Social Work

Entry requirements

At Bradford, we take into consideration a number of factors when assessing your application.

Below outlines the typical entry requirements for this course. If you’re not sure and want to check if your qualifications would be suitable, fill in an enquiry form at the bottom of this page.

Typical offer - 120 UCAS tariff points.

Gain work experience to help your application

Bradford Care Association and SkillsHouse can help you gain crucial health and social care work experience, to help you meet the entry requirements for your chosen course.

Both organisations can help you access a variety of roles, as well as progression opportunities, training, and support.

A levels

BBB, including at least 80 points from two full A levels.

T levels

Merit - there are no specific subject requirements.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM - there are no specific subject requirements.

Applicants on Access Programmes

Meet UCAS Tariff of 120 - there are no specific subject requirements.

International Baccalaureate Requirements

120 UCAS tariff points to include at least 80 points from 2 HL subjects. Plus HL 3 or SL 4 in Maths and English Language and Literature A or English B.

Plus minimum of

GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4 (equivalents accepted).

Additional entry requirements

At the point of application, applicants need to demonstrate they have a minimum of 100 hours of relevant social care work experience. This should have been undertaken within the last two years.

Experience in a social care setting (either paid or voluntary) is essential. We also welcome experience in social work overseas, either because you lived there or because you have undertaken paid or voluntary work in another country. Relevant social care experience includes direct work with people and could include:

• Direct work with people who need practical or emotional help or support either through face-to-face work or on an individual or group basis or telephone work
• Mentoring or counselling
• Care work (such as working as a health care assistant)
• Youth work
• Working with children or young people who are socially excluded or have additional emotional and/or practical support needs.
• Placements through school or college which has been undertaken within the last 2 years at the point of application
• Personal experience of caring for a relative or friend where you have had first-hand experience of social services or social work intervention; having a parent(s) who is a foster carer
• Personal experience as a service-user of social work intervention

We attach importance not only to the amount of experience that you have gained but crucially to the learning that you have gained from it and are able to bring to the course and your professional development. It is helpful if you include the following information in your personal statement:

• Your roles and responsibilities
• Reflections on the ways in which your experience has helped to prepare you for social work

As part of the selection process, we interview short-listed candidates prior to making decisions.

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

English language requirements

Minimum IELTS at 7.0 or the equivalent.

Occupational Health (OH) check

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening. This will involve completing an online occupational health questionnaire and attendance if required at a medical appointment.

Students on social work programmes must be able to meet Social Work England standard regarding health and wellbeing. Occupational health screening and assessment will consider the students’ health and wellbeing and their fitness to study and practice. Progress on the course is dependent on your continued fitness.

This screening process complies with Public Health England requirements for the protection of the public and students and staff working in health and social care.

All offers of places are made subject to satisfactory health clearance.

The University is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities to enable them to fulfill the required competencies of the programme. Candidates who are concerned about health issues are strongly advised to contact us prior to applying.

Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

All places are also offered subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously known as CRB check) disclosure. This is due to the fact that you may be required to work with children or vulnerable adults on your clinical placement, and will need to demonstrate that you can safely work with these groups upon registration with Social Work England.

Foundation Year entry

If you are a UK student and do not meet the entry requirements for this course, our Foundation Year in Management, Law and Social Sciences has a route to Social Work BA (Hons)

Foundation Year entry requirements

88 UCAS points or equivalent plus an English Language and a Maths qualification equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 and a minimum of 100 hours of relevant social care work experience and reflective personal statement.

Study and progression requirements

Pass each module and achieve a programme average of at least 40%.

If you do not have the required Maths entry qualification you must study Maths and Stats for Higher Education.

Participate and be successful in the selection/interview process for the degree programme. Successfully complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a health check.

If you are an international student and do not meet the entry requirements for direct entry onto this course, you may be interested in our International College.

Transferring from another university

Applications for advanced entry will not be considered for this programme.

Your learning journey

All module information is for 2024 entry, and is subject to change.