social work degree- general info pls!

sjaypink

hi, well ive all of a sudden decided to throw myself into seriously looking into this, as its been on the back burner for a while....

anyone know what the applications deadlines are for a 2009 start?

also- it seems the deadlines for funding applications are the end of this month? :eek: .....and the funding for social work is different to other courses?

possibly the most important question: if a course describes itself as full time, what does this actually mean? how much time will you be required to spend actually at uni?

any info/ experience is much appreciated- thanks in advance!!!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

U'm first year social work, i'll try and answer your questions but I know there are a few who post on here that have more knowedge than me :-)

As far as funding i'm not 100% but i know there is one girl on my course who is just getting round to applying for social work bursary, i've always believed you could apply for funding up to 9 months after the begining of your course.

Also funding will depend on your curcumstances but everyone who does S/W gets a bursary and it's NOT means tested, so everyone gets the same amount.

As for hours that will also depend on your uni, my friend is doing S/W at a different uni to me and got to pick her modules so has little time in class, I didn't and usually spend around 15 hrs lecture time/ seminars classes, but that is also as they've squeezed a module in we were going to do last term, iykwim. Each unit will have a recommended amount of independant learning time.

Hope that answers a few questions. I'd love to go into more detail but I have broke my wrist and an typing one handed and I'm in alot of pain (damn that ice!). but will answer any more questions you have, in short bursts. However like I say, there are a few S/W students on here who will prob give you more detailed answers.... good luck.

SL x

sjaypink

thankyou very much! i was most interested in the time thing initially- more than 25 hrs pw at uni and i would have to discount the idea altogether- so thats good.

as for funding- it could be that i have misread, and the deadline is for those who started last autumn then.

umm, not sure i have the necessary quals to go straight in- but it does say considerations will be made etc on the unis website. have gcse's, nvq levels 2 & 3, and a level 4 counselling diploma....?

btw, poor you! hope you make a swift recovery!

[Deleted User]

Please don't take my opinion on funding as gospel, I'd not bet my life on it lol. Maybe someone else can offer advice.

I did an access course to get on my degree also had an English gcse and Math gcse equivelent. I'm not sure on how much entry requirements vary, buut if you have Math/English and experience, don't discount it, i know a few mature students who didn't come straight form the access route but got in on their level of experience.

If you have the qualifications above I say apply, I had a little experience of S/W and have personal life experience in areas that are related to it so I think it was that what helped me get on the course rather than my access quals.
But there are others who have come straight from A levels, thats the thing with S/W we can all bring something to the table and have a real mix on our course.

SL x

Oldernotwiser

sjaypink wrote: »

thankyou very much! i was most interested in the time thing initially- more than 25 hrs pw at uni and i would have to discount the idea altogether- so thats good.

as for funding- it could be that i have misread, and the deadline is for those who started last autumn then.

umm, not sure i have the necessary quals to go straight in- but it does say considerations will be made etc on the unis website. have gcse's, nvq levels 2 & 3, and a level 4 counselling diploma....?

btw, poor you! hope you make a swift recovery!

The 2 universities that I'm most familiar with timetable all the classes on 2 days a week, leaving the rest of the time available for work placements in the 2nd and 3rd years. I'm not sure, obviously, how common that arrangement is.

It's certainly worth enquiring with the qualicifations you list, as long as you have GCSE Grade C (or equivalent) in English and Maths. If they want more, you could look at doing either an Access course or the OU Social Sciences foundation course, either of which would take one year and be acceptable for entry.

squirrelchops

Hi, I am currently a second year SW student.

In the first year we were in 4 days a week in the first semester and 3 in the second semester. However they have sinced balanced it out better as we had 6 modules the first semester and 4 in the second.

I am coming to the end of my first 100 day placement which required full time working hours, 5 days per week. I don't think anyone has been able to work part time on top of this as we have had a lot of written work to do on top of the placement.

As regrds application dedalines you need to apply through UCAS. i think deadlines for this are normally mid January but they will usually accept late applications.....best to contact them directly.

Funding: as others have said you will be entitled to a bursary...think is about £4,500 per annum at present. You may well then qualify for tuition fees loan, student loan(everyone can get) and a maintenance grant which is means tested.

Hope this info helps and good luck. It is hard work and not only in terms of academic work but it really makes you challenge who you are as a person so be prepared!

[Deleted User]

I agree with Squirrelchops im terms of it changing you. I'm surprised by how my views have changed since starting uni, even tho I considered my views appropriate to S/W. I now look at things differentally, but I love it.

Also, in regards to placement, I start my first 80 day in Sept and we've been told that we will have no academic essays to do, but will have to keep records/reflective diary whilst n our placement.

It seemd most uni's gruop their "uni time" into 2/3 days, I'm not so lucky, I'm in everyday, although it may only be an hour or two, I find it both frustraiting (going in for an hrs seminar at 3pm) and helpful, going in for an hrs lecture at 9 then all day in the library.

SL x

squirrelchops

Cor lucky you sallylizzie.

We had to do another module alongside the placement, completing 2 assignments for that.

We then have to do a portfolio for the placement and a 5000word case study as well as a relective journal!!

[Deleted User]

WOW...well i really hope I was listening properly when she was talking about it... I'm pretty sure she said no essays!! I (thought) she said we'd (obviously) have no time in uni therefore no essays, just our journal, but maybe there will be other work relating to our placement

(off to check that now :-)

sjaypink

thanks for all the info everyone. its (timetable & application quals & deadlines) obviously something i need to speak directly to the uni about as i guess it differs. :A

the main problem i had with time is that the kids are still young and the uni is 1 hr train journey or 90mins drive away, so travelling times plus childcare would be a nightmare if 5 days a week. i believe work placement could be arranged in my local town, rather than the uni town- so this wouldnt be a problem...

one more thing then- do you all feel confident about securing jobs after qualifying? i have heard there is a national shortage of social workers- but is this still likely to be the case in 4/5 years?!

[Deleted User]

I'd check about being able to do a placement in your local town, though I'm not saying it's impossible, we can only do placements where the uni have approved, something to do with being trained according to the uni's degree, not explained very well cos i'm not 100% sure what she meant, but the only way I can explain it is someone in the course lives a train ride away and was told they had no placement teams in her area. sorry for the ramble (blame the pain killers)
As for securing a job, yes i'm confident as it's not just with the LA but also the voluntary sector, I guess it depends what area you want to go into, but for me, I'm not worried.

As for childcare travel. I'm lucky I live very close to my uni, but the very nature of the degree they will be family friendly. We are given the opportunity to switch classes that cause us major problems and although you can't have it all to fit in with you (not meaning you specifically just in general) they are as accommodating as they can be.

It's good you're thinking about these issues now though, so you'll be more than prepared when you get there. But it's to say, if you want it, it is a do able thing, yes it's hard with a family, travelling will be tough at times, but an hr on the train is a perfect time to get some reading in :-)

SL x