Specialist Professional Child and Family Studies BA(Hons) top-up/Graduate Certificate/PgCert: Entry requirements

BA(Hons) top-up entry requirements

• A Diploma in Higher Education in Social Work, Social Care or another relevant subject (or a professional social work qualification recognised for purposes of registration as a social worker on the GSCC Register) and relevant practice experience at a suitable level.

For social workers undertaking Specialist Social Work with children, young people, families and carers:

• Evidence of current registration on the General Social Care Council (GSCC) register as a social worker.
• Confirmation that the applicant is engaged in current professional practice with children, young people, families and carers and is likely to continue practising during the duration of the programme and has the support of any relevant employer.

Graduate Certificate entry requirements

• An Honours degree (normally at least at second class) in Social Work, Social Care or another relevant subject and relevant practice experience at a suitable level; OR
• a recognised social work qualification and significant relevant professional practice experience in social work.

For social workers undertaking Specialist Social Work:

• Evidence of current registration on the General Social Care Council (GSCC) register as a social worker.
• Confirmation that the applicant is engaged in current professional practice with children, young people, families and carers and is likely to continue practising during the duration of the programme and has the support of any relevant employer.

PgCert entry requirements

• A first or second class honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma in a subject relevant to the course and a relevant professional qualification; OR a professional qualification in social work or related profession and substantial current or recent experience in a relevant setting for the course. 'Substantial' experience may be considered in the light of the applicant's qualitative rather than quantitative experience
• Registered social workers seeking to progress to GSCC PQ Specialist Social Work should have passed a Consolidation module at normally at 2.1 level.
• All applicants must normally be working in settings which will allow them to undertake the practice elements of the programme.
• Students are expected to show academic potential to study at masters level.

In exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the programme director, applicants lacking in one of the above requirements may be permitted to join the programme. This is providing they demonstrate the capacity to complete the course successfully, as evidenced by professional references, examples of previous academic work or personal interview. Such applicants may be registered as associate students in the first instance for the first module of their programme.

International applicants

If your first language is not English, advanced English language competence in the form of appropriate certificated learning (IELTS requirement of 7.0 or equivalent) must be demonstrated as detailed in Kingston University's Admission Regulations.

Prior learning - AP(E)L

Applicants offering prior qualifications and learning may be exempt from appropriate parts of a course in accordance with the University's policy for the assessment of prior learning and prior experiential learning. Some examples are shown below:

See Accreditation of prior learning (APL) for health and social care courses to find out more.