Employability
100% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating (2018/19 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £32,770 for the course
Course summary
- Study the knowledge methods and values that inform social work.
- Work with other professionals, service users and carers in practice placements.
- Experience and engage in a variety of learning activities.
- Develop your skills as a professional social worker.
Prepare for roles in social work with a course that is well connected with social work and social care service providers in the region. You will gain a wide range of practical experience, knowledge and skills to help you start your career.
This course will close to international applications for the March 2023 intake on Friday 16th December 2022 – UK applicants will be accepted up to the end of January 2023.
Graduate view
‘Being able to learn on the job and go on placement is a great opportunity to meet different people from the profession, and develop a deeper understanding which you don’t get from a textbook.’
Katie Bell, MSW Social Work
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.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
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.
You will split your study time between gaining the latest knowledge and necessary skills at university – then putting them into practice on professional work placements. You’ll spend a total of 200 days working in professional settings and attending specialist skills days.
You learn through
- assessment, planning, intervention and review
- skills development
- psychosocial knowledge applied across the life course
- professional ethics
- law and policy
- social work theory and practice models
- research methods and evidence-based practice
Course leaders and tutors
Chrissie Edmonds
Senior Lecturer in Social WorkChrissie Edmonds currently occupies a range of roles across the department, including Module Leader for the BASW and MSW, Placement Tutor for students whilst on prac … Read more
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 will 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 (Social Work England). So by the end of your course, you will have the opportunity to show that you meet the requirements to register as a social worker.
Future careers
After completing the course you can register with Social Work England to start a career in social work. Employability for graduates has been above the national average for social work students.
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- local authorities
- voluntary agencies
- the private sector
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
On this course you’re based at our Collegiate Crescent campus which includes
- the £13 million purpose-built Robert Winston Building
- specialist facilities including a courtroom
- a virtual reality training environment
- a library and learning centre, open 24 hours
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
Normally five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English language or literature or equivalent*, plus
• an honours degree recognised in the UK at 2.2 or above in any subject, together with relevant personal or professional experience of social care
You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more
GCSE English equivalents are
• equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
International and European Union entry qualifications
If you are an international or EU student, please visit our international qualifications web page to see the country specific academic qualifications we accept.
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. Please note that the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) require IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5 for registration.
Helping your application succeed
Experience
Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care. It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.
Reference
You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution with your UCAS application.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an online interview. To confirm your identity on the day please bring a valid form of photo ID with you, preferably a passport or photo driving licence.
View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.
Course enrolment - professional requirements
Before enrolling you must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission declaration forms provided during the admissions process:
- unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
- involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
- involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
- enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University
In addition
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) (PDF, 38.1KB) as part of the application process
- if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
Occupational Health Screening
You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.
Immunisations
You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge. Please obtain details of your immunisation history from your doctor so you can submit this during your Occupational Health Screening.
Pre-course Day
After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK it is important for you to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the next stage of the professional requirements for your course. The pre-course day is also a good opportunity to meet fellow applicants on the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, as well as some current students and teaching staff. We will look forward to welcoming you on the day.
Other professional suitability information
Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received.
If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.
Disability support
We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.
You can contact our disability coordinator on 0114 225 2588 to explore any issues you may have, or you can contact our university disabled student support team on 0114 225 3964 (voice and Minicom).
The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course.
Open day
Our online open days give you an opportunity to chat live to our teaching staff and current students. You can explore the campus and view our facilities virtually as well as asking any questions you may have. To book your place at one of our online open days please follow this link: University open days.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
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.
Year 1
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Creating Original Practice | Credits: 45 |
| Module: Evaluating Research Methodologies | Credits: 15 |
| Module: Foundations Of Values, Ethics And Anti-Oppressive Practice For Social Work | Credits: 15 |
| Module: Law And Policy For Social Work | Credits: 15 |
| Module: Professional Practice | Credits: 15 |
| Module: Professional Practice Placement 1 | Credits: - |
| Module: Psychosocial Theories And Methods For Social Work | Credits: 15 |
| Module: Social Work With Adults | Credits: 15 |
| Module: Social Work With Children And Families | Credits: 15 |
| Module: Understanding Complexity In Practice | Credits: 15 |
Final year
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Evaluating Complexity In Practice | Credits: 15 |
| Module: Professional Practice Placement 2 | Credits: - |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £19,820 for the course. The fee quoted on the online prospectus is for the whole course. Where a course is to be taken over more than one year, then the course fees are divided into annual fees through a financial calculation to which a rounding mechanism is applied. This can sometimes mean that there is a nominal variation between the quoted fee from the prospectus and the fee charged to the student. There are some circumstances in which a student taking a break in study or engaging in retakes may be charged an additional fee, which should be notified to them at the time.
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 2023/24 is £32,770 for the course which includes placement costs.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.
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, 209.1KB)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.
