Social Work with Foundation Year

As a Social Worker, you’ll play a vital role in supporting some of the most marginalised groups in society, helping them in overcoming barriers to a fulfilled life. Our Social Work degree is designed to prepare you for this impactful journey with a focus on hands-on, high-quality placements, expert-led teaching, and the essential skills you need to thrive from day one.

This course is approved by Social Work England, meaning upon graduating from this course, you’ll be able to register as a qualified Social Worker with this regulatory board.

Why study BSc (Hons) Social Work?
Practice Placements
During your time on this course, you’ll take part in two placements in practice. Here you’ll further your development, put learnt skills and knowledge into practice and get a real feel for the career you will be stepping into.

We offer placement opportunities with a wide range of partners, including local authorities, healthcare trusts, and organisations in the voluntary and independent sectors, all within a 25-mile radius of our High Wycombe campus.

On placement you’ll have the support and guidance of a BNU placement tutor and a practice educator who will support your development in practice, as well as the team and management of the placement you are in. These placements not only give you real-world experience but also open doors to future employment in the areas you’ve trained in.

You will have one placement working within the adults, and the other will be with children and families. This is because you will be succeeding with a generic qualification, giving you the freedom and choice to work in the practice area of your choice when you qualify.

Build valuable local connections
This course has strong ties to local employers and organisations. These connections help us stay informed about the latest developments in the field, and more importantly, they help you stay connected to real opportunities.

We regularly host career fairs where you'll meet employers actively looking for graduates with your skills. We also offer a recruitment event in your final year where you’re able to meet with employers to explore the next steps in terms of your first year of newly qualified status.

Theory paired with experience
Throughout your time with us you’ll gain a comprehensive knowledge and skillset, study will combine classroom theory with applied practical, some of which involves working alongside current social workers and users of the social work system - we work closely with People with Lived Experience so you can hear first-hand about the impact you could make with individuals and communities.

Our lecturers, all of whom are registered Social Workers, have rich experience and a wealth of knowledge from which to draw on. They’ll help to make sense of the theoretical elements of your studies by introducing their practice wisdom to lectures. Our tutors remain up to date with the latest sector changes, many of them lead and are involved with external forums, discussing, and influencing the future of the sector.

What will I study?
Our social work course helps you become a qualified social worker who has the knowledge, skills and discipline required to practice in a challenging environment. You’ll gain the necessary skills that employer’s value, like teamwork, communication, problem solving, analysis and evaluative skills.

The modules you study will enable you to have greater self-awareness, which includes the ability to manage your emotions and the emotions of others. Modules also offer you the opportunity to gain relevant knowledge in theory, law, and policy and how to implement this knowledge in practice. The experiences of people who have used social work support services will also be explored and examined, both from a theoretical perspective and a practice perspective, linking up to your placement experience. You’ll also learn about how social work is framed by legislation and policy in England.

At Buckinghamshire New University, you'll benefit from career-focused teaching, hands-on learning and a supportive community that helps you thrive throughout your degree and beyond.

You'll learn from lecturers with industry experience, gain practical skills in professional-standard facilities and receive personalised support through smaller class sizes. Beyond your course, The Big Deal gives every student free access to sports clubs, societies, fitness facilities, social events, trips, volunteering opportunities and career-boosting workshops. It's BNU's way of helping you discover new interests, meet like-minded people, build your CV and make the most of university life – all without paying extra membership fees.

Whether you're preparing for your future career, growing your confidence or looking for an unforgettable student experience, BNU offers the opportunities and support to help you achieve your goals.