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An image to illustrate the BA (Honours) Social Work
Want to make a difference in people’s lives? Social work is both challenging and rewarding, supporting and protecting society’s most deprived and vulnerable people. Our work-based online learning route is for those in Scotland eligible to register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). Successful graduates can apply for registration as qualified social workers in children’s, adult or justice services. If you’ve got a year’s experience supporting service users and carers, and can be released from your role for two contrasting work placements, this could be the perfect next step for you. Sponsored and independent students are welcome.
This social work degree has four stages, each comprising 120 credits.
Stage 1 begins with two introductory modules, one in health and social care and the other in the social sciences. It develops essential knowledge and study skills, including digital and information literacy, while exploring contemporary society and the organisation of social care. This stage provides the foundation for registration as a professional social worker, with learning you’ll draw on time and again.
If you already have equivalent knowledge, skills, and vocational qualifications, you may be able to enter at Stage 2 through credit transfer.

ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Introducing health and social care (K102)60Oct | Feb
You and your world: introducing the social sciences (D112)60Oct | Feb
K102 has two presentations per year, in October and February. Students who wish to complete their qualification in the shortest possible timeframe of four years will need to choose the October start.

At Stage 2, you’ll continue a learning journey through the foundations of good social work practice – picking up crucial skills and knowledge along the way. Key concepts around communication will open up your thinking about how theory informs and underpins professional ‘practice’, and you’ll develop your understanding of children and young people.

ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Supporting children and young people's wellbeing (KE207)60Oct
Foundations for social care and social work practice (K123)60Feb
Students who wish to complete their qualification in the shortest possible timeframe advertised will need to study KE207 before K123.

Stage 3 includes a module on law and social work, followed by a practice-based module with an extended placement. You’ll explore social workers' key roles and the knowledge, values, and skills that underpin practice, alongside legal issues in social care such as children and family services, justice, community care and mental health.

ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Social work law (K271)60Oct
Applied social work practice (K216)60Feb

Stage 4 begins with a choice of either a module on mental health or on investigating health and social care, followed by a final practice placement. This stage develops your confidence as a critical, analytical, and reflective practitioner and independent learner. On successful completion, you can apply to register with the professional body in Scotland and begin your career as a qualified social worker.

ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll choose one from:
Exploring mental health (K347)60Oct
Investigating health and social care (K323)60Oct
You'll complete your degree with:
Critical thinking in social work practice (K355)60Feb

By studying this degree, you’ll:
You’ll be supported by personal and programme tutors, rich multimedia resources, tutorials and employer-aligned practice guidance.
You’ll be awarded a BA (Honours) Social Work (Scotland) upon successful completion.
Your honours classification (first, upper second, lower second or third class honours)  will depend on the grades you achieve in 240 credits from graded OU modules above SCQF Level 7, of which at least 120 credits must be from modules at SCQF Level 10.
You'll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony and to apply to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for formal registration as a social worker.
If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.
You can achieve this degree in as little as four years and have a maximum of 10 years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.
You can complete this degree in four years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.
You can complete this degree in eight years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.
Your module website is your main base for learning. It gives you access to weekly study planners, course materials, and interactive activities. You’ll also take part in online forums that help you share experiences and connect with fellow students.
Learning combines enquiry-based and reflective study with supervised practice, encouraging you to think critically and apply theory to real-world social work situations. You’ll study social work knowledge, skills and values through flexible online modules, and then apply what you’ve learned in practice placements, developing confidence and professional competence as you progress.
You’ll receive academic support from your tutor through online tutorials, written feedback, and one-to-one contact. Practice modules also include face-to-face workshops, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop professional skills in communication, problem-solving, and reflection, and to learn collaboratively with your peers.
Practice learning is central to your degree. In Stage 2, you’ll complete a 10-day ‘preparation for practice’ exercise within your own workplace which is verified by your line manager or supervisor. This is followed by two 90-day practice placements in Stages 3 and 4. These 90-day placements must contrast from your substantive role and from each other, where you will be supported and assessed by qualified practice educators and workplace supervisors, ensuring your practice meets professional requirements in Scotland.
Assessment is varied and designed to reflect both academic and practice learning. You’ll complete assignments such as essays, reflections, and end-of-module assessments, while your professional competence is assessed during placements through reports and portfolios of evidence. This integrated approach ensures you’re prepared for social work roles in Scotland.
We aim to make your studies inclusive and accessible. Learning is supported through a blend of online and printed materials, workshops, and group activities. You’ll also benefit from ongoing guidance from your tutor, support from practice educators, and specialist student support teams, as well as access to the OU library, IT support services, and the wider OU community.
This degree course is restricted to students with at least one year’s experience in social care working alongside service users and carers in Scotland. Applications are welcomed from both sponsored and non-sponsored (independent) students who are eligible to apply.
All candidates for the degree must:
Independent route applicants must also:
You must also demonstrate an understanding of social care in practice and provide evidence of at least 12 months’ experience of working directly with service users and carers, verified through a reference from your employer.
Many students receive credit transfer for study completed elsewhere, enabling them to start this programme at Stage 2. However, some may need to complete additional modules at Stage 1.
¹If you do not have SCQF level 5 grade C in English, you can meet this requirement by successfully completing K102 or DD102 before you register for the degree. If you do not have SCQF level 5 grade C in Maths or equivalent, you can take an OU numeracy test administered by your employer (for sponsored students) or arranged by the OU Social Work team (for independent students).
If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.
It’s not just university study that can be considered; you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications, such as HNCs and HNDs.
You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.
For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
£32,704*
Your course fees cover your tuition, assessment and study materials, but there are still a few additional costs that can come with studying. For this qualification, you'll need:
*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to a fee limit, as set out in the University's Fee Rules.
Find out about all our available funding options below.
Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.
More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.
Combine your payment options to fund your studies the way you want.
If you’re a serving member of the British Armed Forces (or you’ve recently left), you may be eligible to use ELCs to cover up to 100% of your course fees.
You may be eligible for:
Employing agencies and individuals interested in this degree should contact the Social Work Co-ordinator at The Open University in Scotland at [email protected].
All applicants undergo a selection process. Successful candidates must also meet the SSSC registration conditions.
Independent students are invited to apply during or after studying the K123 module. Eligible students currently studying K123 (or have done so in the previous 2 years) are contacted to note their interest in applying and will be sent an application pack. Sponsored students may enter the degree from an earlier stage.
Sponsored students
For sponsored students, please discuss with your employing agency for further information regarding the entry stage and application deadlines.
This degree will develop the skills needed to work with individuals, families, carers, groups, communities, and other professionals, and you'll be able to demonstrate to employers your professional competence in social work practice. Employers sponsoring staff on this degree have commented that:
An honours degree in social work is now the professional qualification required for all social workers in the UK. Once you've successfully completed the degree course, you'll be entitled to apply for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a social worker.
Once you've successfully completed this degree course, you'll be entitled to apply to register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a social worker.
Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.
Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.
In the meantime, if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we've put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree):
Check you meet the Entry requirements, then see How to apply.
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Our prospectus will help you explore your course options, get a feel for life as an OU student, and register for study.
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