BA Applied Social Work with Foundation Year
About this course
BA (Hons) in Social Work. Core topics include Ethics & Professional Practice, Research Methods, and Critical & Analytical Thinking. The four-year programme includes a foundation year, followed by two assessed practice placements totalling 170 days in social care settings. An Independent Study module in the final year enables investigation of a chosen area of social work practice.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff: 80 A level: CDD T Level: Pass (C or above in the core) BTEC: MMP GCSE: GCSE English is preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake English at Level 2 as part of your course of study Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 0, Merit: 30, Pass: 15 English language: IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each skills area)
What students say
Based on about 15 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 81%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 84%
- Organisation and management: 48%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 68%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 65%
- Left higher education: 35%
What graduates do next
Based on about 28 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Welfare Professionals: 55%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 20%
- Caring personal services: 5%
- Sales occupations: 5%
- Teaching Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 90%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 95%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 80%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 140 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 6%
- East Midlands: 74%
- West Midlands: 15%
- East of England: 1%
- London: 1%
- South East: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 65%
- Access course: 20%
- A degree: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Academic Skills
- ​​Preparation for Professional Practice
- Communicating with Impact
- Professionalism: applied roles and responsibilities
- Community Social Work
- Contemporary Issues in Social Work
- Preparation for Practice Learning
- Social Work Law
- Human Growth and Development
- Practice Learning 1
- Research Methods for Practice
- The Trilogy of Abuse
- Safeguarding Adults
- Practice Learning 2
- Protecting and Safeguarding Children and Young People
- Independent Study
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Applied Social Work with Foundation Year at University of Derby earn?
The median salary is £32,000 after 15 months, £27,500 after 3 years, £30,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £20,000 and £39,500. The £30,500 median after five years is £500 more than the UK median for Social work.
What do graduates of BA Applied Social Work with Foundation Year at University of Derby do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Applied Social Work with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
81% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Applied Social Work with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
The typical offer is CDD at A level. The average entrant had 108 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Applied Social Work with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
65% of students continued into their second year, and 35% left higher education.