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1st for Social Work
The Guardian University Guide (2024)
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1st for Social Work
The Complete University Guide (2024)
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3rd for Social Work
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2024)
Why Lancaster?
Everything you need to start a career in social work is here – inspiring lecturers, support tailored to your needs and insight into the issues impacting social work today in the UK. As part of our welcoming community, you’ll always have someone to turn to for support and advice throughout your coursework and placements.
Small close-knit cohort
Our course is accredited by Social Work England (SWE), and you’ll develop the skills and experience employers in this area need. An important part of your study will be your two practice placements. You’ll get hands-on experience within different organisations such as local authorities, Barnardo's or Age Concern.
Providing individualised support is important to us. That’s why we keep our social work cohort small. It means we can get to know you. It also means we’ll try to match your placement to your area of interest, whether that’s in youth offending, children and family intervention, or another area of social work.
Shape the future of social work
Our teaching team aren’t just teachers. They’re experienced social workers, advocates and change-makers. Some of the team carry out research, while others are practising social workers working in statutory sector services and charities.
Our team of experts contribute to national policy and practice discussions around vital areas like online child sexual abuse risk, family justice and youth resilience. We aim to inspire you to follow in our footsteps and become a part of a new generation of social workers who value human rights and social justice.
This programme is accredited by Social Work England.
Learn more about the Social Work England accreditationWhen you successfully complete this course, you’ll be eligible to apply to join the register as a professional social worker in England.
Most of our graduates go on to positions as social workers within local councils, the NHS, the private sector, charities and voluntary agencies. Some continue with their studies and complete a postgraduate degree.
Your degree will open doors across a whole range of areas:
If you want to pursue further research instead of going into Social Work practice, you might decide to look into postgraduate degrees in Sociology, Social Policy and Research.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring that you gain a highly reputable degree. We are also dedicated to ensuring that you graduate with relevant life and work-based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award, which offers you the opportunity to complete activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development.
Visit our Employability section for full details.
Each year we accept a wide range of entry qualifications including BTECs, A levels, and Access to HE Diplomas. Applicants must also meet specific English requirements, and we accept a wide range of qualifications that meet these. We also want to ensure that you have some relevant understanding before studying with us. In your personal statement please outline relevant academic learning and learning through reflecting upon your experiences, which may include voluntary work, employment, personal experience and holding positions of responsibility. These experiences do not need to be extensive but your reflection on your skills in leadership and skills in working with and alongside others is essential. There is further information below but please contact us if you have any questions.
A Level BBB
BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit
Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject with 24 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 21 Level 3 credits at Merit
International Baccalaureate 30 points overall with 15 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects
English Requirements
GCSE English Language grade C or 4
We will accept other qualifications in English including O level grade C, CSE grade1, Functional Skills Level 2 Pass.
English language requirements (if English is not your native language)
IELTS 7.0 overall with at least 7.0 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages. Please check with the admissions office for the higher grade equivalents required.
Interviews
Candidates with appropriate qualifications will be invited to take part in one of our interview days, where applicants can learn more about our programme, and complete assessments that inform our final decision, such as an individual interview and a written test.
Suitability Process
The Lancaster social work course is approved by Social Work England, and they require us to assess applicants’ suitability to commence social work education. All offers made for social work are on condition of the assessment of suitability.
We ask for information related to conduct, health and character so that we can consider your potential to complete the learning and mandatory placements. A disclosure may not necessarily preclude someone from commencing social work education and we ask applicants to be open and honest with us. However, failure to declare is viewed very seriously and will normally result in students being withdrawn from the course.
Selected applicants will be required to complete a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and the Declaration of Suitability for Social Work process.
We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.
Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of applicants whose personal circumstances may have impacted their exam results.
Contextual offersLancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
This module challenges you to think about why some private troubles become public concerns or social problems while others do not. It considers how certain issues are constructed as ‘problems’ and the factors that contribute to this. It helps you to understand more about both why we study social problems and the various ways in which we can do so.
Throughout the module we explore broad historical and contemporary responses to social problems. In particular, we will seek to understand how contemporary social problems reflect and reproduce economic and social inequalities and how those inequalities are constructed through different welfare ideologies and approaches.
This full-year module is organised into different ‘blocks’ underpinned by key themes, such as: need, community, citizenship, rights, and equality and social justice. We look, for example, at research and conceptual ideas that can help us understand poverty in contemporary society: we explore different ways of defining and measuring poverty, explanations of why people are poor, how the state attempts to tackle poverty and how it impacts upon the lives of individuals.
This year long module aims to provide the foundation skills in preparation for direct practice in your first placement, which takes place at the start of year 2.
This is the first of 3 Practice Core modules that run in the 3 successive years of your BA course. It will develop your understanding of the role of social work, the key skills, values, and knowledge than underpin the profession.
We will begin by considering what is social work and conclude with the essential skills in relationship-based practice. You will be supported to develop a beginning understanding of reflective practice. We will also have a strong emphasis on self-care and resilience skills.
