Intro

Social work is both a profession and an academic discipline that commits to social justice and human rights by supporting those in need.

It is a vital and rewarding field of work that puts you in direct contact with often vulnerable and marginalised individuals, giving you a chance to make a significant difference to their lives.

This social work degree course has been approved by Social Work England – the regulatory body for social work training. You'll need to demonstrate Social Work England's Professional Standards within your practice, alongside the expectations specified by the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) held by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

Completion of the degree programme leads to a generic social work qualification, which then allows you to specialise in a particular area of practice. It also allows you to apply to Social Work England for registration as a social worker.

This degree is run in partnership with local agencies including Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council, as well as with carers and service users.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code L500

Full-time 3 years

Approved by Social Work England

What are my next steps?

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of Brighton.

Book your place: Moulsecoomb campus open day 23 November

Or if you're ready, apply now with UCAS for 2025

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level ABB–BBC (128–112 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DDM–DMM. Applicants invited to interview are normally selected from the group who have predicted grades at the top of this range but it is not a guarantee of interview.

If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still invite you to interview if you offered a significantly competitive GCSE (or equivalent) profile, personal statement or relevant non–academic achievements. Subsequent offers will be made based on assessment at interview.

International Baccalaureate
32–28 points with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Social work diploma preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 18 credits at distinction and 27 credits at merit, including level 3 credits in written communication, study skills, and reading and writing skills.

T-level
Merit in the Health or Education and Early Years T-levels. Other T-levels are not accepted.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
GCSE in English language with grade C or grade 4 or above. These are national requirements for social work training and cannot be waived/other subjects cannot be accepted in lieu. Functional Skills, level 2 in English, is acceptable.

If you do not have the required GCSEs, find out which equivalent qualifications we accept instead.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits, or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in the other elements.

Other
You should have:

  • experience of being in a helping or support role, for example in a social care or education setting (this may be paid or voluntary)
  • understanding of, and preparedness for, social work practice
  • a satisfactory academic reference
  • a satisfactory second (character) reference preferably relating to social care, a helping role you have had outside of your family, or from your most recent employer.

Note that we are unable to accept deferrals of places to the next academic year for this course. 

If we make you an offer
Once you've accepted your offer, to fulfil professional requirements, you will be expected to provide evidence of the following:

  • satisfactory DBS disclosure
  • satisfactory health declaration/clearance.

Contextual admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more about contextual admissions.

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

Course structure

The course consists of university-based teaching and 200 days of practice learning. In your first year you’ll be introduced to foundational social work knowledge, including contributions from the social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, social policy and politics, something which develops in greater depth as you progress through the course. During your second and third years, you’ll complete two placements lasting 70 and 100 days respectively – take a look at the placement tab to find out more about these experiences and what to expect.

Knowledge from professional areas such as counselling, education and health is also incorporated into teaching and learning across the three year programme and, as part of this, there are opportunities to work in larger interprofessional groups during your time on with us. In previous years this has included working with students from other vocational courses, such as medicine, midwifery, occupational therapy and education.

Teaching typically takes the form of workshop style lectures, offering you opportunities to work closely with other students, qualified Social Workers and other professionals who may work closely with them. In this sense, the course benefits from contributions from a number of external partners and you’ll also get to meet different people who’ve either been in contact with services themselves, or care for someone who has. Use of actual and simulated case material is widely used within these sessions, helping you to apply your learning to real-world scenarios when on placement. 

We’re especially keen to enable you to become a curious, critical and compassionate practitioner and across the three years of study you'll be supported by regular tutorials to help meet your developmental needs. These will be facilitated by your Personal Academic Tutor, all of whom are social work qualified and registered with Social Work England.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up-to-date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you will be told about any new developments through Student View.

Placements

Practice learning placements are a core part of your training. Of the 200 days allocated for this, 30 take the form of skills for practice days delivered within the university. The focus of these, as their name suggests, in on skills development as set against specific social work tasks and interventions (like assessment and decision making) and/or different areas of practice. These take place at intervals throughout the course.

