Social Work

Although focused on social work, this postgraduate degree will also equip you with transferable skills that can be used in a range of graduate roles. These skills include communication, assessment and problem solving, and analytical thinking.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU, such as the Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.

We want you to be a step ahead when you graduate, so we offer:

• courses designed with employers
• tutors with professional industry knowledge
• hands-on learning which may include industry-led projects, placements or Professional Experience modules.

Alongside your course, there are lots of other opportunities to build your skills and experience:

• add value to your CV with an ARU Certificate of Professional Development
• get involved in a thriving volunteering programme
• develop your brilliant business ideas
• work with businesses to make a social impact.

We’re here to help you develop your CV and find that all-important role after graduation. Our Employability Service offers tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, help to complete job applications, and much more. You’ll have 24/7 access to an online Careers Centre too, which is packed with useful resources.

The support continues after you graduate, with lifelong access to our Alumni Career Centre.

Find out more about careers support at ARU.

Placements are an essential part of your Social Work degree. They’re a chance to put what you’ve learnt into practice.

You’ll spend an average three days per week on placement during your studies. This may vary depending on, for example, when your lectures take place.

Placement locations and travel
It’s likely that you’ll have to travel as part of your placement.

Most of our placement providers are within commutable distance of our campus in Peterborough. This means your placement location shouldn’t be more than 1.5 hours of travel from your home.

Our partners include Peterborough City Council, Cambridge County Council, Northamptonshire County Council, Bedford Borough Council, and Lincolnshire County Council. We also place students regularly with Suffolk County Council and Norfolk County Council. There may be a very limited number of placements in the London area.

If you live outside East Anglia, travel time to placement will be measured from the campus where you’re studying.

You’ll need your own transport to visit service users in the community, where public transport may not be available. 

Support on placement
While on placement, you’ll be supported by a Practice Educator and a Placement Tutor.

You’ll be assigned a Practice Educator (PE), a social worker who’s trained to teach and assess students on placements. They meet the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS). Their role is to support you in integrating theory and knowledge from university into practice. They’re also responsible for assessing your practice.

The Placement Tutor (PT) is also an important source of support while you’re on placement. They’re a member of staff at ARU – usually academics in the Social Work team, so you’ll know them.

Your PT attends meetings to make sure placements are set up in a way that meets your learning needs, and the University’s requirements. They’re your first point of contact for all placement-related matters, and are here to support you if you have any difficulties during a placement.

We use a number of assessment methods including assignments, presentations, reports, poster design, role play, and placement portfolios. Our assessment methods promote both experiential and active learning, helping you to develop a range of transferable skills applicable to social work practice.