Why we interview you
Receiving an invite to a university interview is special and shows we are interested in getting to know you. It's a chance to demonstrate why you want to study social work, plus the values and experience you already have.
Nervous? Don't be - we aren't trying to catch you out. There are no hidden agendas or trick questions. We're simply trying to find out why you're interested in our course and make sure it's the right fit for you.
Remember, this is also your chance to get to know us. You can ask us questions about the course and check out the campus, to make sure UCLan is the right university for you.
What we'll ask you
We can ask any questions on the day, but they will normally be centred around 3 key topics:
1. Why do you want to study social work?
This is your chance to show your motivation to study social work. Perhaps you want a job where you can make a difference to people's lives, or perhaps you're interested in a particular topic we cover. You could indicate an interest in a certain area of social work, such as children and families, adult disabilities, or mental health.
You should also show why you want to study our course specifically. For example, our Social Work BA (Hons) course is accredited by Social Work England with real-life placements built in. That means you can register as a qualified social worker after graduation and start looking for work. You could also reference a particular module you're interested in, such as safeguarding.
2. Where do you want this course to take you?
In other words, what are your career goals? If you want to become an journalist, then maybe there are other courses that are better suited to you.
You should ideally want a career within the social work sphere. You don't have to know exactly what you want to do, but a general idea can help. For example, would you prefer to work with children or recovering addicts?
3. What characteristics or experience do you have which could help you on this course?
This is your chance to show why you will succeed on our course. Read our course description and look for the skills and characteristics you will need. Then, demonstrate that you have them. Try to use an example from school, work or a hobby.
We don't expect you to have years of experience in a social work role - after all, that's why you're studying with us. But do you have experience that could be relevant to social work?
For example, have you volunteered at a domestic violence phoneline and received training on how to speak to victims? Or have you worked with children, which has reinforced how important effective safeguarding policies are?
What we want to see
During your interview, we want to see your awareness of key areas in social work. This could include:
- Social work values and ethics
- The skills social workers require
- What social workers do or where they work
- The different people that social workers work with
- The importance of working with service users and listening to their voice
- Current topics and discussions linked to social work
- The challenges that social workers may face
- The legislation that social workers may use to support people
Please note you don't need to know all of this, but a general awareness could help you during interviews.
How to prepare
Here are some tips to prepare for your social work university interview:
What to wear
There is no strict dress-code for our social work university interview. Most people wear smart-casual clothes, like work trousers and a nice top or jumper. There's no need to go out and buy a new suit.
Please read your interview letter carefully in case it does mention a dress-code.
Where next?
We hope this has helped you prepare for your social work university interview. Browse our courses and resources below to find out more.
