Course specification and structure
Undergraduate Course Structures Postgraduate Course Structures

UDSOCWOR - BSc Social Work

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Bachelor of Science Level Honours
Possible interim awards Bachelor of Science, Diploma of Higher Education, Certificate of Higher Education, Bachelor of Science
Total credits for course 360
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Social Professions
Subject Area Social Work, Community and Youth
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 3 YEARS 6 YEARS
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

The BSc (Hons) Social Work course at London Metropolitan University has 5 key themes which seek to reflect the current stakeholder demands and requirements for social work as follows:

  • Encouraging People with Lived Experience participation
  • Valuing diversity, promoting equality and social justice
  • Developing positive relationship–based social work practice
  • Promoting research –minded and evidence-based social work practice
  • Nurturing emotionally resilient, intelligent and confident practitioners


The course has been designed to meet the requirements of Social Work England Education and Training Standards. The BSc Social Work has been delivered continuously at London Metropolitan University since it was first validated in 2003. We are proud of this tradition and keen to build on this success and enhance our reputation with students, people with lived experience, social work practitioners, local and regional employers and other key stakeholders.

The course offers a social justice framework, emphasising empowerment, advocacy, anti-racist, anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive practice, professional activism, relationship and strengths-based practice as well as a thorough consideration of safeguarding principles and knowledge. The underpinning values and principles of the Education for Social Justice Framework are integrated within all levels of the course. The course has a focus on strengthening the infrastructure to build ‘belonging’ environments in which to learn and develop positive learning and professional identities. The course aims to provide a curriculum that broadens the learning horizons of students with a range of optional modules at L5 and L6 with a diverse range of assessment instruments. Together with increased support and initiatives for students to develop positive, dialogic relationships with the academic team where their voice and feedback is valued, this course has actively put in place strategies to begin to address and reduce the awarding gap.

People with Lived Experience colleagues have contributed to the development, design and delivery of this course in the following way/s (this list is not exhaustive):

  • Developing case studies
  • Identifying different, creative ways to share their stories
  • Co-designing and co-facilitating sessions
  • Marking presentations
  • Developing and participation in experiential learning and teaching activities
  • Developing and writing Good Practice guides for working with People with Lived Experience
  • Co-producing strategies to widen the diversity of People with Lived Experience colleagues involved in the social work courses

The course content is also informed by the Social Work Subject Benchmark Statement as defined by the QAA (2019), which informs essential practice for a Social Worker upon qualification.

The overarching standards for Social Workers in England are currently defined within the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) which has been used to develop the curriculum. These nine standards or capabilities are as follows: 1. Professionalism; 2. Values and Ethics; 3. Diversity; 4. Rights and Justice; 5. Knowledge; 6. Critical Reflection 7. Intervention and Skills 8. Contexts and Organisations 9. Professional Leadership.

These nine capabilities have been integrated across the BSc Social Work degree curriculum in terms of the content, learning outcomes, learning and teaching strategies and assessment and enhanced learning opportunities. Additionally, 30 skills days are incorporated within the taught Readiness for Direct Practice taught module as well as in a separate Schedule of Skills Days whereby students are recalled to university to consolidate and integrate their theoretical knowledge via a range of interactive workshops.

Overall, the course content ensures students are prepared to become resilient, effective and reflective practitioners and who are fit to practise in Social Work. Additionally, the course content and each module has been mapped with the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Child and Family Social Work, and the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Social Workers in Adult Services. 
 All students have access to the wide range of London Metropolitan University student support services which includes:

  • Disability and dyslexia support services
  • Counselling, Money advice and Accommodation services
  • Library and Learning Resources services
  • Careers and Employability services
  • Student Journey and Student Hub
  • Academic Tutors and Academic Mentors
  • Student Union

The learning and teaching strategies applied on the course aim to develop and consolidate student’s values, skills and knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of social work. The teaching programme provides the underpinning theoretical and practical basis for learning in the area of social work. Students’ thinking and practical skills are developed through complementary activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, group work, on-line educational resources, tutorials, assignments, preparing for and undertaking practice- based learning to acquire the requisite professional capabilities. 

