Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies in Criminology and Social Work
E-mail: socialwork@lancaster.ac.uk | criminology@lancaster.ac.uk
Admissions
We aim to recruit between 25 and 30 undergraduate students each year.
Applications
We welcome applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds - school or college leavers, including those who want to take a year out before going to university, and mature students.
Applications for undergraduate social work are made through UCAS. Applications are made and submitted on line. You can access the UCAS website here.
Applications should be made between 1st September and 15th January. Later applications will be considered only at the University's discretion.
Admissions requirements
Lancaster University accepts applicants with a wide variety of qualifications including, Access courses, BTECs, Scottish Highers and A level qualifications:
A levels: ABB
General Studies: Accepted as one of the best 3 grades, if 4 A-levels are presented.
Subject Preference: None
Scottish Highers: BBBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information.
International Bacc: 32 overall with 16 points from best three HL courses
BTEC: Overall grades DDM
HNC/HND: Pass
Access to Higher Education: Typically, we require a majority of Distinction grades in Level 3 units with Merit in remaining Level 3 units.
English Language and Mathematics
Social work entrants must hold at least a GCSE grade C in English Language and Mathematics (O Level grade C, or CSE grade 1 are the equivalent). We also accept Key Skills Level Two qualifications. You will be required to declare that you have these qualifications.
For students whose first language is not English an IELTS score of 7 is required.
Information technology
All applicants must show an ability to use basic IT facilities, including word processing, internet browsing and use of email. You will be required to declare that you have such an ability.
Previous relevant experience
Applicants will be expected to have had experience in paid or voluntary work in a helping capacity, or to have personal experience of receiving care, which indicates their potential to become qualified social workers and that they are fully informed in their decision to study social work.
Admissions process
For entry to social work courses we hold several recruitment days between November and April. The recruitment days will introduce applicants to the social work courses at Lancaster University and will give applicants the opportunity to talk informally with social work students, to take a tour of the University campus and to ask questions of the social work teaching team.
On the recruitment days applicants will have to do a:
- a written exercise
- a group-based exercise facilitated by a service user or practitioner
- an individual interview with a member of the social work teaching team.
If you are invited to a recruitment day you will be sent information about the purpose of the three activities. In brief, however, the aim of the activities is to ensure that students admitted to study social work have the potential professional capabilities to practice it on graduation. The activities, therefore, will be concerned, among other things, with assessing your:
- knowledge and understanding of social work as a professional practice
- knowledge and understanding of the value and ethical basis of social work
- ability to critically reflect and analyse
- ability to write a piece of work with a coherent structure and a visible argument
- ability to engage with others and the skills needed to do this
The activities will be assessed by social work team members from the Department of Applied Social Science, and by practitioners and service users.
Criminal Convictions, disciplinary action and vulnerable adults and children
All members of social work courses are required to apply for enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau, which will reveal details of any cautions or convictions. Whilst a caution or conviction may not be a barrier to accessing the programme, some agencies may refuse to provide placements to students with convictions. If they do this we will be unable to offer a place on the course.
Failure to declare cautions and convictions, including driving offences, is viewed very seriously and will normally result in students being asked to withdraw from the course.
You will also be required to declare if you have ever been subject to any disciplinary action, or if you have ever been subject to an allegation involving child protection issues and/or the abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults.
Failure to declare disciplinary action or an allegation involving child protection issues and/or the abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults is viewed very seriously and will normally result in students being asked to withdraw from the course.
Health requirements and disability
The HCPC has produced a useful guide for disabled people considering becoming a health or social care professional. It can be accessed here.
Our responsibilities
Under Part 6 of the Equality Act 2010 the University has a duty to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged in the admissions process and during their course of study. The University’s disability policies and the support it offers disabled students can be viewed here.
Disclosing a disability
On applying for the social work programmes you do not have to disclose if you have a disability. However, it is recommended that you do as the earlier we know about it the more time we have to prepare to support you.
What you can expect
If we know about your disability we must consider whether reasonable adjustments may be necessary to facilitate your studying at the University. If they are we must then consider whether, having made the adjustment, you will be able to meet the standards of proficiency for social work set by the HCPC. If the University is satisfied that reasonable adjustments are appropriate and that on completing the course you will meet the standards of proficiency (and you have been assessed at a Recruitment Day as being suitable for the course) we would expect to offer you a place.
In advance of recruitment days we will give invited applicants the opportunity to disclose any disability they consider they face. This is so that, in consultation with the University’s Student Wellbeing Services, we may make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment days for those people facing disabilities.
Finance
Tuition fees and living expenses
The tuition fees for the study of undergraduate social work are currently £9,000 per year for home students and for students from European Union countries, and £12,070 per annum for students from countries outside of the European Union.
Of course, the amount that students require to support themselves depends on their personal circumstances. However, the University has calculated average living costs for studying at Lancaster. The costing can be viewed here. They vary from £6,720 per annum for a single student to £13,600 per annum for a couple with three children.
For further details about fees and living costs see the University’s website on such issues here.
Bursary
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) administers the social work bursary for students ordinarily resident in England on behalf of the Department of Health (DH). Information about the bursary including the eligibility criteria can be found on the NHSBSA website.
The social work bursary scheme is currently being reviewed and you should regularly check the NHSBA website to keep up to date with any changes that will be in place for entry from 2013.
Other financial support
In addition to a bursary undergraduate social work students may also be entitled to a reduced student loan to help meet their living costs. See the NHSBA website for details here.
Lancaster University also has a number of scholarships and bursaries that you may be entitled to. You can view details here.
Further Information
If you have any questions about the undergraduate social work schemes at Lancaster University please contact the Social Work Courses Admissions Office in the first instance:
Tel: 01524 594098
E-mail: socialwork@lancaster.ac.uk
Useful Websites
The following websites are likely to be useful to you in developing your understanding of social work as a profession. They are all externally provided and Lancaster University cannot be held responsible for their content.
College of Social Work. The College of Social Work is an independent, not-for-profit body that is committed to developing and promoting the social work profession. Click here to access its website.
Health and Care Professions Council. The HCPC is the regulating body for social work and other health and care professionals. It keeps a register of health and care professionals (including social workers) who meet the Standards of Proficiency that it sets. Click here for its website.
NHS Business Services Authority. The NHSBA administers the social work bursary for students ordinarily resident in England. Click here to access its website.
Social Work Action Network (SWAN). SWAN is a network of social work practitioners, academics, students and social welfare service users that promotes a model of social work rooted in social justice. Click here for its website.
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