What will I learn?

Step Up to Social Work is a 14-month postgraduate intensive full-time qualifying programme and is funded by the Department for Education.Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling you to apply to register and practice as a social worker.Why study this subject?Social work is both a challenging and rewarding career through which you can make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children and families. You will need to build relationships with families facing difficult times, show a lot of patience and be a good listener. You will also need good observational skills, analytical thinking and sound judgement to make the right decisions and protect children. Social work regularly tests resilience, stamina, and resolve - all of which you will need to succeed, and social work can be life changing for those you support.The Step Up to Social Work programme is a unique opportunity to receive support while you begin to start a new career in social work. On the 14-month training programme, you will receive hands-on experience of working in a real-life social work role through placements in a local authority while undertaking your qualification. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling you to apply to register and practice as a social worker.What are my career prospects? This training programme allows you to become a qualified social worker in just 14 months. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling you to register and practice as a social worker.This course will also allow you to apply to register with Social Work England as a qualified social worker. Once you have achieved the qualified status, you could look at jobs with a starting salary of around 33k per annum, although BNU does not guarantee you a job after graduation, or a salary, this course could help you increase your chances of securing employment locally and nationally.Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment in the local area after graduation with our career success service.

Which department am I in?

Buckinghamshire New University

Study options

Full Time (14 Months)

Tuition fees

Students will receive a bursary from DFE of £21,995 for the duration of the course. This may be subject to change

Start date

January 2027

Venue

High Wycombe Campus

Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe,

High Wycombe,

Buckinghamshire,

HP11 2JZ, Southern England, United Kingdom

Entry requirements

For international students

You will need to have a copy of your degree qualification certificate and your GCSE in Maths and English grades A-C or equivalent at the time of applying. These documents will be needed by us should you be offered a place.

To apply to the programme, youll need to apply on the Berkshire Regional partnership site. You will need to have a minimum of:

2:2 undergraduate degree qualification in any subject (level 6)
6 months full-time (or equivalent) direct experience, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, of working with vulnerable children, young people and/or families, carers or vulnerable adults
GCSEs in English or English language and mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above (or an approved equivalent)
Attendance of an assessment day or interview may be required
ID proof such as a driving licence may also be required