MA in Social Work

at University of Manchester

Course unit details

Year 1
 

Learning in the first year provides a solid foundation where you are introduced to key knowledge and skills and prepared for professional practice.
 

You will learn about what social work is and develop necessary practice skills. You will explore the context social work operates in, including the social, political and legal framework including professional safeguarding responsibilities.
 

You will study:

• Introduction to Social Work;
• Social, Political and Organisational Context for Social Work;
• Law for Social Work Practice;
• Life Course and Social Relationships;
• 20 days of professional skills development;
• a 70-day practice placement.
   

See a typical first year timetable .
 

Year 2
 

Learning in the second year provides an in-depth understanding of the processes that govern and inform social work processes and interventions with a range of service user groups.
 

The Foundations of Research course will prepare you for completing a dissertation for your MA award.
 

Your dissertation provides an opportunity for you to undertake in depth study on a social work-related topic or aspect of practice.
 

You will take:

• Safeguarding Children, Adults and Their Families;
• Foundations of Research;
• Contemporary Social Work Interventions in Practice;
• 10 days of professional skills development;
• a 100-day practice placement;
• a dissertation.
   

Students have two options in relation to handing in their final dissertation work. They are able to study for 24 months or to graduate earlier if they complete their dissertations earlier.
 

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
 

Title

• Foundations of Research
• Safeguarding Children, Adults and their Families
• Contemporary Social Work Interventions in Practice
• Introduction to Social Work
• Social Political and Organisational Context for Social Work Practice
• Law for Social Work Practice
• The Life Course and Social Relationships
• Practice Learning and Professional Development
• Practice Learning and Professional Development Year 2 - MASW
• MA Social Work Dissertation

Academic entry qualification overview
 

• We normally require you to have an Upper Second class honours degree or above. This can be in any subject area. Relevant employment and/or personal experience within a health or social care setting is highly desirable.
• If you have a Lower Second classification degree, your application will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on your experience.
• We also require grade C/4 in GCSE Mathematics. 
• Students must also have GCSE English grade C/4 by the start of the course.
• We do not accept other Level 2 qualifications as equivalent to GCSE English or Maths (eg Functional Skills) and will only consider specific international qualifications as equivalents.
   

English language
 

International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system.
 

We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found here ).
 

Specifically, we require a minimum of:

• IELTS overall score of 7 or above with no element below 6.5, or

• TOEFL minimum of 600 (paper-based); 250 (computer-based); 100 (internet-based), or

• GCSE English grade C (a Grade 4 in the newly reformed GCSEs in England) or above, or

• evidence of equivalent learning that is accepted by the University.

• MA (full-time)
  
  UK students (per annum): £8,500
  
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £19,000

Our course offers a professional qualification that is nationally and internationally recognised.

You will gain the skills to take up challenging and stimulating social work posts in a variety of fields within the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.

You will also have opportunities to practice across a range of settings and with different service user groups, including working within children, adult and mental health services.

Your future career prospects may also be enhanced through statutory experience within our Teaching Partnership.
 

The Greater Manchester Social Work Academy is a government-sponsored Teaching Partnership that ensures close links between local employers and universities across Greater Manchester. 
 

The members of the Academy are:

• The University of Manchester
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• The University of Salford
• Ten combined Local Authorities across Greater Manchester (Bury, Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan)
   

Qualified social workers can continue to further their education through courses and events for continuing professional development (CPD).