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An image to illustrate the BA (Honours) Social Work
Want to make a real difference in people’s lives? As a social worker, you’ll play a vital role in supporting and protecting some of society’s most vulnerable individuals. It’s challenging and rewarding work that demands motivation, commitment and a qualifying degree. Our distance learning, work-based Social Work degree, delivered in partnership with employers, offers a flexible alternative to traditional social work training. It gives you the opportunity to train and qualify while continuing to live and work in your community. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a qualified social worker with Social Care Wales (SCW).
This social work degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.
Our modular study approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that fits around your life. Whether you prefer a fast track or want to work at a slower rate, you can tailor your study plan to suit your needs.
You’ll study two 60-credit modules, developing essential underpinning knowledge and study skills, including digital and information literacy, while exploring contemporary perspectives on how we organise social care. This stage is the ideal start to your journey towards registration as a professional social worker, and as you progress, you’ll draw on your learning time and again.
ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Introducing health and social care (K102)60Oct | Feb
Foundations for social care and social work practice (K123)60Feb

You’ll study two 60-credit modules: a social work law module, followed by a practice module that includes a 90-day placement. You’ll cover legal issues across children and family services, youth justice, community care and mental health. You will then apply your learning to your own practice, gaining an understanding of the key roles social workers undertake alongside the knowledge, values and skills essential to the social work process.
ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Social work law (K271)60Oct
Applied social work practice (KZW216)60Feb

You’ll study two 60-credit modules, beginning with a choice from four specialist options to deepen your knowledge in a specific area of interest. You will then complete your degree with a practice-based module featuring another 90-day placement. This stage develops your skills as a confident, critical and analytical practitioner. On graduation, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with Social Care Wales (SCW) 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
Leading, managing, caring (K318)60Oct
Young lives, parenting and families (KE322)60Oct
You'll study the following:
Critical thinking in social work practice (K355)60Feb

You can complete this degree in as little as three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s 120 credits per year. To complete in three years, you’ll need to start your degree in October.
Don't worry if your circumstances change. You don’t have to stick to a full-time study pace. You can change the pace of your learning each year depending on what's right for you.

ModulesCreditsStart month
Stage 1 | Year 1
You'll study both of the following:
Introducing health and social care (K102)60Oct | Feb
Foundations for social care and social work practice (K123)60Feb
Stage 2 | Year 2
You'll study both of the following:
Social work law (K271)60Oct
Applied social work practice (KZW216)60Feb
Stage 3 | Year 3
You’ll choose one from:
Exploring mental health (K347)60Oct
Investigating health and social care (K323)60Oct
Leading, managing, caring (K318)60Oct
Young lives, parenting and families (KE322)60Oct
You'll study the following:
Critical thinking in social work practice (K355)60Feb

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That's one 60-credit module each year.