The first placement, which runs in parallel for second year undergraduates and first year postgraduates, lasts for 70 days. Within this placement the emphasis will be on developing generic skills and underpinned by relevant theories and research. This setting is predominantly based in the private, voluntary or independent sector.

In your final year you’ll spend 100 days on placement. This placement will take place in a statutory setting, usually a Local Authority, or an organisation fulfilling statutory functions, such as a private fostering agency. During this placement you’ll have opportunities to:

  • Undertake formal assessment processes.
  • Apply legal frameworks in practice.
  • Make decisions (with guidance) in relation to situations involving risk and complexity.
  • Experience the demands of a high-pressure environment.
  • Work with other professions as part of a multi-agency team.

For both of your placements, your practice will be assessed according to the Professional Capabilities Framework and you’ll be assigned a Practice Educator who’ll oversee your assessment. Supervisory and case management support for your work with service users will also be provided by the placement.

The university works with a large number of placement providers along the south-east coast and some upwards into Surrey, this enables us to draw on a wide range of learning opportunities for our students and ensures we meet the regulatory requirement to provide students with two distinct placements. These are our core providers and you will be offered both your first and second placements within these geographical parameters.

In terms of professional requirements, by the end of the course you must also demonstrate that your practice meets the Professional Standards for Social Workers from Social Work England.

Year 1

Year 1 will introduce social work practice and begin your professional training. You will also learn about how the social sciences inform social work and about the role of social policy.

Modules

  • Introduction to Social Work Practice

    In this module you'll be introduced to core and basic knowledge of professional social work practice, including the central importance of professionalism and ethical and anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice.

    The module outlines the nature, purpose, remit and knowledge base of professional social work; introduces key social work skills and outlines the component parts involved in professional social work tasks.

    You'll explore professionalism - the professional identity, role and responsibility of social workers and how this relates to, and differs from, the personal self. The statutory regulation of social work profession and the professional body for social work are introduced. You'll also be introduced to the range of different settings for professional practice.

  • Contemporary Social Inequalities

    This module will provide you with the theoretical and conceptual tools to confront normative/normalising explanations of difference and inequality. You'll understand the ways that ‘differences’ and inequalities are formed and their consequences for everyday lived realities.

  • Human Growth and Development

    This module will introduce you to theories and knowledge on human development across the lifespan, by examining a range of bio-psychosocial theories, applying understanding to how human growth and development is shaped as we grow and travel through the life-course.

    You will explore a range of bio-psychosocial theories: (eg. attachment; psychodynamic; bio-psychosocial, cognitive, behavioural, humanistic) and related theories (eg. systems theory and complexity theory). You'll examine the individual’s development in different contexts across the lifespan from childhood and adolescence, through adulthood to end of life, with consideration of the various transitions. You'll also take account of different cultural contexts; disability; mental health; harm and abuse; inequalities, exclusion and discrimination.

    Application of understanding the life course to social work practice is embedded throughout the module learning. Thus, bio-psychosocial theories of development are applied to specific practice issues ranging from child abuse and parenting through to offending behaviour and care for older people and those with mental health difficulties. Key concepts in the lifespan are explored also: for example, identity, vulnerability, risk, protective factors, resilience and the promotion of strengths.

    Learning and teaching on this module contributes to learning and assessment in relation to the College of Social Work’s Professional Capabilities Framework and the Health and Care Professions Councils’ Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England and Wales.

  • Preparing for Social Work Practice

    This module includes ten 'developing skills for practice' days and will enable you to develop core skills in engaging with service users/carers and undertaking assessments and interventions. You'll have the opportunity to shadow the practice of a Social Worker during your development days.

    The module will also examine a number of social work methods and you'll gain an understanding of the place of theory and evidence in social work in guiding and evaluating assessments and interventions.

