UCAS code:
L501
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Institution code:
S82
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Location:
Ipswich
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Duration:
Three years full-time. Four and a half to seven years part-time. |
Typical Offer:
2023-24 and 2024-25 entry; 120 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBB (A-Level), DDM (129) (BTEC), Merit (T Level).
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- Our teaching partnership offers more opportunities for practice learning and is having a wider impact on the quality of social work practice and how people who use services are involved.
- Tutors bring a wealth of experience and up-to-date knowledge.
- The involvement of people with knowledge and experience of social work services adds to the quality of learning.
- The high rate of graduate employment reflects our excellent standards.
- Exceptional course content prepares you personally and professionally for your social work career.
- Benefit from our strong links to the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Introduction
We have established a strong teaching partnership with Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils and the University of East Anglia. The initiative, which commenced in 2017, enhances the quality of your studies, bringing innovative approaches to learning, as well as even more opportunities for practical experience.
This fantastic project helps raise your practice to an excellent standard, giving you the opportunities, resources and skills needed for a demanding career in the public, private and voluntary social work and social care sectors.
Our rigorous approach to learning and community-based practice placements ensure you have the opportunity to become a critical, analytical and reflective thinker. When you graduate you will have the skills, values and knowledge to help enable positive changes for children, adults and families in vulnerable circumstances.
Regulated by Social Work England (previously the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)), social work offers a wealth of values-based and stimulating possibilities. We constantly update the course contents to reflect the changing and diverse opportunities in this field, and to give you the tools for your ongoing professional development.
The tutors and people who use services and practitioners bring a diversity of experience to the course, and direct links to current practice ensures your learning is up to date. What is more, during your degree the teaching team provides academic guidance and careers support. All of this advances employability in time for graduation.
Service users and carers with a variety of experiences and knowledge are involved in many elements of social work education. It is a fundamental part of the activities at the University of Suffolk. View our Social Work Voices page for more information.
Further information about the University's relationship with Social Work England is available in the PSRB register.
Sharon Shoesmith talk at the Univresity of Suffolk.jpg

In March 2017 Sharon Shoesmith gave a talk to students and professionals entitled: 'Social Work in the Age of Social Media and Posttruth'.
Your course – approved by Social Work England (formerly the HCPC ) – is designed to meet Quality Assurance Benchmark Statements for Social Work, and incorporates Professional Standards and The Professional Capabilities Framework. In fact, when you apply, we will ask you to provide evidence that you are aware of and understand the Framework.
Once your degree is completed, you are qualified and eligible to apply to the Social Work England (SWE) register, allowing you to begin your social work career, subject to meeting SWE’s requirements.
Further information about the University's relationship with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is available in the PSRB register.
Course modules
Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.
Career opportunities
Social workers are typically employed by local authorities and other public organisations such as NHS trusts departments that provide services for children or adults. However, once you are qualified and registered, you can also work in the voluntary, private or independent social care sectors. For more information visit the British Association of Social Workers.
Our course is developed to give you transferable skills, helping to broaden your career choices. Moving into social work is just one option – other opportunities range from Careers Adviser and Charity Project Officer to Play Therapist and Youth Worker. Whatever you aspire to do, we our best to help you explore your ambitions and potential pathways.
Student profiles
Fees and finance
2023-24
- UK full-time tuition fee: £9,250 p.a
- UK part-time tuition fee: £1,454 per 20 credits (please contact the Student Centre for further information)
- International full-time tuition fee: £14,598 p.a (inclusive lab-based fee)
Further Information
At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with you course that you will need to budget for.
Entry requirements
2023-24 and 2024-25 entry; 120 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBB (A-Level), DDM (129) (BTEC), Merit (T Level), including A-level (or equivalent) subjects in Sociology, Law or Psychology based subjects are preferred. Or Access to HE Diploma - a minimum of 45 Level 3 credits at merit grade or above.
All applicants are required to hold GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
Any offer of a place will be subject to:
- Successful Interview
- Two satisfactory references
- Satisfactory Enhances Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Applicants are required to provide additional disclosures concerning current and historical information around Safeguarding, any previous employment concerns or enquiries into standards of professional behaviour. This information is considered separate to the standard admissions process and is not discussed during the interview.
All applicants must confirm prior to interview that they have the ability to use basic IT facilities, including word processing, internet browsing and the use of e-mail, and may be asked to specify how these skills have been obtained.
Direct practical experience in a social work, social care or other relevant statutory or voluntary setting will be a distinct advantage at selection stage.
Prospective applicants who are invited to a selection day will be assessed through three activities:
- Personal interview;
- Group discussion;
- Written response to a case study provided on the day.
Prospective candidates will be provided with a comprehensive preparatory information pack prior to interview.
IELTS 7.0 overall is required where English is not the students' first language.
If you have previously studied at higher education level before you may be able to transfer credits to a related course at the University of Suffolk and reduce the period of study time necessary to achieve your degree.
Staff
Facilities and Resources
Your studies will be based mainly in the Waterfront Building located in the heart of the bustling Ipswich Waterfront. The building has six floors, one auditorium which seats 200 people, two main lecture theatres each seating 140 people and 34 teaching rooms seating between 18 and 80 people.
The Waterfront Building supports flexible learning with open study on all floors, where we have approximately 50 iMacs for students to access.
Waterfront_night.jpg

Our Waterfront Building provides a contemporary, comfortable and well-equipped base for your degree.
Take advantage of our regular talks and guest speakers. We recently held our fifth annual conference, ‘Conversations Across Difference’ – which looked at promoting inclusion by improving conversations across difference within the practice educator/student relationship and between the student and service user in the practice context.
Our keynote speaker was Dr Prospera Tedam, who developed the MANDELA model of practice learning - a framework which encourages the development of positive relationships between social work students and their practice educators in both adult and children’s services.