BSc Social Work
About this course
BSc (Hons) in Social Work, a social work degree centred on human rights, legal frameworks, and support strategies for vulnerable populations. Core topics include Research Methods and Ethics & Professional Practice. Students undertake supervised practice placements in years three and four, including an 80-day full-time placement and a 100-day full-time placement. The second year focuses on legal frameworks and evidence application through modules such as Human Rights and Social Justice: Social Work and the Law, Working and Relating: Developing Your People Skills, and Transforming Lives: Applying evidence from social research. The third year shifts to applied interventions and professional standards via modules like Social Work in Communities, Social Work with Individuals and Families, and Professional Practice in Social Work 1. The final year addresses advanced challenges and complex caseloads through modules such as Working with Risk, Trust and Complexity and Professional Practice in Social Work 2.
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
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 18%: 56 offers from 313 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 10 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 90%
- Assessment and feedback: 74%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 80%
- Learning resources: 90%
- Student voice: 73%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 13 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 85%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Welfare Professionals: 85%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 90%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 85%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 75%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 455 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 2%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 2%
- London: 37%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 43%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 30%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 65%
Accreditation & quality ratings
- Accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for the purpose of fully meeting the educational requirements for registration with this body.
Modules
- Human Rights and Social Justice: Social Work and the Law
- Working and Relating: Developing Your People Skills
- Transforming Lives: Applying evidence from social research
- academic achievement
- professional registration
- experience of working (paid or voluntary) in the social work/ care field, directly with people using services
- confirmation of your continued interest in social work
- Social Work in Communities
- Social Work with Individuals and Families
- Working with Self and Others: Skills, Theories and Methods
- Understanding Care and Control
- Professional Practice in Social Work 1 (this includes an 80-day full-time placement)
- Dissertation preparation course
- Working with Risk, Trust and Complexity
- Professional Practice in Social Work 2 (including a 100-day full-time placement)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Social Work at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £32,500 after 15 months, £32,000 after 3 years, £40,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £30,500 and £55,000. The £40,000 median after five years is £10,000 more than the UK median for Social work.
What do graduates of BSc Social Work at University of Edinburgh do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Social Work at University of Edinburgh?
85% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Social Work at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 169 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BSc Social Work at University of Edinburgh?
18% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 56 offers from 313 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Is BSc Social Work at University of Edinburgh accredited?
Yes. Accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for the purpose of fully meeting the educational requirements for registration with this body.
How many students continue on BSc Social Work at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.