The Department

The Department of Social Work in the University of West Attica (UNIVA) of Athens, is one of the four state Higher Education Institutes offering social work training in Greece (the other three are the TEI of Patras, the TEI of Crete and the Democritus University of Thrace).

The Department was established in 1985 under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. During the same year, all the former social work schools (the Diaconnisson School, the School of the Children Protection Committee and the Institute of Social Work School) were embodied in the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions of the TEI of Athens, offering undergraduate training in social work. In 2018 it was integrated in the newly established University of Western Attica as an autonomous Department.

During the four year full-time studies, students go through eight semesters; undertaking courses by either attending lectures or participating in workshops. After sucessfully completing their studies, students acqire the “Ptyhion in Social Work” (the Bachelor in Social Work) and they are eligible to registering as Certified Social Workers to the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity. 

A hundred and twenty (120) high-school graduates enter the department annually. The enrolled students begin their studies by either attending the winter or the summer semester.