Social Work

Social work is a demanding and rewarding profession, concerned with supporting individuals, families, and communities facing some of the most complex and difficult challenges in social life. Social workers work across children's services, adult care, mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, homelessness, and a range of other statutory and voluntary contexts, drawing on a combination of legal knowledge, psychological understanding, ethical reasoning, and interpersonal skill to advocate for and support people in need. The profession requires both intellectual rigour and deep personal commitment.

This four-year, full-time programme at Robert Gordon University is the largest social work education provider in Scotland and has a strong track record of producing highly employable graduates. The programme equips you with the knowledge, values, and skills required to practise as a qualified social worker, covering the legislative frameworks that govern social work practice, social work theory and methods, social policy, psychology, and the ethics and values of the profession. Substantial supervised practice placements are a core requirement, giving you real experience of social work in statutory and voluntary settings under the guidance of qualified practitioners.

Successful completion of this programme leads to eligibility for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council as a qualified social worker, which is required to practise in Scotland. Graduates work across local authority children's and adult services, NHS social work, the voluntary sector, and specialist organisations working with particular populations and needs. Social work also offers routes into team leadership, management, policy development, and academic social work for those who wish to develop their careers in those directions.

The profession is in steady demand across Scotland, and Robert Gordon's reputation in the field means graduates are well placed to secure employment.