Students undertake a series of taught modules in the key areas of social work. In addition, students undertake two placements of 70 days at level 5 and 100 days at Level 6. Placement modules are undertaken with qualified practice educators and onsite supervision. Prior to placement students attend pre-placement workshops and during placement students are supported in their learning via dedicated a Practice Learning Agreement meeting and a Midway Review meeting with their practice educator and placement tutor. Established processes are in place to ensure the student receives a structured induction which is recorded in the practice learning agreement and that any concerns are addressed in a timely manner via The Cause for Concern procedure. Students are further supported by their Academic Tutor at the university. The placements are designed to enable students to achieve the full range in the 9 domains in the Professional Capability Framework.

Suitable placements are normally found within the London and south east area. Each placement provides contrasting experiences in terms of adults and children service user groups. At least one placement requires students to undertake statutory and legal interventions consistent with the role of a social work practitioner. All placements are quality assured prior to a student being placed there using the Quality Assurance In Practice Learning (QAPL) template developed by the Pan London Social Work Education Network.

Students are normally placed in different organisational setting in the first and then final placement.  Suitable placements are identified and approved by the University and Senior Lecturer and Placements Lead in conjunction with the Placement Co-ordinator and the Placements Office.  

The academic teaching team comprises suitably qualified and experienced university staff that are all registered as social workers with Social Work England as set out in the professional requirements for social work education.  Students are expected to complement formal teaching with guided VLE learning resources and independent self-directed learning and completion of specified assignments.  Students are encouraged to use all the resources and facilities made available by London Metropolitan University and those available within the M25 area under the SCONUL exchange Scheme.

The course also seeks to promote student’s self-awareness and self-management as well as a reflective approach to their learning with a view to the enhancement of their personal and professional development (PPDP). Students are encouraged to develop their employability attributes through reflecting on their learning from the taught and the placement modules. The portfolio components of the placement modules will support their Personal and Professional Development Planning as they will provide opportunities to evidence their practice capabilities in relation to knowledge, skills and values.

Course aims

The aims of this course are to:

  • Provide students with an integrated programme of study, which is both intellectually stimulating and which enables students to meet the requirements of Social Work England Education and Training Standards. 
  • Provide students with the underpinning knowledge, skills, values and abilities to work successfully within social work  
  • Engage students in range of teaching and learning opportunities across the portfolio of modules to develop a systematic and applied understanding of key aspects of social work theory and practice 
  • Prepare students to become resilient, effective, self-directed learners and reflective practitioners  
  • Equip students with practical and transferable skills necessary for employment and further research studies
  • Engage with and understand the concept of radical Social Work
  • Build on their existing knowledge, expertise and experience
  • Experience an environment in which they are able to enter into constructive and ongoing dialogue with the teaching and learning staff and with their peers.
  • have the opportunity to engage with social work practice from a range of perspectives and these will include non-Eurocentric, Global South issues and debates.

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. Understand the principles of reflective and reflexive practice, anti-racist Social Work and anti-oppressive practice.
  2. Recognise and promote the fundamental principles of human rights, social justice and economic well being
  3. Work with people with lived experience of Social Work
  4. Develop awareness of activist campaigns and political movements led by groups including for example, women, disabled people, people from Black, Asian and minority communities and LGBTQIA+ people.
  5. Implement the principles of co-production of services to plan and deliver support together for social change
  6. Apply methods and techniques appropriate to your own research interests in Social Work
  7. Recognise the need to work systematically and creatively, making sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate conclusions clearly
  8. Show self-confidence in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level in Social Work
  9. Manage your own lifelong learning, knowledge, understanding and skills in relation your personal and professional development
  10. Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible social workers

Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference

Assessment strategy

In line with the London Metropolitan University Assessment policy and regulations and the Education for Social Justice Framework, all modules have, where appropriate both formative and summative elements of assessment. All module assessments are based on enabling the student to achieve the module learning outcomes and encourage student reflection and evaluation.

