MSc Social Work

Key Facts

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

Is this course for me?

This course is designed for graduates who have already completed an honours degree in any subject, and 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.

Many candidates who apply to be on the course have experience of working in a social care setting as care workers or have voluntary experience working with vulnerable groups. Some candidates also have personal experiences of involvement with social services or have members of their family that have had such involvement.

The motivation to do the course is rather varied but almost all say that the desire to work with the most vulnerable in society pushed them towards social work as a career, and that they want to train to do a job that would give them most satisfaction.

This course will help to hone existing skills and as well acquiring new ones relevant to social work, whilst also providing an understanding of the theoretical and legislative framework that governs social work practice in the UK.

Course overview

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

Social work is an area that is experiencing huge changes following the Baby Peter case, the formation of the Social Work Reform Board, the recommendations of the Social Work Task Force and the Munro Report. Social work is therefore in a very challenging yet exciting place.

Our course tutors are actively involved in various forums where discussions on the future of social work take place. This means that the course is constantly kept updated, enabling students to be aware and respond to the new challenges faced by the social work profession.

Feedback from our students suggests that they find the course tutors approachable and always willing to offer students appointments when required. Students can also access advice services and counselling services within the University to talk about any personal issues that may be impacting their studies.

We are dedicated to equipping students with the knowledge, values and skills they need to be a social worker, enabling them to find suitable jobs after graduation. Throughout the course there are regular sessions held to help students with employability skills such as writing a CV, how to prepare for an interview and other skills to help you compete in the job market.

Entry requirements

You must normally hold an honours degree at 2:1 or above. However, we accept honours degrees at 2:2 provided you can demonstrate a high degree of experience, knowledge, skills and aptitude in relation to social work.

You must hold GCSEs in English and Maths at Grade C or above, or equivalent, ie Numeracy and Literacy at Level 2.
English language requirements for international applicants are IELTS 7.0 or equivalent.

You should list all qualifications on your application form.

You will be expected to demonstrate how your life and work experiences have helped to prepare you for social work training and to demonstrate your learning from these experiences. You should also be able to demonstrate the appropriate personal and intellectual qualities needed to be a social worker.

You will also need to show proficiency in basic IT skills, including using the internet, email and word processing.