  • Law for Social Workers

    On this module you'll be introduced to the use of law in social work - you will learn about the English legal system, frameworks and concepts, before going on to consider the core legislation and practice guidance underpinning social work with children and families, adult service users and carers and those with mental health needs.

    Attention will also be paid to the inter-professional context in which social workers operate and the need for partnership working when seeking to meet needs and safeguard and protect service users and carers. Throughout, a key focus will be upon the implications of statutory intervention for anti-oppressive, rights-based practice, the challenging of discrimination and the perspectives of service users and carers on use of law in social work practice.

  • Experts by Experience: Identity, Needs and Resources

    This module will introduce you to the concept of need, what need might look like, how it might be defined by different groups and what resources may or may not be available to meet the needs of people with lived experience of receiving social work services or carers. You'll also develop knowledge of research methods and skills of inquiry, as well as skills in evaluation when considering how resources might meet identified needs.

Social Policy

Year 2

Year 2 will develop your specialist knowledge and practical skills. You will also complete your first professional placement.

Modules

  • Social Work Practice with Adults
  • Social Work Practice with Children and Families
  • Practice Learning 1
  • Critical Social Work Practice
parents and children socialising at home

Final year

In year 3, the second placement will enable further development and the consolidation of more complex social work practice. You will also use your research skills to complete a social work project of your choice.

Modules

  • Social Work Dissertation
  • Contemporary Social Work
  • Practice Learning 2

Lab facilities

Mithras House is home to all our School of Humanities and Social Science courses. It has a series of ‘labs’, which may be used for teaching on your course or in your independent research work.

Life lab
A comfortable space with lounge furniture intended for qualitative research with larger groups. Due to its relaxed layout and naturalistic environment, the space is suited to research using focus groups, research using observation-based methods and child research.

The space is also used for teaching on some social science courses, as well as for dissertation research for projects.
 
City lab
A space designed for collaborative student learning. It is used by students and staff involved in the university’s Global Challenges programme, our collective mission to contribute towards solutions to tackling the pressing issues facing our world.

Design lab
A space housing our extensive collection of historic dress and textiles, which are used in some teaching on our History of Art and Design courses. It has the space and equipment to work on textile projects. Displays created by students on these programmes are on view in the social spaces of the building.

Stats lab
A specialist workspace with computing equipment for statistical analysis and projects involving video and audio editing software. The lab is accessible as a study space to students on psychology courses.

It is also available to students studying courses involving video and audio recording and editing, such as politics degrees and our creative writing programmes. The stats lab contains eight soundproof booths for recording or transcribing interviews undertaken as part of dissertation research.

VR and eye tracking lab
This lab is used for psychological research, specifically eye-tracking research and virtual reality research. Equipment includes an electroencephalography (EEG) headset and Electrodermal Activity (EDA) equipment.

Take a virtual tour of the labs available

Studying social work (video)

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Watch this film from our Teaching Partnership and hear stories from social workers and students about working in the field

Meet the team

Annie Mullin, course leader

Annie has worked at the university for a number of years teaching across our qualifying and post-qualifying social work programmes. She is a qualified Social Worker and brings much experience from the field of mental health social work. Read Annie's full profile.

Other members of the teaching team include:

More about this subject at Brighton

Come to an open day!

Join us for an undergraduate open day this autumn.

Are you an international student considering studying social work?

Dr Jem Price, Principal Lecturer in Social Work offers advice and questions to consider for  international students considering studying social work at the University of Brighton.

Social Work students participate in creative reflection sessions following film screening

In May, students and staff watched the Art of Attachment (2018) and used the screening as a springboard to discuss trauma-informed practice and the importance of allowing people space and time to share their stories and for practitioners to listen and be aware of their own vulnerability.

Thinking of choosing Social Work? Watch this film about studying the subject and life in practice

Find out about studying Social Work at the University of Brighton.