This module considers the forms of organisation in which gender is produced and reproduced, the structures of power that have developed as a result, and ways in which communities and movements have resisted marginalisation. We will look at the connections between the ways gender manifests in society and culture and the ways in which gender is studies (and not studied) in academic fields. We will also make connections between academic work, feminist movements and diversity activism more generally.
This module provides an introduction to criminology and criminal justice. You will benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach, which allows you to focus on the social, political, cultural and economic contexts of crime, deviance and criminal justice.
The module has a three-part structure and begins with criminological perspectives. This is your chance to delve into a range of key perspectives in criminology including biological, psychological, sociological and feminist. You’ll also consider the ways in which the media influences representations of crime.
In part two we will move on to contemporary criminological issues such as domestic violence, green criminology, serial killing, revenge porn, drugs, sex offending and hate crime. Part three then provides a critical overview of the key criminal justice agencies in the UK (such as prison, police and probation) – at this point we also explore approaches to punishment.
You will be taught by expert lecturers who will introduce you to cutting-edge research. Due to our unique approach to first year, you will study alongside students from across the University, which brings real diversity to the discussions within our small group teaching and workshops, enriching your learning experience.
What does it mean to ‘think sociologically’? When there are so many academic disciplines and non-academic areas of professional expertise, what is unique and important about starting with the social? This module begins with fundamental questions about the value of sociology in understanding the contemporary world and goes on to explore how the significance of our questions and everyday experiences are transformed when investigating all kinds of contemporary social problems, from inequality to globalisation, sociologically.
This full-year module is organised into different ‘blocks’ that connect themes in sociology – such as the relationship between self and society or between self and power – to both long-standing and newly emerging research. Whether or not you have studied sociology before, this module will introduce you to new areas of sociology, as well as demonstrating how key themes such as consumption, identity, social justice, or culture and media intersect with different sociological questions and sites of enquiry. Lecturers draw upon the ongoing research undertaken at Lancaster, giving you access to current insights that are inspiring change in policy and professional organisations.
The benefit of having multiple topics and themes addressed within one year-long module is that the assessments are carefully designed to slowly build up your research and study skills over your first year of study, whilst still giving you the flexibility to write major essays on the topics that are most interesting to you. The module provides you with a fantastic opportunity to explore new ideas and find new inspiration for understanding how we lead our lives today, and what possibilities there are for change tomorrow.
How can social workers know that their decision-making is informed by the best possible evidence? How prepared are they to defend the evidence on which they rely to service users and other professionals in court or in case conferences?
Whilst there are many forms of evidence, one important source is that of research. Social Work’s Professional Capabilities Framework and the HCPC Standards of Proficiency both insist that research and research-mindedness is central to confident and effective social work practice. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education’s subject benchmark statement for Social Work also emphasises the importance of social workers having the skills to engage with research and employ knowledge from research in their practice.
This module is designed to give you the opportunity to develop the skills and attributes needed to become a practitioner who understands and can demonstrate the value of research evidence for practice, can critically appraise different forms of evidence and interpret complex and sometimes conflicting findings, and can apply research appropriately in your own practice.
The module also supports your ability to develop and apply the skills necessary to undertake independent study for your dissertation.
In this module we explore the challenges facing young people in the UK today; particularly those raised in conditions of socio-economic disadvantage. Students are encouraged to think critically about the reasons young people are referred to, or seek help from agencies that offer support and safeguarding services.
Topics include contextual social work and trauma informed approaches to working with young people, adolescent mental health, offending behaviour, drug and alcohol use and the exploitation of young people. Central to this course are young people’s perspectives, as well as insights from social workers currently in practice.
This module focuses upon developing your understanding of the contribution that social work can make to the lives of disabled and older people who use adult social care services or who may be in need of support.
Its starting point is that concepts such as the social model of disability, independent living and personalisation are ways of thinking as well as doing. This requires social workers to understand the philosophy and principles that underpin ways of delivering support and that enable choice and control for people who use services.
This module helps you to appreciate how working effectively in partnership with service users and the wider community around them requires social workers to understand the legacy of paternalistic, oppressive and dependency cultures in creating ways of understanding the problems of disability and old age, and the forms of provision that these understandings have led to.
This module builds on the module Social Work Practice 1, and continues the process of preparing you to demonstrate your readiness for practice, through critical examination of the social work knowledge base.
The module examines the contested nature of social work knowledge by considering differing theoretical perspectives and how different theories of knowledge come about. It introduces you to methods and theories of social work, and the importance of use of self, reflexivity and critical thinking to practice.
The classroom sessions also include guest speaker input from both practitioners and service users, enabling you to learn directly from their experience.
The module gives you the opportunity to build on the knowledge, values and skills you have developed during your first placement and to reflect on the learning and feedback you have gained from the practice context. Importantly, it is about helping you to be not simply a passive recipient of knowledge but more aware of how you can apply that knowledge actively within your own practice.