ModulesCreditsStart month
Stage 1 | Year 1
You'll start your degree with the following:
Introducing health and social care (K102)60Oct | Feb
Stage 1 | Year 2
You'll study the following:
Foundations for social care and social work practice (K123)60Feb
Stage 2 | Year 3
You'll study the following:
Social work law (K271)60Oct
Stage 2 | Year 4
You'll study the following:
Applied social work practice (KZW216)60Feb
Stage 3 | Year 5
You’ll choose one from:
Exploring mental health (K347)60Oct
Investigating health and social care (K323)60Oct
Leading, managing, caring (K318)60Oct
Young lives, parenting and families (KE322)60Oct
Stage 3 | Year 6
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 employer-based supervision, academic and practice tutors, and rich online learning materials.
You’ll be awarded a BA (Honours) Social Work (Wales) upon successful completion.
Your honours classification (first, upper second, lower second or third class honours) will depend on the grades you gain at Stages 2 and 3. 
You'll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
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 three years and have a maximum of 8 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 three 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 six 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 online module website is your main hub for study. It provides weekly planners, online course materials, and discussion forums where you can connect with peers and share insights as you progress.
You’ll learn through a blend of enquiry-based and reflective study, combined with supervised practice placements. Online modules give you a strong grounding in social work theory, policy, and values, while placements enable you to apply this knowledge directly in practice. This approach helps you build both confidence and professional competence.
Your academic tutor will guide your studies through online tutorials, assignment feedback, and one-to-one support. Practice learning modules also include face-to-face workshops, where you’ll work with fellow students to develop key skills in communication, reflection, and teamwork.
Practice learning is a core part of this qualification. You’ll complete two substantial placements: one of 90 days in Stage 2 and another of 90 days in Stage 3. Each placement is supported and assessed by qualified practice educators and workplace supervisors, ensuring you develop the capabilities required for professional social work practice in Wales.
You’ll be assessed through a range of methods that reflect both academic and practice learning. These include tutor-marked assignments, reflective writing, and end-of-module tasks, alongside formal assessments of your practice competence. This integrated approach ensures you can demonstrate both your academic knowledge and your ability to work effectively in social work settings.
Your learning is supported through a combination of online and printed materials, workshops, and practice-based activities. You’ll receive support from your tutor, practice supervisors, and dedicated student support teams, and you’ll also have access to the OU library, IT support services, and the wider OU community.
This degree course in Wales is restricted to:
All students must demonstrate:
Independent students must also have successfully completed the Certificate of Higher Education in Social Care Practice (Wales) (T34) within the last five years. This qualification constitutes Stage 1 of the BA (Honours) Social Work (Wales) degree, enabling students to enter directly at Stage 2 following selection.
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.

6 years
£4,088*
A degree is worth 360 credits. The fee per year is based on studying one 60-credit module per year for 6 years.
£24,528*
Our qualifications cost less than equivalent-level qualifications offered at campus-based universities.
Compare the cost of studying at the OU with other campus-based universities in England.
Honours Degree
Honours Degree
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at campus university*
£29,370
£29,370
Total cost at The Open University**
Total cost at The Open University**
£24,528
£24,528
Saving with The Open University
Saving with The Open University
£4,842
£4,842
Diploma of Higher Education
Diploma of Higher Education
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at campus university*
£19,580
£19,580
Total cost at The Open University**
Total cost at The Open University**
£16,352
£16,352
Saving with The Open University
Saving with The Open University
£3,228
£3,228
Certificate of Higher Education
Certificate of Higher Education
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at campus university*
£9,790
£9,790
Total cost at The Open University**
Total cost at The Open University**
£8,176
£8,176
Saving with The Open University
Saving with The Open University
£1,614
£1,614
Qualification
Qualification
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at The Open University**
Total cost at The Open University**
Saving with The Open University
Saving with The Open University
Honours Degree
Honours Degree
£29,370
£29,370
£24,528
£24,528
£4,842
£4,842
Diploma of Higher Education
Diploma of Higher Education
£19,580
£19,580
£16,352
£16,352
£3,228
£3,228
Certificate of Higher Education
Certificate of Higher Education
£9,790
£9,790
£8,176
£8,176
£1,614
£1,614
*Based on maximum chargeable fees for the 26/27 academic year.
**The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to the part-time fee limit, as set out in section 5 of the University's Fee Rules.
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.

Over 85% of our students in England fund their studies with a Tuition Fee Loan, meaning they pay nothing upfront.
Repay in monthly instalments while you study.
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:
Sponsored students should apply through their employing agency.
Independent students should apply directly to The Open University in Wales by contacting [email protected].
For further details about the application process for both routes, including how and when to apply, please contact The Open University in Wales at [email protected].
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 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 Social Care Wales (SCW) and begin your career as a qualified social worker.
This degree has been approved by Social Care Wales and is compliant with the Welsh Language Standards. Once you've successfully completed this degree course, you'll be entitled to apply to register with Social Care Wales 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 – including 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 (note that 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.
Request a prospectus
Check you meet the Entry requirements, then see How to apply.
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