Social work

Social workers across Scotland have been trained through the highly-regarded qualifications The Open University offers at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Our Bachelor of Art (Honours) Social Work (Scotland) degree, and 'fast track' Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work are approved by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), the country's social work regulator. 

The quality, flexibility and collaborative nature of our Open University social work education was praised in the SSSC's most recent Periodic Quality Review.

All of our students already work in health and social care. Through either of these two study routes, they can potentially learn and upskill while continuing to earn at work. 

Whether based in the public, private or third sector, many students are supported in their studies by their current employer. This may be financial support and/or a placement opportunity. For employers, these two OU qualifications can provide opportunities to grow their own workforce talent. For learners who are unable to secure employer financial or placement support there is an option to apply and study independently. 

With either of those two social work qualifications:

  • Candidates need at least one year’s experience working directly with service users to apply. This is supported by a reference from their current line manager.
  • Students are required to evidence 10 days verified practice within a social care/social work setting before they can progress on to the practice learning modules. This verification should be completed by their line manager/employer.

We also offer a pathway to study for a Masters of Arts degree in Social Work.

Find out more below.

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Find out more about our qualifications, including when these start, entry requirements, how to apply, plus fees and funding information:

Our Faculty Co-ordinator for Social Work in Scotland can provide advice about eligibility criteria for a potential Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) bursary, if studying our postgraduate diploma without employer support.     

If you have any questions about potential studies:

Contact our Scotland social work team.

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Employers can support their staff to study social work in many ways, such as paying fees and/or providing placement opportunities:

Discuss supporting a prospective student:

Contact our social work staff tutors.

Image of OU graduate Vitalis Mumbure with the quote My studies have changed me as an individual and it has offered me so many opportunities.

Discover Vitalis's full story.

Jodie McIntyre is studying our Bachelor of Art (Honours) Social Work (Scotland) degree. In the following video, she shares her experiences.

I've really enjoyed being a student at The Open Uni. I went into it instead of going to a mainstream university.

I just thought it was an easier path because I could gain experience alongside of studying as well. And it's really flexible.

So, I've had time, you know, to go and do my studies, but then go away and work and then come back with a bit of a fresher lens on it. So, it's really, it's been great.

I liked, you know, supporting people, helping people, and, you know, my mum's a carer, and I thought, you know, I don't really want to maybe care for people, but I maybe want to support them, empower them. And then I kind of fell into social work.

And yeah, that's where I'm now really passionate about it now yeah. 

So, when I started the degree, I was only 18. So, back then, I think I was probably a bit naive about what social work actually was and what it was going to entail.

So at that point I was kind of, don't know, like I was a bit scared about going into it and stuff and I was like is this really for me but then going away and working for different charities and working in a sector with young people, I then realised, no, no, actually this is what I really want to do.

I feel like the modules and stuff as well have been great, and I've really enjoyed all aspects of the modules.

I went and did an HNC at college and then being 18 and applying for unis for social work it was so difficult and I was getting declined left, right and centre.

So then seeing that I could also go and do my degree through The Open Uni and it was a bit more flexible and a bit more laidback, I thought that was a bit of a better path than, yeah, going into a mainstream uni.

It's just a really enjoyable course and even though it's distance learning, you don't actually really feel alone in it, you know.

You're really well supported by the tutors and you still get the opportunities to meet with the other students online and sometimes in person as well, which I really do enjoy.

The one thing as well, I think it's, I don't, I feel like you don't really realise how different it is going like an independent route than it is a sponsored route because I've done both.

The independent route was a lot tougher because I was having to fund a lot of it myself.

But then working for my local authority, they then funded my final year for me, which has been a great weight off my shoulders because I'm still able to study and like not having that financial burden on my head as well.

So yeah, it's great to get sponsored if you can.