Read more from our blog

Careers

Accreditation

Our Social Work degree BSc(Hons) is approved by Social Work England (SWE), the regulatory body for the social work profession and qualifying training programmes in England.

Successful completion of this degree course can lead to registration with SWE, enabling you to apply for social work jobs and practice as a registered Social Worker. As a generic social work qualification, you can apply to work in any area of social work practice – subject to any specific employer requirements.

This qualification may enable you to register and work as a Social Worker in countries other than England. If you are intending to do this, you should first check with the regulatory body in that particular country to see if this qualification enables this.

Social Work England logo

Professional links 

Our qualifying social work courses are delivered within a consortium of partners, who together form the South Coast Regional Centre for Social Work Education.

Together we work with the University of Sussex, Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council to deliver a positive training experience. Our local authority partners are key to the delivery of our programmes and offer a number of placement opportunities, across a range of practice settings each year – from work in adult safeguarding to child protection.

We also work closely with other statutory agencies, such as Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, who offer placement experiences related to mental health issues, as well as a range of non-statutory, community organisations. These have included agencies such as charities supporting the needs of people who are homeless or have substance misuse issues and a range of primary and secondary schools.

Local council information on becoming a social worker:

Graduate destinations 

As a social worker you’ll work with people to find ways to enhance their wellbeing through problem-solving issues of support, advocating for change and taking steps to minimise harm. 

This may involve helping to protect people from harm, abuse or neglect, or supporting people to live independently. Social work is a challenging yet rewarding profession and the majority of graduates find this career choice fulfilling and virtually all say it is meaningful (Social Work at University of Brighton: Discover Uni)*.

After graduation and successful registration with Social Work England, you can specialise in many different areas. Social Workers are employed across many different areas, enabling you to work with both children and adults in a variety of services, such as: children in need and child protection, adults in additional needs and in need of protection, youth offending, mental health, substance misuse, homeless support, asylum seekers and refugees and specialist disability and enablement support.

*comparative data for postgraduate programmes is not available.

A family using a tablet

Supporting your employability 

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more about our Careers Service...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Employable

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,900 GBP

Social work bursary information

The NHS Business Service Authority administers social work bursaries, for further information and to check your eligibility visit their webpage. 

Fee information for this course for 2025 entry will be updated here no later than December 2024.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

Here you’ll find details of specific resources and services that are included in the tuition fee for our social work students. To help you to budget for your studies, there is also information on any additional costs that you may have to pay or can choose to pay in addition to your tuition fee.

Find out how tuition fees enable us to support all of our students with important services, facilities and resources across the university and check out our finance pages for info about fees, funding and scholarships along with advice on international and island fee-paying status.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information.

What's included in your tuition fee

  • Course books, magazines and journals are available in the university libraries. You do not need to have your own copies. See the subject area in the library for an up-to-date list of key subject journals and databases.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software on campus – and can borrow a laptop from us if yours is broken or you don’t have a computer at home. Specialist equipment is provided to cover essential learning.

Additional costs

  • These courses include compulsory placements and you will need to cover the costs of travel to and from the placement
  • You'll be required to cover the cost of their DBS check.
  • Most coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget up to £100 for printing.
  • You’ll need to budget for printing and stationery for personal study, and books if you decide to buy your own. Many of the set texts are available as cheap editions and we estimate that students will not need to spend more than £200.
  • Many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Meet our students  

Ruth

"I always wanted to work in a role that I would see a difference in and support children and families. I had my own social worker who massively supported me and had such a positive effect on me and my family. 

"The lecturers/tutors were extremely supportive and engaging during our sessions and I enjoyed that the course did not focus on just adult’s services or children’s services, as this helped me choose the area I wanted to go into. 

"The placements showed me how the knowledge I have learnt is used in practice. Having this opportunity showed me the many paths of social work you can take, and the variety of people you can support. It was beneficial having one placement in adults and one placement in children’s as I got to experience the different types of support offered. 

