Undergraduate programmes
The School currently teaches around 450 undergraduate students on the following single honours programmes:
We also offer the following joint honours programmes:
And contribute to the BA Film and Television Studies and Cultural Sociology which is offered by the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies.
The Government is currently reviewing the level and arrangements for bursaries for social work students. It is not yet clear when any changes may be implemented, but it will affect all English social work degree programmes. We will update this page as soon as any further details become available.
Modular Structure
All our programmes have a modular structure, with modules measured in terms of credits. 1 credit is equivalent to 10 hours of teaching, learning and assessment activities. Students take 120 credits of modules each year, most of which run for one semester but some of which, like the dissertation, last for the full academic year. The first year is a qualifying year, which must be passed but which does not count towards the final degree classification. The marks for modules in the second and third years are weighted 40/60, enabling students to benefit more from modules taken in the third year when they will be working at their best.
In the first year of study students take a shared programme of modules which introduce key concepts, theories, skills and thinkers to establish the foundations for further study. Students are taught together in lectures and seminars but each degree has distinct tutorial support. In the second and third years students study modules specific to their programme and also write a dissertation.
Across all three years students are encouraged to take elective modules that enable them to pursue subjects that reflect individual interests or career aspirations. These are delivered in the School reflecting the expertise of our staff or from other schools within the University, such as Economics, History, Politics or Psychology. Elective modules enable students to choose subjects that introduce them to new ideas, develop particular areas of interests or contribute towards individual career aspirations.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Our programmes involve a variety of teaching and learning situations. These range from large lecture halls where over 200 students are watching presentations on a big screen, to working in small groups in seminars with staff members reading through books or research articles. Our social work students also undertake placement learning, working alongside social workers in agencies.
Outside the formal teaching setting, much of our students’ time is spent working on their own or in small groups with friends reading books, preparing for seminars and writing assessed works.
We believe it is important to present students with a variety of assessment forms including examinations, essays, presentations and a dissertation. Dissertations require students to identify a suitable area of study and material for analysis, often in groups, whilst essays and exams help to develop core kills of careful, critical reading and persuasive writing.