This 70 day placement in the private, voluntary or independent sector provides professional learning, personal development and assessment, complemented by skills development sessions. It is assessed through a practice assignment and portfolio.
This module helps you to apply a wide range of knowledge and skills to help build family relationships, resource and resilience so that the welfare of the child remains paramount. You will learn the latest child care law, policy and statutory guidance, and how to think critically about the assumptions, language and practices that underpin ‘risk’ assessments and social work practice relating to child care.
We explore the role played by developmental psychology in shaping concepts of childhood within welfare and protection practices. We also consider child harm and crimes against children and the problematic nature of child-rearing practices in conditions of poverty, isolation, single parenthood and cultural diversity.
You are introduced to key elements of effective practice, with a particular focus on how to safeguard and engage children and families – especially when the social worker also has to balance the often competing interests of parent and child and to deal with the challenges of multi-agency working.
The importance of timely assessment and intervention to prevent family breakdown is also stressed, as is the need for care planning and partnership working with parents whose children have become subject to legal proceedings. You will study court structures, roles and processes relevant to child care social work.
The module exposes you to the latest research, including analysis of serious case reviews, enabling you to demonstrate a high level of skill in evidence based, effective social work approaches to helping children and families which support change.
This module enables you to explore in some depth a social-work-related topic of your choice by undertaking a coherent and logical review of a relevant piece of literature relating to your chosen topic. It thus demonstrates and extends the knowledge and skills you have developed through other modules and through your placement experience.
You start thinking seriously about your dissertation during the summer term of Year 2 when there are two briefing sessions which help you to produce a dissertation rationale. After you have been allocated a supervisor, you then agree a plan of study before the end of the summer term. In the final briefing session, at the beginning of Year 3, the focus is on structure, writing strategies and how to produce a chapter plan.
The assessment of the dissertation examines whether you are able to produce a coherent and substantial piece of writing on a chosen issue, draw on and evaluate research evidence and other relevant literature, and address critically the policy and practice context of contemporary social work.
Mental health is an increasingly complex area of social work practice, due to competing rights and sanctions, fast-paced legal change and controversial case law precedents. The boundaries between lawful and unlawful practice are not easily identifiable, which presents a challenge for social work – especially given our duty as social workers to defend people’s human rights.
This module is designed to enable you to develop a critical understanding of the nature of contemporary mental health services, and the associated legislative, policy and practice context. It emphasises the importance of alternative constructions of mental health, as opposed to the dominance of the medical model, and asserts the importance of service user expertise.
The module concludes by re-evaluating the role of social work in mental health services and considering implications for future practice.
This module will build upon Practice 1 and 2. It is designed to be a transition module to student’s future and future social work practice as qualified and registered professionals. It will help students move towards a more advanced understanding of social work that appreciates its complexity and uncertainty and to recognise how they can find ways of working with these challenging aspects of social work practice including when assessing risk.
It will continue to develop the skills and knowledge needed to respond to complex ethical and professional issues and to make informed judgements in areas of uncertainty. More complex and demanding areas of social work practice will be covered such as practising with moral courage, court practice and working with resistance. This module will also consolidate learning in preparation to becoming a registered professional.
This 100 day placement prepares you for the statutory aspect of the social work role, and gives you the opportunity to gain practical insight into the legal context of social work. It is assessed through a practice assignment and portfolio.
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2025/26 entry fees have not yet been set.
As a guide, our fees in 2024/25 were:
| Home | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £23,750 |
For social work students ordinarily resident in England, there are normally bursaries available through the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). Information for your entry year, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the NHSBSA website. Further information about criteria that we use to allocate NHS bursaries is provided at interview days and upon request by emailing us.
All social work students undertake practice learning placements and these typically take place across Lancashire and south Cumbria. Eligible students may be able to claim a placement travel allowance from the NHS. Many social work jobs are essential car user posts and most placements require students to have access to a car during placement to ensure that they maximise the learning opportunities available. Some placements will reimburse travel costs for in placement travel but not commuting from home to the placement.
Social Work students may need to pay for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check or for appropriate attire for placements. Following graduation, there is a fee to register with Social Work England in order to work as a qualified social worker.
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2023 and 2024, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2025 have not yet been set.
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. VISA or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.
In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
Fees are set by the UK Government annually, and subsequent years' fees may be subject to increases. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
We will charge tuition fees to Home undergraduate students on full-year study abroad/work placements in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:
International students on full-year study abroad/work placements will be charged the same percentages as the standard International fee.
Please note that the maximum levels chargeable in future years may be subject to changes in Government policy.
Details of our scholarships and bursaries for students starting in 2025 are not yet available. You can use our scholarships for 2024-entry applicants as guidance.
From funding to personal support, we are here to help during your study and placements.
Find out more about some of the people you will meet in our friendly and diverse department.
Our degree is unique because you can choose a complementary subject alongside social work in your first year.
Our high quality research helps us move the social work profession forward.
Excellent quality placements and a great reputation among employers set our graduates apart
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
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