  • Each module within the BSc social work curriculum has specified assessment strategies
  • All modules utilise formative assessments throughout their duration to enable students to gauge their progress and obtain early feedback before the summative assessment is required to be submitted.
  • The course includes a variety of types of assessments over the duration such as essays, case studies, group presentations, in-class tests, child observation, podcasts, blogs and video and a research project.
  • We have also sought to make use of technology and online resources and integrated this into formative and summative assessment, a requirement which means that all students submit essays online using the Turnitin system.
  • We recognise that the use of timed essays and the Turnitin system enables the team to facilitate the authenticity and reliability of student’s submissions.
  • The inclusion of 30 skills development days across the three years provides additional opportunities for creative formative and summative assessment.
  • The team also acknowledges that the overall assessment load on social work courses can be high due to the complexity of practice that needs to be assessed against a range of professional capabilities. This has been mitigated in line with the Education for Social Justice Framework, Inclusive Assessments to ensure the assessments are varied and that the spread and load is balanced
  • The course assessment table sets out the volume timing and nature of summative assessments across the three years.
  • Each module guide includes the module assessment and marking criteria and all staff seek to work within the university assessment timetable which includes three weeks marking and moderation processes

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

The course includes two compulsory placement modules. The University makes arrangements for pre-placement interviews for students with suitable local partner agencies. Placements are currently sourced and quality assured by the University and Senior Lecturer and Placement Lead in conjunction with the placement Co-Ordinator and the Placement Office.

Students receive a comprehensive Placement Handbook which contains all the information and guidance they will require to support them on placement including the different roles of all the stakeholders, information about the matching and allocation of placement and the process to follow if there is a concern. Additionally, students receive the Common Paperwork Templates, the documents they and their practice educator will need to complete as part of their placement portfolio.

Each placement is designed to meet the required 9 domains of the Professional Capability Framework and the KSS for Adults and KSS for Children and Families. The first placement (level 5) currently consists of 70 days with pre-placement workshops and review workshops. The final Placement 2 (level 6) currently consists of 100 days with pre-placement work and skills-based workshops. Students will experience placements in different organisational settings and working with different people with lived experience groups.

Students will be supported on their placement by a suitably qualified and experienced practice educator who is responsible for holistically assessing their practice against the Professional Capability Framework and all students will be allocated a placement tutor to further support and guide them during their placement. Students must pass the required modules including the first placement before proceeding to the next year of study.

All placements are evaluated as part of an established continuing improvement cycle using the Pan London Common paperwork Quality Assurance in Practice Learning template (QAPL). Students, practice educators and placement supervisors (where applicable) are asked to complete an evaluation of the placement so that further support or training can be provided to placement organisations if required and areas of good practice can be reflected upon and shared widely amongst partner agencies.

Course specific regulations

Course Regulatory schedule for Social Work Programmes
Status

This schedule forms a part of the Regulations for all Social Work programmes and should be read alongside the University’s Regulations, which govern courses and the responsibilities of students.

All University students are bound from the commencement of their course or from the point of enrolment, by all relevant Regulations, Procedures and policies.

Students enrolled on all social work programmes are governed by:

The University’s Academic Regulations which govern the standards of the University’s awards, the responsibilities of students and the formal roles played by staff in relation to admission to courses and programmes of study, assessment of student’s work and conferment of awards;

Regulations and Procedures, which govern the conduct of students, in particular, the Regulations applicable to all students in cases of Misconduct – incorporating a Code of Discipline; Fitness to Study; Fitness to Practise Social Work; and,

Responsibilities placed upon students regarding not only their conduct but also their professional suitability and Fitness to Practise, as set out in the Social Work England Professional Standards. Social Work students are expected to understand and work towards these professional standards in preparation for when they apply for registration. Students should ensure that during the course, including whilst on placement, they do not do anything that contravenes the Professional Standards or the policies and procedures of their placement provider.

