Social Work MA

What makes Social Work at Worcester special?

The MA in Social Work delivers a professional qualification combined with an academic award. Successful completion of the course means individuals are eligible to apply to join the Social Work England register which is a requirement in order to practice as a social worker in England.

This course is approved by Social Work England.

Overview

Key features

The course dynamically integrates theory and practice embracing both learning in the classroom and in placement settings. The course provides a generic learning opportunity encompassing all service user groups and every effort is made to involve service users, carers, practitioners and managers from across the social work arena in the learning experience.
While the course works to the UK points of reference including the QAA benchmarks and the requirements of Social Work England, the course team also embrace the International Federation of Social Work's definition: The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.

What qualifications will you need?

Entry requirements

Before applying candidates should possess the following:

An Honours Degree at 2:1 or above in a relevant degree
GCSE English Language & Maths grade C/4 or above (or a certifiable equivalent)
Satisfactory occupational health clearance
Satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check
A minimum of three months contemporary, relevant practice experience verified by reference
Candidates whose first language is not English must have a minimum standard of English at IELTS level 7, with no element below level 6.5

Other information

Given that students will be allocated placements in rural areas, access to a car or supported mobility arrangements for the duration of the placements is essential. The ability to meet this requirement will be checked at interview.

Interview

Selected candidates will be assessed using the ‘Point of Entry’ Level on the Professional Capabilities Framework which can be found on the website www.basw.co.uk. The interview day has 3 exercises: a written exercise, a group exercise and an individual interview. Service users and carers, practitioners and academic staff will be part of the interview process. The interview process will check the candidate's ability to communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written English.

Candidates with additional support needs should contact the admissions tutor prior to interview to ensure the correct support and necessary reasonable adjustments are available at interview.

Successful candidates will be required to complete the University's suitability documentation and an occupational health check as well as obtain an enhanced DBS statement.

A limited number of Social Work students will be put forward for an NHS bursary.

Student view

Current student Maisie talks about how she is finding the course.

What will you study

The modules for this course are currently being reviewed and updated for 2024 entry; for the latest information please contact the course leader.

Modules - year 1	Fundamentals of practice Theories, approaches and skills Applied law and policy for social workers Assessment and safeguarding Human growth and developing capability Practice - developing capability
Modules - year 2	Complex practice Dissertation Practice - achieving capability

Modules - year 1

Fundamentals of practice
Theories, approaches and skills
Applied law and policy for social workers
Assessment and safeguarding
Human growth and developing capability
Practice - developing capability

Modules - year 2

Complex practice
Dissertation
Practice - achieving capability

Graduate view

Recent Social Work MA graduate Melissa talks about her time on the course.

How will you be taught?

The course is offered as a two-year full-time degree course. During the taught elements students will be in the university for a minimum of two days per week and during the placement periods will be in the agency 4.5 days a week over the course of both years.

While the expectation is that students register for and complete the Masters award (180 credits), some students may for various reasons not meet the full requirement but may be able to claim an interim award: Postgraduate Certificate in Social Welfare Studies (minimum 60 credits) or Postgraduate Diploma in Social Welfare Studies (minimum 120 credits).

Applicants should note that only the full MA Social Work award will enable them to apply for registration with Social Work England as social worker.

Teaching and Learning

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support through the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will enable you to flourish and be successful.

Teaching

You are taught through a range of traditional and creative teaching strategies. This includes formal lectures and seminars complimented by a 'flipped classroom' approach, a blended learning strategy that reverses traditional learning. You will engage in peer and self-assessment to promote autonomy in your learning. This also includes a Practice Portfolio which formatively and summatively supports learning and assessment in placement. Additionally, information technology is used to support casework in practice and teaching and assessment in academic modules. Recall days offer an opportunity for you to reflect on experiences in practice, to share best practice and to debate, evaluate and consolidate your learning experiences

In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year and 3 occasions in year 2 of the course.

You have the opportunity to undertake 2 practice placements: a 70 days placement in year 1 and a 100-day placement in year 2.

Contact time

In a typical week you will have around 9 contact hours of teaching, which will include a mix of lecturing activities as well as seminar activities.

During the practice placements as well as in the final year there is less contact time in order to allow students to focus more on independent study. Both placements take place over the summer months.

