Social Work
Social work is built on a commitment to human dignity, social justice, and the right of every person to live a life of genuine flourishing. Social workers intervene at moments of crisis, vulnerability, and disadvantage, working with children and families at risk, adults experiencing mental health difficulties, older people needing care and support, people with disabilities, and communities facing systemic inequality. The work is demanding, ethically complex, and deeply important, and the training required to do it well combines scientific and theoretical knowledge with highly developed interpersonal and professional skills.
At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme leads to a degree that is recognised for entry into the social work profession in Scotland, where practice is regulated by the Scottish Social Services Council. You will study human development across the lifespan, the sociology of welfare and inequality, social work law and policy, assessment and intervention frameworks, and the ethical principles that guide professional practice. Substantial practice placements are a central requirement of the degree, giving you supervised experience in statutory and voluntary sector settings and developing the competencies that professional registration requires.
Edinburgh is an exceptionally rich location for social work education, with a diverse and complex city providing a wide range of practice learning opportunities. A typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the professional and academic demands of the programme.
Graduates register with the Scottish Social Services Council and are qualified to practise as social workers across children's services, adult social care, mental health, criminal justice social work, and the voluntary sector. Career progression within social work leads to senior practitioner, practice educator, team manager, and service leadership roles. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in specialist practice areas or research, and Edinburgh's strong academic environment supports this well.