All breaches of the professional standards/codes will be progressed in accordance with the Fitness to Practise Social Work Procedures or other University Regulations or Procedures as appropriate (see 2.2 above).

In addition, social work students on the qualifying programmes have specific regulations governing professional practice placements that are also outlined below in paragraphs 9 to 26.

It is the responsibility of all students to read the Social Work England Standards and the relevant University Regulations (accessed via the University’s online Student Handbook) to familiarise themselves with all responsibilities and requirements

Issues that may affect a student’s suitability to commence or continue training as a social worker

Students must familiarise themselves with the Fitness to Practise Social Work Procedures, which set down the suitability requirements and the process for reporting and investigating any breaches.

It is the responsibility of each student to bring to the attention of the Principal Lecturer for Social Work or nominated staff member, in a timely manner any matter including ill health of any kind that could be considered to have a bearing on their continued suitability for social work training. Likewise, students are required to bring to the attention of the Principal Lecturer for Social Work any matter as indicated above that could be considered to have a bearing on the suitability of another social work student

Failure to disclose any circumstance or information affecting a student’s suitability occurring prior to entry to the course or subsequent to enrolment shall be deemed a breach of the University’s Code of Discipline and shall be progressed in accordance with the Student Disciplinary procedures (see 5 and 6 above).


Exemptions and credit transfer

Students will not normally be exempted from any part of the social work programme, including the transfer of credits acquired by prior certificated learning and experiential learning due the extensive professional standards that must be met and the capabilities embedded across the whole course. For this reason, it is not normally possible to offer credit for prior learning or transfer onto a social work programme from any other programme including social work at another institution. Exceptionally students may be admitted with credit where they can demonstrate that they gained credit from study in the previous academic year as part of consecutive years of study and where the learning outcomes in their previous programme are equivalent to the learning outcomes for the modules that they aim to gain credit for.

External Examiner Appointments

Responsibility for recruiting external examiners for the social work course rests with the Head of Social Work. Appointments are made via the University’s quality assurance processes. The appointed external examiner must be appropriately experienced and qualified and be from the relevant part of the Social Work England Register.

Re-registration of module and timetabling

As far as possible, the course will be scheduled to allow modules that need to be re-registered and repeated from a previous year to be undertaken in such a way that they do not clash with the following year’s modules.



Placement Requirements can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344003-dt-content-rid-11741592_1/xid-11741592_1



Termination of training information can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344004-dt-content-rid-11741593_1/xid-11741593_1



Whistle-blowing & Complaints Procedures in Relation to Practice Placements can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344005-dt-content-rid-11741594_1/xid-11741594_1



Fitness to Practise Procedures can be found here:
https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3344006-dt-content-rid-11741597_1/xid-11741597_1

Modules required for interim awards

iI order to gain the BSc Social Work award a student must normally pass ALL core modules. This means that normally condonement will only be possible for option modules. Otherwise, the University’s standard progression and award rules apply as outlined in the Academic Regulation.

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

Reflective learning and developing skills in reflective practice are essential to help students prepare for the Social Work profession.  Students develop reflective learning within each of the taught modules and across the different levels of the course. At Level 4 students, module will be introduced to a range of learning models of reflective learning particularly through the Readiness for Practice module and they will be encouraged to develop their personal development portfolio to critically review their learning experiences, set their future personal, professional and academic goals and evaluate their progress towards these goals. 

During Level 5 studies students will be encouraged to reflect more analytically on their understanding of modules through critical engagement with the module content and through the assessment and feedback process. Students will also continue to address their professional capabilities and build their Personal & Professional Development Plan within their placement portfolios. 

During Level 6 studies students will consolidate their reflective learning particularly through the research mindedness module. The supervisor will initially assist with the research proposal, clarifying the terms of the research project, establishing a timetable for the research and subsequent supervision tutorial meetings, directed background reading.

