Social and Community Work
Goldsmiths, University of London
UCAS Code: L541 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
T Level
Pass (C and above)
Each application will be considered on its individual merits. Where the T Level subject area does not directly match the degree programme being applied for, the personal statement and reference will be particularly important in demonstrating interest, enthusiasm and suitability for the subject.
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
**This programme is underpinned by a commitment to social justice and equalities, and allows you to combine the academic study of the social sciences, with the opportunity to apply your newfound skills and knowledge in the real world.**
You will study everything from social work and criminology to mental health, youth work, and community development. You will also specialise in your areas of interest through a range of optional modules, including youth justice, global youth work, and international development. The programme will also enable you to develop your understanding of the social sciences by participating in a number of work placements.
The Social and Community Work programme offers both opportunities for vocational experience and a foundation in a range of employment fields (the housing sector, mental health services, criminal justice, community development, working with young people and management responsibilities in the social and public sectors) and will equip students to work with people in a range of contexts or to qualify in their chosen field of interest at post-graduate level.
On this programme you will:
- Develop your academic and professional rigour by exploring a range of theoretical perspectives, and their practical applications
- Learn to critically engage with policy, particularly as it affects vulnerable people from a wide range of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds
- Have the opportunity to develop your transferable skills and knowledge which will contribute to your personal and career development.
- Explore reflective and reflexive practice, and build your confidence and competence to work independently and as a member of a team
- Enhance your critical understanding of equality, diversity, citizenship, and democracy and develop your ability to creatively address these in community contexts.
**Explore Social Justice and Equalities**
You will consider a range of issues throughout your studies including race and racism, disability, and LGBT discrimination, among others. You will be challenged to learn about yourself and develop into a self-reflexive professional worker. The BA Social and Community Work is responsive to changes in the wider political and policy context, and places emphasis on working with communities in ways which empower them to understand and address the contradictory implications.
**Prepare for a career or postgraduate study**
This programme will give you a strong foundation for moving into a career in the public and social professions, and charities sector. You will be given a broad introduction to work with young people and communities without restricting to a career and combine academic study with placements in professional practice to equip you for your chosen profession. The programme is also gate gateway into postgraduate study in social work, youth work, community work, other social care, and public professions.
You will be well equipped to work with people in a range of contexts or to qualify in your chosen field of interest at MA level. The Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies (STaCS) offers a guaranteed interview for all graduates of this programme who meet the entry requirements for selected MA programmes in Community Development, Youth Work, and a range of Counselling and Therapies programmes.
Modules
The curriculum draws on a wide range of intellectual resources, academic disciplines, and teaching methods, and will help you to develop the skills needed to work in different settings and organisations. You will engage in group work and participative learning, which will allow you to practice and apply what you learn in a very real sense with tutors and other students.
Year 1
In your first year, you will take the following compulsory modules:
Introduction to Community Development and Youth Work
Introduction to Group Work
Introduction to Applied Social Science
Introduction to Advanced Research Methods
Race, Racism and Professional Practice
Criminology, Law and Rights
Social Work with Children and Families
Identity, Agency & Environment 2
Year 2
In your second year, you will study the following compulsory modules, as well as one option module from the list below.
Compulsory modules:
Community Development in Context
OR
Youth Work in Context
Group Work in Theory
Group Work in Practice
Theory, Policy and Politics
Applied Research Methods 2
Mental Health, Trauma and Society
Personal and Professional Development
Option Modules:
Arts in the Community
Global Youth Work and International Development
Youth Justice
Religion, Belief and Spirituality in Professional Practice
The Goldsmiths Elective
Year 3
In your third year, you will study the following compulsory modules, and take one option module from the list below.
Compulsory modules:
Social Justice in Community Development and Youth Work
Management and Leadership
Critical Engagement with Social Policy
Dissertation
Housing and Homelessness
Work Placement
Option modules:
Faith-based youth work
Enterprise in Communities
Conflict Transformation
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
The Uni
Goldsmiths, University of London
Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Social work
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Social work
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
We're short of social workers - so if you want a degree that is in demand, then this could be the one for you! There's a shortage of social workers all over the UK, and graduates can specialise in specific fields such as mental health or children's social work. If you decide social work is not for you, then social work graduates also often go into management, education, youth and community work and even nursing. Starting salaries for this degree can reflect the high proportion of graduates who choose a social work career - social work graduates get paid, on average, more than graduates overall, but not all options pay as well as social work. This is also an unusual subject in that London isn't one of the more common places to find jobs - so if you want to get a job near to your home or your university this might be worth thinking about.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Social work
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£31k
£28k
£29k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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