice in Health and Social Care means you can apply via UCAS to be considered for entry at Year 1 of your chosen professional degree
- Completing the full two year FdSc to level 5 means you can apply to be considered for entry in to Year 2 of this professional degree. This is a direct application process in accordance with the partnership arrangement between Sheffield Hallam University and your college, not via UCAS. Please note that places to commence this course in Year 2 are limited.
If you already hold a first degree with a second class honours (2:2) or above, you may be eligible to study our Masters in Social Work.
Other equivalent qualifications are considered individually.
And
GCSEs in
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
- *GCSE English equivalents
- Level 2 Literacy
- Level 2 Key Skills
IELTS
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 7.0 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Important notice: The structure for this course is currently being reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment are all likely to change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Once the changes have been confirmed, updated module information will be published on this page.
Year 1
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Applied Theories For Social Work Practice | Credits: 20 |
Module: Collaboration For Individual And Community Wellbeing | Credits: 20 |
Module: Personal And Professional Development | Credits: 20 |
Module: Preparing For Social Work Practice | Credits: 40 |
Module: Skills Days Attendance (Ba Sw) | Credits: - |
Module: Social Work Law Policy And Practice | Credits: 20 |
Year 2
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Assessing And Addressing Complexity | Credits: 40 |
Module: Evidence And Enquiry For Practice | Credits: 20 |
Module: Placement And Skills Days Attendance (Ba Sw) | Credits: - |
Module: Placement One For Social Work Practice | Credits: 20 |
Module: Working With Adults | Credits: 20 |
Module: Working With Children And Families | Credits: 20 |
Final year
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Placement And Skills Days Attendance (Ba Sw) | Credits: - |
Module: Placement Two For Social Work Practice | Credits: 40 |
Module: Professional Leadership | Credits: 20 |
Module: The Advancing Professional | Credits: 40 |
Module: Working With Complexity In Practice | Credits: 20 |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fees for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/2025 are regulated by the UK government and are yet to be confirmed. For an indication, our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/2024 is £9,250 per year.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £16,655 per year.

Health and social care funding
£5,000 maintenance grant is available to fund your studies. Additionally, payments of up to £3000 per year may also be available, eligibility applies.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Social work courses (PDF, 214.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
Student success story
Up to 30 students on the University's social work, social care and community studies courses put everything they learned into practice when they travelled to Calais and Dunkirk to help displaced migrants.

Health and social care funding
£5,000 maintenance grant is available to fund your studies. Additionally, payments of up to £3000 per year may also be available, eligibility applies.