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Subject: Social Work

Why choose Social Work at the University of Edinburgh?

In the most recent RAE 35% of our research in Social Work and Social Policy & Administration was rated 3* internationally excellent, with a further 30% rated 4* world-leading, placing the University fourth in the UK in this discipline.
The completion of our Social Work degree means entitlement to the professional qualification of social worker.
We pride ourselves on our connections with practice and this is reflected in the many contributions made by practitioners and service users to teaching and learning on this programme.

Find out more

Contact: College of Humanities & Social Science Undergraduate Admissions Office

Email: hssug@ed.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3565

Web: www.socialwork.ed.ac.uk

Introduction

Studying Social Work at the University of Edinburgh prepares you for a challenging and rewarding career in the field.

You will develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed to work with people who are experiencing difficulties in their personal and family lives.

Social workers often work with other services including health, education, housing and the police.

They have a strong interest in human relationships and a commitment to social justice.

In your first two years you will study the history and development of social work, key milestones in the development of social work thinking, policy and practice, and the legal frameworks of social work practice.

In your third and fourth years you will concentrate on developing your people skills and your ability to work in complex circumstances.

You will also spend time on a placement, gaining practical experience in community, residential or healthcare settings.

What you'll study

Year 1

You will study the roots of social work and the milestones in the field’s development. You will also study social policy and will be able to choose a range of outside courses.

Year 2

You will study the policy and legal frameworks of social work and continue to study social policy. At the end of your second year you will decide if you want to continue towards a professional social work qualification. Acceptance into Year 3 is subject to a recruitment process.

Year 3

You will study core courses: Social Work in Communities; Understanding Care and Control; Working with Complexity; Practice Learning in Social Work 1 & 2; Practice Study in Social Work 1; and complete a dissertation. You will embark on two periods of social work practice within a professional social work setting where you will be supervised by a qualified practice teacher.

Year 4

As Year 3.

Learning and assessment

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and some small-group exercises.

You will be assessed by exams, coursework and, in your final years, by a combination of coursework and your performance on your practice placement.

Careers

As well as social work, graduates also move into community work and health-related settings. The strong communication and interpersonal skills that you will develop during your degree prepare you for a range of other careers working with people. Some Social Work graduates also choose to continue with their studies or enter research.

Our facilities

The majority of teaching takes place at facilities located within the University’s Central Area. You will also have access to the University’s libraries and computer facilities. In Years 3 and 4 you will complete a placement within a private, public or voluntary sector agency, drawn from our partners in Lothian and Borders.