MA in Social Work

Course description

Why study?

We need people who want to make a difference to society and our MA programme offers a “fast track” programme to professional registration as a social worker with 14 bursaries available and excellent employment opportunities on completion. It’s an exciting opportunity for graduates with some experience and knowledge of social care to enter a challenging and rewarding profession that contributes to the well-being of society.

Innovative, immersive learning

Our Social work team comprises active practitoners, innovative academics and experienced professionals to create a rich and challenging degree experience. Our smaller tutor groups enable our students to have a more engaged and immersive theoretical learning relationship to create perceptive, insightful and incisive professionals.

Respected graduates, excellent employability

This respected programme has strong partnership links to the statutory, private, voluntary and independent sectors, and our graduates are highly sought after in the employment market. During the programme, you'll have excellent placement opportunities across a range of providers. Practice and theory have equal value on the programme, and they inform and develop each other.

Course content

You’ll study the law and social work with children, families and adults. You’ll learn about research methods and complete a dissertation. You’ll also be required to undertake 170 days of placement in a social work setting, supported by practice teachers and assessors.

Leeds and Wakefield Social Work Teaching Partnership

The University is part of a Teaching Partnership with Leeds and Wakefield local authorities. Teaching Partnerships have been created with government funding to ensure universities and employers work closely together. Our students are guaranteed placements within these local authorities and we work closely with social workers in the two authorities who play a big part in helping to teach and support our students.

Small cohort sizes

This programme accepts a small number of students in each year group and the social work team is committed to providing a stimulating, supportive and challenging environment for study.

In year one you will study social work law, professional practice, social work with children & families and social work with adults; you will also complete a research module. You will complete 20 days of skills development between February and May and a 70 day placement from July to December of your first year.

In year two you will broaden your understanding of social work law. You will continue to develop your understanding of social work practice and you will complete a dissertation on a subject of your choice related to social work practice.

Vibrant placements

From June to December you will complete a 100 day placement in a variety of vibrant settings in areas such as assessment and child protection, community mental health teams, children with complex needs, adult intake teams and early help assessment teams. At the end of the programme students will be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the role of social workers and the contexts in which they practice

Bursaries and funding

We currently have 14 bursaries available for students. Bursaries are available for both years of the programme. Please scroll down for bursary information.

MA Social Work students are eligible for postgraduate student loans and can obtain up to £10,280 as a contribution for the whole course if they do not receive bursary. Learn more.

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in any subject.
A level of counselling skills consistent with beginning professional training and insight into psychotherapy and counselling, to be assessed at interview.
English Language at GCSE grade C or equivalent, or IELTS overall score 7.
Two satisfactory references, one of which must normally be an academic reference.
A level of maturity associated with personal reflection on a variety of adult and childhood experiences and developed interpersonal skills, to be assessed at interview.
Satisfactory police clearance. We will send you a form for this.

Opportunities for the accreditation of prior learning and prior experiential learning exist through the School's credit accumulation and transfer procedures.