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An image to illustrate the BA (Honours) Social Work
Want to make a difference in people’s lives? Social workers support and protect society’s most deprived and vulnerable people. It's challenging and rewarding work, requiring high motivation and commitment, and a qualifying degree. Our Social Work degree is approved by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), and successful completion entitles you to apply for registration as a social worker. As part of this work-based programme, you’ll need to have current experience working in a social work/care capacity, and you'll also need the sponsorship of a relevant social work/care employer throughout your degree.
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, as it allows you to demonstrate your social work values, skills, and knowledge in order to prepare you for your first practice placement.
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 (KZNI123)60Feb

You’ll study two 60-credit modules: a social work law module followed by a practice module, which includes an 85-day placement. You’ll study legislation and its application across adult, child and family services, while also building a broader knowledge base. You will then apply social work theory and models of intervention to your own practice, and demonstrate the capacity to work in situations of greater complexity and risk. This stage deepens your understanding of the key roles social workers play within the social work process.
ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Social work law (K271)60Oct
Applied social work practice (K216)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 a 100-day placement. This stage develops your skills as a confident, analytical, and reflective learner and an independent practitioner. After successfully completing your degree, you can apply to register for your assessed year in employment (AYE) with the social work regulator in Northern Ireland and begin your career as a newly 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 the following:
Introducing health and social care (K102)60Oct | Feb
Foundations for social care and social work practice (KZNI123)60Feb
Stage 2 | Year 2
You'll study the following:
Social work law (K271)60Oct
Applied social work practice (K216)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 (KZNI123)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 (K216)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 throughout by module and practice tutors, flexible learning materials, and regular feedback.
You’ll be awarded a BA (Honours) Social Work (Northern Ireland) 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 study hub is where you’ll organise and manage your learning. It includes weekly planners, online course materials, and discussion forums to help you stay connected with fellow students and share experiences.
You’ll study through a combination of enquiry-based and reflective approaches, alongside supervised practice learning. Online modules introduce you to social work theory, values, and policy, while placements give you the chance to apply this learning in real-world situations. This balance helps you develop both your academic understanding and your professional competence.
Your academic tutor will support you through online tutorials, feedback on assignments, and one-to-one guidance. You’ll also attend workshops – some online, some face-to-face in Belfast – that focus on developing professional skills such as communication, problem-solving, and reflective practice.
Practice placements are central to your learning journey. In Stage 2, you’ll complete an 85-day placement, followed by a 100-day placement in Stage 3. You’ll be guided and assessed by qualified practice teachers and workplace supervisors, who ensure you develop the skills and confidence required for social work practice in Northern Ireland.
Assessment combines academic and practice elements. You’ll complete assignments such as essays, short-answer tasks, and reflective writing, while your practice competence is formally assessed during placements. This integrated approach ensures you’re able to show both your theoretical knowledge and your professional skills.
You’ll benefit from online and printed resources, workshops, and group learning, as well as guidance from your tutor and practice supervisors. Dedicated student support teams, the OU library, IT support services, and the wider OU community are also there to support you throughout your studies.
Some modules that make up this degree are available for standalone study. However, you can only apply to study the BA (Honours) Social Work (Northern Ireland) if you:
If your employer is not a DPLP or APLP, they should contact the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) for further information.
To study this degree, you must also:
Credit transfer for this degree is extremely limited because it is a professional programme. Restrictions such as time limits and credit applicability will apply.  However, if you’ve already completed some study with the OU or at another university within the last 5 years, you may be able to count credit towards the Stage 1 module Introducing health and social care (K102).
For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
No funding information is available for your location.
Places on this qualification are limited.
You cannot apply directly to the OU. Entry to the degree must be through nomination from your employing agency.
There is no option to self-fund on this programme. Tuition fees for successful applicants are paid either by:
For more information, we've put together some Frequently Asked Questions for individuals interested in the programme.
Please note: Social work students at the OU are not eligible for the Department of Health Student Incentive Scheme.
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 minimum professional qualification required for all social workers in the UK.
Once you’ve successfully completed this degree course, you’ll be entitled to apply for registration as an AYE-qualified social worker with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and begin your social work career.
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):
Unfortunately, this qualification isn't available to students resident in England.
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Unfortunately, this qualification isn't available to students resident in England.
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