"I now work in a Children and Families Assessment and Intervention team and I love this role. There has been a leap in responsibility due to holding my own caseloads, but I feel extremely supported by my team and manager."

Ruth Whitehead

Melanie

"My first placement was in the alcohol and drug service (CGL). This 70-day placement opened my eyes to the life experiences of adults and the true meaning of the Care Act, Human Rights Act and the Mental Capacity Act.  

"I adored being the advocate for adults and learnt the value of harm reduction, knowledge of mental health, homelessness, domestic violence, prison, alongside respect for the lives they had lived. 

 

"My final year 100-day placement was with the Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children team. Children would arrive alone into the UK and often would have experienced abuse bereavement, harm, war, trafficking, loss and self-harm and had suffered deep trauma.

"This course has meant that I have been able to successfully get a job with a local authority and work within the child protection team which has always been my aim."

 

Madison

"I chose to study social work because witnessing the impact of social services on my family and friends inspired me to support others in building healthier relationships and resilient lives. I chose Brighton because of the beautiful local area, and it was in the top 10 rated for Social Work. 

"In my first placement at a YMCA residential for 16–25year olds, I gained hands-on experience supporting young adults transitioning to independence, helping me understand the unique challenges they face.  

"My second placement with children in care deepened my insight into the foster care system and the specific needs of vulnerable children. Both placements reinforced my commitment to advocating for youth and equipped me with practical tools to make a positive impact in social work. 

"The course provides both practical experience and strong theoretical knowledge, preparing you for a career where every day is meaningful and impactful. If you are passionate about helping others and ready to grow both personally and professionally, social work is a truly fulfilling path. 

"Since I graduated in July 2024, I am now a newly qualified social worker with a Children's Trust under their ASYE Programme. I have been placed in a child in care court team which has been an incredible experience so far." 

Justina

"What I enjoy the most about the social work course is the teamwork and the group work. It is a good feeling to know that one is not on their own in decision making as interagency and multi-disciplinary collaboration is one of the professional requirements of social work 

"The social work course has also built my confidence. An aspect of the course known as Problem Based Learning gave me an opportunity to work with students on other courses like nursing and occupational therapy to formulate dilemmas and ways of solving them which in the future will help in my collaborative work with other professionals and in MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meetings. 

"My first placement was with a local charity that support asylum-seeking children between 16 to 18 years. It was such an interesting experience as it gave me a firsthand opportunity to support service users experiencing various forms of trauma.  

"I learned so much about myself as an individual but also the need to take a trauma informed approach to practice, using research-based knowledge on theories, skills like good communication active listening, values such as honesty and respect as well as the appropriate use of self.  

"When I graduate, I would like go into adult social work. I plan to work in the statutory sector as I believe this will be a good learning avenue during my ASYE year. I am a social activist kind of social worker and would most likely go into supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the long term."

Justina Neequaye

Ellie

"I currently work as a support worker and have done for the past four years. Becoming a qualified social worker felt like the next logical career step for me to take.  

"The thing I enjoy most about the course is the range of people I get to meet, work with and learn from – including tutors, fellow social work students, and service users and professionals out on placements! I’ve learnt so much already just from hearing about other’s experiences and perspectives. 

"My first placement was at a supported accommodation hostel for women with complex needs alongside a need for housing. All of them had experienced or were experiencing some type of homelessness alongside substance misuse, mental health problems, domestic violence and abuse, physical health problems, or a combination.  

"A typical day would start with the morning meeting including a handover from the night before, and once that was over the office door would be open so the service users could interact with us staff whenever they needed.  

"I key-worked three residents who all had very different needs, so my days would consist of helping them access other services, supporting them to attend appointments, helping them with daily living activities, or doing intervention work with them such as recovery stars and setting SMART targets.  

"As someone who learns by ‘doing’, I feel as soon as I started placement all I’d started to learn in class solidified and made so much more sense. It also gave me a more realistic view of what social worker’s and social care staff are faced with on a daily basis."

