Exploring the experiences of black ethnic group applicants on social work programmes at Goldsmiths

As part of South-East London (Social Work) Teaching Partnership’s (SELTP) successful sustainability bid, the Department for Education awarded funding to undertake a small-scale research project to investigate the barriers and opportunities which social work applicants from the black ethnic group experience in terms of their journey to become social work students at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Students from the black ethnic group constitute the majority of students on the BA and MA Social Work programmes at Goldsmiths. SELTP was interested in investigating obstacles and supports for applicants from this group to become social work students. The project focused on interviewing current social work students or social work graduates to understand their pre-enrolment experiences to become social work students at Goldsmiths, University of London.

As part of the funding agreement, the study’s findings are being shared with stakeholders with a view to improving the preparatory, admissions and enrolment experience of black applicants wanting to train to become social workers at Goldsmiths, University of London. It is hoped that these findings will support more applicants from diverse backgrounds to train to become social workers.