In preparation for the first placement module students will be introduced to principles and models of reflective practice in terms of professional capabilities required for practice and this approach will run across the placement modules.  Students will review their practice, through regular supervision and recordings of practice in the development of the portfolio.   The portfolio will contain examples of work and reflective pieces will demonstrate the students’ professional development.  

There will be workshops at each placement module at each level where personal and professional development and employability (negotiating a placement, CV and personal statement building, job application, careers and interview techniques) are specifically developed for all students.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditations & exemptions

Our Social Work BSc is the only social work programme in the country that is fully validated by the Chartered Institute of Housing, the professional body for housing. This will give you an edge when applying for jobs and will help you in your future career.

This course is accredited by the HCPC.

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

The BSc (Hons) Social Work is a professional and academic qualification that equips students to work generically with a variety of people in a range of settings following registration. The course offers excellent opportunities for gaining key skills and understandings in the social work profession. The programme is also excellent preparation for further research or study.

Career opportunities

Professions Council (HCPC) for registration as a social worker. Social work is a protected title and only those registered can work in social work roles.

As the course leads to a generic social work qualification, you will not be limited to any particular field of social work. Our graduates take up posts in both statutory and non statutory settings and with different care groups including children and families, adult social care, mental health and working with older people and those with learning disabilities.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

  • a minimum of grades BBB in A levels (or a minimum of 120 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg Extended Diploma)
  • GCSE Mathematics and English grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent qualification, eg Functional Skills Maths Level 2 and English Level 2)
  • two references that demonstrate a minimum of 12 weeks previous experience (at the point of application) either in a paid or voluntary capacity of working directly with vulnerable people normally within a social care or health context
  • a minimum of 12 weeks' previous experience (at the point of application) either in a paid or voluntary capacity of working directly with vulnerable people, normally within a social care or health context – Employer reference/s are required to verify your work experience
  • enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the Social Work (including foundation year) BA (Hons).

If you’re shortlisted you will be invited to attend an interview day where you will present your original qualification certificates, your passport and a completed self-declaration health check. In the interview you will undertake a written test, participate in a group exercise and attend an individual interview.

Due to statutory requirements, we are not able to offer sponsorship under the Tier 4 visa route for this course. We will be happy to consider those falling into this category for an alternative suitable course on request. Overseas nationals who already hold an alternative visa in a suitable category or have been granted permission to remain in the UK indefinitely and EU nationals may be considered for admission but please note that an additional international enhanced DBS check will be required.

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 01 Sep 2013 Last validation date 01 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes L500 (Social Work): 100%
Route code SOCWOR

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 04 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SW4002 Human Growth and Development: A Life Course Per... Core 30        
SW4006 Communication, Skills and Values in Social Work Core 30        
SW4007 Assessing, Planning and Professional Ethics Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR MON AM
SW4008 Social Context for Social Work Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR THU AM

Stage 2 Level 05 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SW5050 Law for Social Work Practice Core 15        
SW5052 Theoretical Perspectives in Social Work Core 15 NORTH AUT WED PM
SW5053 Safeguarding Children and Adults Core 15        
SW5056 Inter-Professional Practice Core 15        
SW5W02 Social Work Practice Learning 1 Core 60        

Stage 3 Level 06 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SW6P03 Becoming Research Minded for Practice Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR THU PM
SW6W02 Practice learning 2 - second placement Core 75 NORTH AUT+SPR MULT  
SS6057 Homelessness and Housing Policy Option 15 NORTH AUT THU AM
          NORTH SUM MON AM
SS6058 Housing Issues and Housing Solutions Option 15 NORTH SPR THU AM
SS6083 Counselling in groups Option 15 NORTH SPR THU AM
SS6084 Community activism and digital campaigning Option 15        
SS6085 Diverse London Option 15 NORTH AUT THU AM
SW6055 International relationship-based practice for s... Option 15 NORTH AUT THU AM