Typically class contact time will be structured around:

Lectures
During the practice placement, around placement meetings and recall days
During dissertation, through group and individual tutorials

Independent self-study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 30 hours of personal self-study per week. Typically, this will involve reading, literature searching, directed study activities via Blackboard, online discussions and preparation for assessment.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Teaching staff

You will receive teaching from a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are matched closely to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior social work academics with practice expertise from a range of practice contexts in the statutory and voluntary sectors, experienced practitioners from our partner social work agencies and service users and carers from the University IMPACT group, who have a wide range of experience of using social work and social care services.

A range of contemporary social work research and development activity informs the team's teaching. In addition, 90 per cent of course lecturers are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy and hold a higher education teaching qualification. You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or 'formative' assignments. Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessment which is graded and counts towards the overall module grade.

Assessment methods include essays, simulated learning, portfolios, oral presentations, a verbal examination and reflective pieces of work.

Feedback

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We commit to providing you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

Practice Placements

Where could it take you?

On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to apply to join the Social Work England register and seek employment as a qualified social worker in a variety of organisations in the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors.

The programme works closely with Worcestershire and Hereford Councils to enhance employment opportunities on completion of the degree.

To date graduates have demonstrated a good record in gaining employment.

Nadia Parker - Social Work Graduate

I have chosen Social Work to be my profession because I believe it gives me the opportunity to help the most vulnerable members of our society sustain and improve their well-being and environment. The two year MA course at the University of Worcester provided me with a solid foundation to my value-base, theoretical and practical knowledge and skills which I am now in the process of developing as a Newly Qualified Social Worker.

The fact that English is my second language has never hindered me from achieving the academic and practice standards at Masters Level. I was also able to balance work with studies which gave me a sense of comfort and reassurance in maintaining my day to day living. I am currently working full time in a Team for Older People/Physical Disabilities in Southern England. Although some days can be overwhelming and challenging, knowing that I am making a difference with support from colleagues and management, is rather fulfilling and rewarding.

How much will it cost?

Full-time tuition fees	UK and EU students The standard tuition fee for full-time UK and EU students registering in the academic year 2024/25 is £6,425 per year. For more details, please visit our course fees page.	International students The standard tuition fee for full-time international students registering in the academic year 2024/25 is £13,400 per year. For more details, please visit our course fees page.
Additional costs	Every course has day-to-day costs for essential books, stationery, printing and photocopying. As part of the course you will need to travel to placements and will therefore need to pay any associated costs. You may be able to reclaim these travel expenses depending on your individual circumstances.
Postgraduate loans	The Government will provide a loan of up to £11,836 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2022 per eligible student for postgraduate Masters study. It will be at your own discretion whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs. For more details visit our postgraduate loans page.

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fee for full-time UK and EU students registering in the academic year 2024/25 is £6,425 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students registering in the academic year 2024/25 is £13,400 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for essential books, stationery, printing and photocopying.

As part of the course you will need to travel to placements and will therefore need to pay any associated costs. You may be able to reclaim these travel expenses depending on your individual circumstances.

Postgraduate loans

The Government will provide a loan of up to £11,836 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2022 per eligible student for postgraduate Masters study. It will be at your own discretion whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs.

For more details visit our postgraduate loans page.

How do you apply?

Application tips

When completing the UCAS application form, you should indicate why you wish to pursue a career in social work. This relates to the requirement for practice experience which should have involved settings either working alongside social workers or with people affected by social work decisions.

You can find waged and unwaged practice experience with a range of agencies working with children, young people or adults who are vulnerable. This may, for example, be work with children's centres, adults who have a physical or learning disability, people with mental health issues or older people with incapacity issues or dementia. There may be opportunities in residential work, supported housing and day care services. This work experience will help you decide whether social work is for you and also begin to develop your understanding of social work as well as introduce you to the underpinning values.

The next intake will start in September. You can apply through the UCAS website and searching for the course.

UCAS course code for MA Social Work: L508

Apply Via UCAS

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

AdmissionsC

admissionsC@worc.ac.uk

01905 855111

Oluwole Hyde

Admissions tutor

o.hyde@worc.ac.uk

01905 855476