PgDip Social Work (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship)

The PgDip Social Work (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship) equips you with the knowledge, skills, and professional experience needed to make a meaningful impact in people's lives. This course blends rigorous academic study with practical placements, ensuring you learn in both classroom and real-world settings. You’ll engage with service users, carers, and experienced practitioners, gaining first-hand insight into the realities of social work practice. Our teaching team, alongside guest speakers and lived experience sessions, brings the challenges and rewards of the profession to life. Throughout the course, you’ll connect theory with practice, developing essential competencies in assessment, intervention, and professional decision-making. Graduates are well-prepared to work across a variety of settings, including local authorities, NHS Trusts, schools, residential care, voluntary organisations, and private agencies. In addition to eligibility for professional registration, you’ll enhance

To apply for an apprenticeship, you must be supported by your employer and work in a setting where you have:

You must also have previous experience (voluntary or paid) in a social care setting. This can include placements which you've undertaken as part of a college course, but we do expect more experience than this. This could include volunteering during weekends, evenings, or holidays. We may also consider any personal experience you might have. You should clearly describe this experience in the personal statement section of your application and show how this relates to a career in social work.

We also require:

If you meet the entry criteria, you'll be invited to a selection day, which includes a written test, group exercise, and individual interview.

IELTS 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component) — standard University of Sunderland requirement (source: sunderland.ac.uk/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements)

September 2026 Apprenticeship

Apply via UCAS — equal consideration deadline

• Sunderland, United Kingdom