The UK's shortage of qualified social workers may be resolved in the next few years as more students than ever before enter higher education courses aimed at social work jobs.

According to UCAS, the universities admissions body, applications in the UK for the social work degree rose by 41% over 2009. Around 52,000 people have applied to enter full time undergraduate courses studying social work beginning in the 2010-11 academic year. This is an increase of 15,000 on last year, when 37,000 people applied.

13,800 more people have also applied to the foundation degree for social work. These applications have made degrees for social work jobs the 10th most popular subject out of the UCAS list of 180 course categories, in what is said to be a record year for higher education applicants.

22.9% more people applied for higher education over the course of 2009 as of the 22nd of January 2010 - 570,556 people across all subjects.

The increased interest in studying to become a qualified social worker could be attributed to two national recruitment campaigns that have run in England and Wales over the past year. The 'Help Give Them A Voice' and 'Be the Difference' campaigns, both funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, encouraged people to enter social work to help protect the UK's vulnerable children.