MSc Social Work

Key Facts

UCAS code/ course code: L500
Qulification/level: MSc
Duration: Full-time two years
Start Date: September 2011
Location: High Wycombe Campus

Course description

This course is designed for graduates who are interested in qualifying as a social worker. Social workers act as adviser, advocate, counsellor and listener to vulnerable or troubled members of our society. As a social worker, you will help people find solutions to their problems and enable them to live more happily within their local communities.

Qualified social workers practice in a wide range of settings in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors. These may include: local authorities, hospitals, voluntary services for drug and alcohol users and youth justice services. In order that you, as a prospective social worker, truly understand the people who will rely on you, this course involves frequent participation from service users and professionals.

Once qualified, you will have a good choice of career opportunities and be able to continue to undertake post-qualifying training to enhance your knowledge and skills.

Course content

The course will cover a range of areas and can involve a variety of service user groups. There is a vast scope for specialisation and in the final year you will be required to undertake a piece of primary research for your dissertation.

The programme consists of three academic modules in each year, covering all aspects of social work. There is also a practice placement of 100 days in each year with scope for specialisation in the second year.

The academic modules for this course are:

First year

• Social Work in Contemporary Society
• Preparation for Practice
• Service Users, Groups, Theories and Methods
• Practice Learning 1

Second year

• Research Methods
• Inter-professional Practice
• Practice Learning 2
• Putting the Law into Practice
• Dissertation

Further information

Higher education institutions offering a professional social work course have to be accredited by the GSCC. They ensure that our teaching and facilities are of the highest quality and up-to-date with the latest developments and guidelines for professional practice.

In line with this, it is now required that all students complete work-based learning during the course of their studies. You will need to be registered with the GSCC as a student social worker in order to complete the course and undertake the practice placements.

Entry requirements

The applicant must be a Graduate with relevant, or non relevant degree, possessing a lower second class or above. In order to comply with GSCC requirements, they must also hold GCSEs in English and Mathematics at grades A-C. Candidates must also have at least six months experience of direct social care, either in paid employment, as a volunteer in the voluntary sector or in a caring capacity.