Qualification Gained: Bolton Institute BA (Hons) in Social Work - Bradford College
Study LevelLevel 6 Course TypeHigher Education Duration3 Academic Years Start DateSeptember 2026 Study ModeFull-time LocationLister Building UCAS CodeL500A career as a social worker offers a unique and rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities.
Social workers serve as advocates for those in need, providing support, guidance, and resources to help individuals navigate challenging life circumstances. Whether working with families, children, the elderly, or marginalized groups, social workers play a critical role in promoting social justice, mental health, and overall well-being.
The ability to foster positive change, build connections, and empower others makes social work not just a profession, but a calling for those passionate about improving lives and creating stronger, more resilient communities.
This course is approved by Social Work England, who is our professional, statutory and regulatory body. It combines applied academic study with social work placements leading to skills-based and academic assessments.
We work closely with the Bradford Teaching Partnership (which includes Bradford Council, the University of Bradford and Bradford Children and Families Trust), voluntary agencies and people with lived experience of social work (co-production).
Students form smaller teaching groups, providing high levels of pastoral support, provided by qualified and experienced social workers who bring a wide variety of practice experience and professional wisdom. Students can dial into masterclasses provided by both the British Association of Social Work and Social Work England, as well as access to online support and resources, in addition to their teaching. Two work placements (one 70 days and one 100 days) are included in the course.
First year modules introduce key themes such as human rights, social justice, social work theory, social policy and readiness for practise skills. This includes engaging in 20 skills days on a variety of social work themes and topics.
In the second year, students engage in subject specific learning such as social work with adults, social work with children and social work law. Students undertake a 70 day social work placement in a voluntary or statutory setting in semester 2. Academic study includes adversity, trauma and resilience and evidence based practice.
Third year students study higher level subject specific topics such as mental health social work and international social work. They undertake a 100 day placement with statutory involvement. Tutors provide a high level of academic and pastoral support which is student centered.
A trauma informed approach is woven throughout the course.
Year 4:
Year 5:
Year 6:
Entry to this course requires 120 UCAS tariff points, as well as GCSE English at a grade 4 or C.
Entry to this course can also include:
Assessment includes:
The course includes:
Placements are designed to develop and challenge your practice skills, knowledge and understanding.
Placement and college work are designed to support each other.
Most social workers are employed by local authority
children’s or adult services. As a registered social worker, you may also find
work in NHS mental health trusts and community-based settings or prisons. Jobs
are available in the private sector, such as with private fostering agencies,
and you might also seek supply work with social work staffing agencies.
Increasingly, opportunities are also available with voluntary organisations and
charities.
If you’re considering further study, postgraduate qualifications are available in areas such as community justice, social policy and counselling. You can also take advantage of the numerous continuing professional development opportunities that aid your progression in the social work field.
Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Potential careers include:
You will benefit from a programme of visiting speakers includes specialists from domestic abuse services, child specialists, social workers from different sectors, practice educators, special guardians and trainers to help you maintain a healthy work life balance and wellbeing. Speakers also include those with lived experience. The teaching team also organise and deliver workshops and skills sessions to respond to hot topics in the world of social work.
HE Tuition: £9,535.00 per academic year
Other Costs: There is an additional charge of £66.00 for a DBS check.
This is representative of the most common fees scenario, but actual fees can vary depending on a number of factors. Please contact us if you need more guidance.
If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact [email protected]
Disclaimer: Our prospectus, college documents and website are simply here to offer a guide. We accept no liability for any inaccurate statements and are not responsible for any negative outcomes if you rely on an inaccurate statement. We reserve the right to withdraw any programmes or service at any time.
Bradford College has established itself as a key player in supporting the National Health Service (NHS) workforce by providing health & social care education and training to hundreds of young people and adults. Here, we outline how Bradford College supports not only the local NHS Trust in Bradford, but also how we work with NHS […]
As part of our 2025 Women & Girls in STEM campaign, we sat down with former Bradford College student, Fatima Nadeem, who is now studying Medicine at Imperial College London. Fatima’s journey to studying Medicine was inspired by a specific moment in her life. When her grandmother suffered a fall and required multiple surgeries, Fatima […]