Ellie Jade Anderson

Sophie

"I chose to study social work because I have really enjoyed my previous work in welfare within the education sector, specifically with teenagers. I have always found helping others fulfilling, and many of the core values and qualities of social work resonate with me. 

"Brighton is an open-minded and diverse place, and it’s fantastic to be studying social work while living here. The supportive and personable nature of the teaching staff, which I sensed during my interview, really confirmed that this was the right place for me to study.  

"The aspect I am enjoying most about the course is the interactive nature of it. Most of our lectures and seminars are very practical with lots of conversations as to how we would approach situations in practice. It has been interesting hearing the other students' perspectives and experiences. 

"The teachers have been kind, approachable, and clearly put a lot of effort into planning and delivering their classes. The learning environment is very open, kind, and non-judgemental, which has made me feel comfortable speaking up in lectures and developing my teamwork skills."

Sophie Webber

Tyler

"I was drawn to the University of Brighton because it combines that sense of inclusivity with a strong focus on social issues and community engagement – both of which are central to social work.  

"Brighton offers a vibrant, diverse, and welcoming community and it feels like a place where I can truly engage in my studies, whilst still feeling connected, surrounded by people who are equally passionate about making a difference. 

"Our class size is quite a bit smaller than other courses, which I really like, as it allows us to have discussions and ask questions to really unpack each concept. This environment allows me to hear a range of different perspectives and helps me feel more confident in applying these ideas on placement and, eventually, in practice. 

"What I gained from my placement that differed from the classroom was the real-world application of the theories, laws, and approaches we discuss in lectures. Experiencing the dynamics of client interactions and seeing how social workers advocate for their clients provided me with valuable context for my learning. 

"The support from all the staff has been phenomenal. Having people like Individual Tutors and the Student Support and Guidance Tutors to support me and signpost me to resources made the world of difference. It was reassuring to know that I had people to talk to if I ever struggled with anything, university-related or otherwise."

Tobie

"The amount you will learn and change within even just the first year is exciting! Already by second year I feel so much closer to understanding my own professional identity. 

"The staff have been amazing – they always listen to our feedback and when things don’t run smoothly, either personally or within uni, they are easy to talk to and support us with solutions. I find the lecturers so engaging and I like that we are a small group, it isn’t the kind of course where you just get talked at by a lecturer - it feels collaborative and supportive. 

"I have already made so many friends from different backgrounds within the course. Meeting people from all sorts of work has given me an inside look at the kind of career paths I could have which I may not have considered before. 

"I have so far completed my three-day shadowing placement which was with the Brighton & Hove Children and Families Pod. I found placement so helpful as I can start to see how knowledge I have gained at uni is applied in practice which pieces everything together. 

"The Moulsecoomb campus is lovely, the library is one of my favourite spots to get work done. I love being close to the sea and Brighton has a very diverse population. I also know it has a lot of great charities which I am likely to come into contact with within my work and placements."

Rosie

"I chose to do Social Work as I have always wanted a career in helping people and the Social Work degree gives the knowledge, skills, and qualification to be able to do so effectively. I am also incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people already in the profession who inspired me to go for it! 

"I chose to come to Brighton as I had visited the city before and really liked it, I also did a lot of research into the university and found that it really focuses on supporting students in terms of their studying and wellbeing which was really important for me. 

"My interview for Social Work at the University of Brighton was such a positive experience. I was made to feel so relaxed and in control which allowed me to perform to my best ability. I felt really supported, listened to, and valued which further influenced my decision to come to Brighton.

"To anyone thinking of applying to Social Work I would say 100% go for it, it is one of the best decisions I have ever made! I have already learned so much and have grown as a person, I have also met some amazing and inspiring people. 

"For me, the teaching and support staff are the best part of the University of Brighton. Every student is made to feel so supported and looked after which allows you to become the best version of yourself and succeed academically. The teaching staff are all so knowledgeable and truly want the best for every student."

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