To become a social worker you will need an honours or postgraduate degree in social work. You will also have to register with the Scottish Social Services Council once you have a place and before you start the course. This process includes an enhanced Disclosure Scotland check. Click here to find out more information about registration. The courses include practice learning where students are assessed while working in the field.

There are several options for social work training depending on your circumstances:

• The honours degree
• The postgraduate programmes including Diploma and Master level exits.  The above may include part time and distance learning options
• Degree and postgraduate initiatives.

Download a list of courses approved by the SSSC:

 List of university courses (31.04 kB)

The honours degree

• Normally the degree will take four years at university in Scotland
• You will need to satisfy the course entry requirements
• Most of the degree courses take account of relevant qualifications and employment  (eg if you have been working in social care and gained qualifications or if you have been to college to do an access course) and may offer advanced entry with credit based on this.

The postgraduate programme

• To be eligible for the postgraduate course you will normally need to hold an ordinary or honours degree. The postgraduate course is a two-year full time course.
• You will need to satisfy the course entry requirements

Part-time and distance learning

• This route is only available to people who already work in social care and there are a limited number of opportunities to train in this way as employers have to sponsor the worker, helping them with placements and funding.
• Some local authorities do offer other training schemes leading to a Social Work Qualification. For more information it would be best to approach a social services department in your area of choice.

Students resident in Scotland

Undergraduate

The Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will pay the tuition fees for all eligible full-time Scottish and EU students studying at publicly funded institutions in Scotland; the level of family income does not matter.  Loans, bursaries and other grants are also available, even if you are not studying in Scotland.  Family income is used to assess most of these.  Please apply to SAAS on 0845 111 1711.

Postgraduate

If you are seeking a place on a postgraduate programme and you hold a first degree or equivalent award, you may be eligible for a bursary from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). Bursaries are available if you have been offered a full-time place on a postgraduate programme in Scotland. The number of bursaries available are limited. To find out how applications are assessed and for financial information please email bursaries@sssc.uk.com.

Other sources of funding

You may be able to apply for a Career Development Loan. These loans are available to students studying in England, Scotland and Wales only. They can be contacted on 0800 585 505.

The National Union of Students (NUS) produces a series of information sheets on student finance. You can send an A4 stamped addressed envelope, showing the subject you need information on to: NUS Scotland, 29 Forth Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3LE, T: 0131 556 6598, F: 0131 557 5679 E: mail@nus-scotland.org.uk or www.nusonline.co.uk