Department of Social Work
School of Health, Life Sciences and Education
Welcome to our Department of Social Work
Thank you for taking the time to see what we offer at University College Birmingham, the highest-ranking university in the region as voted by students. Our student support is the best in the region too, as is our provision for international students and postgraduates.
If you want to start your career in social work, here is a glimpse into our student and staff community to see if we are the right choice for you.
Gemma Hunt
Head of Department of Social Work
Welcome from Gemma Hunt
Hello and a warm welcome to our new social work department. I am excited to be leading the development of this new provision.
Becoming a social worker is an extremely rewarding career, but it can be challenging and demanding at times. With us, you will be supported to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to become a confident social worker.
Once you have completed your course and obtained your registration with Social Work England, you can apply for jobs as a registered social worker in statutory, private, voluntary and charitable sectors. As a social worker, you will support people to improve their lives, empower people to recognise their strengths and ensure they have a voice.
*Gemma is a highly-experienced social work academic, who sits on the editorial board of Social Work Education: The International Journal, is part of the UK Social Work Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group and is a committee member for the National Organisation for Practice Teaching.
Our health and social care undergraduates use virtuality reality to immerse themselves in real sector settings
Health and Social Care BSc (Hons) / FdSc
It takes time to build new courses and we are working closely with regulator Social Work England to ensure ours will answer today's specific demands. We will update this page as we move forward with developments, but please contact us if you'd also like to be kept up-to-date on new courses within our department via email.
The good news is you can apply for our Health and Social Care BSc (Hons) or two-year foundation degree now as a route into social work or the wider healthcare sector, from family support to community education. Even better, there are no exams during or at the end of your studies, assessment is through practical assignments and coursework only.
What’s happening
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Professor Gill Brown
Head of School of Health, Life Sciences and Education
Meet Professor Gill Brown
There’s so much to look forward to if you join us. You will benefit from excellent teaching, placements and training in world-class facilities.
Over your course, you will develop an understanding of key social work theories and how to apply these in practice to prepare you for the future realities of social work. You will build your communication skills and learn the importance of relationship-based practice, liaising and working with other professionals, and develop an understanding of the legal framework and how the law is used to safeguard, support and protect.
We need social workers more than ever before and we hope you consider us as you look to become a skilled professional in this field.
*Psychologist Gill has been in higher education for over 15 years, previously working within the prison service and youth offending services, as well as in forensic community mental health teams.
Our teaching and learning
All our lecturers have vast experience in the sector, ranging from a criminologist to youth and community workers, a drug worker, midwives, a mental health nurse and family support managers. This gives you a unique insight into the sector and how to link theory to real-life practice. Our degrees are designed to develop you personally and professionally, with graduate advantage, employability and enrichment sessions threaded throughout the curriculum.
Please note: If you are considering a future career in social work, it is important to think about relevant work experience ahead of applying for a course as you will be asked about relevant experience which will be considered as part of your suitability for study.
Theory
Our courses are developed and taught by lecturing staff who draw on their expertise and years of experience to make scenario-based discussions, debates and concepts come to life, supporting the linking of theory to practice.
You will learn so much from our lecturing teams, who are passionate about their profession and eager to inspire and nurture the next generation of social work professionals.
We also have many invited guest lecturers and service users from practice participate in our courses, sharing their knowledge and experiences to enhance your learning.
Students also have a lot to bring and as a team, we will also learn a lot from you. We encourage you to share your perspectives and viewpoints, especially when reflecting on your own life and placement experiences.
Practical
Placements are key to success as employers want you to have real experience. We have excellent links with our placement provider organisations across the region, so we can allocate you to a diverse range of placements, including in private, voluntary and independent settings.
This exposure to different learning environments opens opportunities for you when you qualify. And you will receive simulation-based education in our excellent Health Skills and Simulation Suite at our award-winning Moss House.
Support
Our support is exceptional, so much so, our support for students was voted best in the region in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024.
Throughout your studies, you will not only have a personal tutor, but a link tutor during placements and module leaders to support you through academic modules. And we have a whole range of additional support services available, providing you with as much or as little support as you need to succeed in your degree. Our smaller teaching groups enable all students to grow and flourish, with strong peer support and friendship.
Financially, we are here to support you too, and if you are a full-time, UK undergraduate joining us from September 2025, you will receive £5,000 to help you with the cost of living, which doesn't have to be paid back.
Our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2021-24 is key to how we approach the educational journey, focusing on three main pillars that set out our commitment to your learning and teaching experience while you are studying with us.
- Pillar 1 – Provide accessible and inclusive teaching and learning across a wide range of vocationally-led courses
- Pillar 2 – Develop next generation opportunities and skills through innovative, future-focused curriculum and pedagogy
- Pillar 3 – Shape local and global sectors, promoting sustainable futures and global citizenship
Read our Learning and Teaching Strategy
Our students
David Kelland
After completing a diploma in counselling and psychotherapy at college, David built on his skills with a health and social care degree at University College Birmingham.
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Hannah Stevens
When Hannah made the decision to build on her Health and Social Care Level 3 with a full degree in the subject, it was a no-brainer where she wanted to study.
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Evonne McIntosh
Evonne was spurred on to study our health and social care degree to become a specialist in health promotion.
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Stephen Garvey
Deputy Dean (Teaching, Learning and Digital)
School of Health and Food
Meet Stephen Garvey
My role is to ensure we stay at very forefront of progress across the education sector and across industry, building innovative technology and skills such as immersive virtual reality into your educational experience.
We are committed to providing face-to-face teaching as we know students value this quality time with their lecturers and fellow students. But to support your academic studies, we also have a sophisticated lecture capture system that provides accessible recorded lectures, where possible.
We are very proud of the exceptional and sustained record of teaching excellence we have in the provision of our vocational educational experiences, and the future-focused curriculum we have to offer you.
*Stephen is a registered dietitian with a background in research
Our facilities
Students studying social work have access to our wide variety of learning spaces at University College Birmingham, ensuring you have the right environments to build your knowledge, from lecture theatres to interactive group working spaces and extensive library resources.
Our Moss House campus includes an exhibition space to showcase your work to assessors and prospective employers
Our campus buildings feature lecture theatres equipped with the latest technology, as well as comfortable tutorial and seminar rooms and private meeting rooms
Located in our McIntyre House campus, ThinkSpace features glazed study pods to discuss group projects and glass wipe boards to mind-map your ideas
Our library facilities offer more than 50,000 print resources and over 60 million digital resources, with expert support from qualified library professionals and research specialists
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Open days
Come and visit us on one of our open days, where you can find out more about our courses, our facilities and speak to current students and staff.
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Chat with our students
Find out what it's like to study at University College Birmingham by chatting with our current students and staff, reading our blog and get in touch with us today.
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Student support
Whether you need support with your learning, finances, health and wellbeing or other areas, our range of dedicated support services are here for you.
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We look forward to seeing you on campus
As you prepare to join us, here's a refresher on some of the essentials: