Social Work BA (Hons)

Embarking on a Social Work degree at ARU Peterborough promises to be a transformative journey where your existing skills
and values meet academia, and your desire to have a positive impact on society becomes a tangible goal. Our Social Work
course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed by social workers, blending theoretical knowledge with
hands-on practice. Successful completion of this degree will enable you to apply to register with Social Work England to use the
legally protected title of social worker.

One of the key elements of this degree is the emphasis on real-world application. You will be supported to prepare for
placements with interactive skills days. We will also provide you with engaging practice placements which will allow you to
develop and apply your skills in two diverse placements, including a statutory social work setting. Our close partnerships with
organisations across the region allow the opportunity for experiences across wide-ranging and interesting areas of social work
practice, as well as providing excellent links for your future employability.

The vibrant learning environment at ARU Peterborough is enriched by passionate lecturers who are not just educators, but also
experienced social work practitioners from a range of specialisms, bringing real-world insights into the classroom. The team are
supported to develop and deliver the programme by both current social work practitioners and people with lived experience of
social work services, embedding authentic perspectives of social work into your learning. You will have regular opportunities to
work with our own established group of people with lived experience of social work services at ARU Peterborough, who provide
this important perspective of social work within our programme through co-developing your learning resources and co-delivering
lectures and workshops.

As you progress through your degree journey you will develop a robust academic foundation in social work and deep sense of
purpose. Many of our previous students describe their social work education as life-changing, and you will find that this degree is
much more than just a qualification. This degree offers you the opportunity to join a professional community committed to
advocacy for social justice, and for you to embark on a career path where you will have the potential to create meaningful and
positive change for both individuals and communities.

At ARU, you’ll be supported from day one with wellbeing services, money advice and careers guidance to help you through university and beyond.

Their courses are built around the skills and experience employers value. ARU are proud to be in the top 20% of UK universities for teaching quality (TEF 2023), and ranked #1 in the East of England, and #8 in the UK, for UG graduates in senior roles 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025). You'll have access to fantastic facilities thanks to £95m of investment - think SuperLabs, TV studios, law courts, mock hospital wards, gaming studios and more.

Wherever you're heading, ARU will help you get there.