Extend your knowledge, engage in research production and dissemination, as well as practical placements and take the next step towards your professional development.
The MA in Social Work is available for people with an undergraduate degree, and a clear desire and motivation to work with and support the most vulnerable people in society. Successful completion will lead to the professional qualification necessary to seek registration as a Social Worker.
We designed our course to be sector-specific. So, it integrates values, knowledge and skills you need to fulfil the professional requirements of registration. In these sessions you will not only learn about the knowledge and skills required for practice but also be able to explore and debate contemporary issues impacting social work and social justice, spurring you on to get actively involved in the development of future practice.
Local employers consistently employ more of our graduates than any other university, that’s because they consider our graduates fit to practice.
Why Choose University of Cumbria
The excellent opportunities we afford our students, meet people in the social care system and learn about their experiences, become an expert in social work.
We have a great reputation and are highly-regarded for our social work provision –many of our students successfully join Cumbria County Council’s social work academy scheme, while others have gone onto practitioners or managers in social care.
Our course will challenge you academically, but you won’t just learn the theory, you’ll get a good insight into the profession through 170 days of professional placements, simulated home visits and hospital meetings, talking to people in the care system and current professionals.
- Accredited by Social Work England.
- Eligible to apply for registration with HCPC after graduating
- Get two placements - 70 days in the first year and 100 days in the second - to gain real-world experience in social work and bolster your CV and job prospects
- Our great connections with local authorities, charities and health care providers enhances your placement and career prospects
- Tutors are qualified social workers or have a social care background
- Tutors have published books and are involved in research which makes your learning current and informed by best practice
- Boost your hands-on experience of social work with our modern facilities, including; our mock house to simulate home visits and hospital wards for practicing hospital discharge meetings
- The course draws on the wide range of practice and research experience provided by our teaching team, giving you the most up-to-date knowledge in the field
- Bolster your care skills by meeting people in the social care system and learning about their experience
- Innovative learning techniques, including video recording and web-based technologies, will ensure your social work skills are honed to the highest level
- Learn to work as a team and develop leadership skills to manage a team to boost your future career
You will study at our Carlisle Fusehill Street campus - within 30 minutes of Scotland in one direction and the stunning Lake District National Park in the other. So, you’ll never be stuck for something to do outside of your studies.
Our practical ethos will see you apply your academic know-how to the workplace, enhancing your abilities on the job and standing your CV out from the crowd for a successful start as a passionate social worker.
Graduate destinations
Students who have completed this course have gone onto work as social workers, practitioners and managers in the social care field.
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Course summary
Extend your knowledge, engage in research production and dissemination, as well as practical placements and take the next step towards your professional development.
The MA in Social Work is available for people with an undergraduate degree, and a clear desire and motivation to work with and support the most vulnerable people in society. Successful completion will lead to the professional qualification necessary to seek registration as a Social Worker
We designed our course to be sector-specific. So, it integrates values, knowledge and skills you need to fulfil the professional requirements of registration. In these sessions you will not only learn about the knowledge and skills required for practice but also be able to explore and debate contemporary issues impacting social work and social justice, spurring you on to get actively involved in the development of future practice.
Local employers consistently employ more of our graduates than any other university, that’s because they consider our graduates fit to practice.
Why Choose University of Cumbria?
The excellent opportunities we afford our students, meet people in the social care system and learn about their experiences, become an expert in social work.
We have a great reputation and are highly-regarded for our social work provision –many of our students successfully join Cumbria County Council’s social work academy scheme, while others have gone onto practitioners or managers in social care.
Our course will challenge you academically, but you won’t just learn the theory, you’ll get a good insight into the profession through 170 days of professional placements, simulated home visits and hospital meetings, talking to people in the care system and current professionals
- Accredited by Social Work England.
- Eligible to apply for registration with Social Work England after graduating
- Get two placements - 70 days in the first year and 100 days in the second- to gain real-world experience in social work and bolster your CV and job prospects
- Our great connections with local authorities, charities and health care providers enhances your placement and career prospects
- Tutors are qualified social workers or have a social care background
- Tutors have published books and are involved in research which makes your learning current and informed by best practice
- Boost your hands-on experience of social work with our modern facilities, including; our mock house to simulate home visits and hospital wards for practicing hospital discharge meetings
- The course draws on the wide range of practice and research experience provided by our teaching team, giving you the most up-to-date knowledge in the field
- Bolster your care skills by meeting people in the social care system and learning about their experience
- Innovative learning techniques, including video recording and web-based technologies, will ensure your social work skills are honed to the highest level
- Learn to work as a team and develop leadership skills to manage a team to boost your future career
You will study at our Carlisle Fusehill Street campus - within 30 minutes of Scotland in one direction and the stunning Lake District National Park in the other. So, you’ll never be stuck for something to do outside of your studies.
Our practical ethos will see you apply your academic know-how to the workplace, enhancing your abilities on the job and standing your CV out from the crowd for a successful start as a passionate social worker.
Graduate destinations
Students who have completed this course have gone onto work as social workers, practitioners and managers in the social care field.
Modules
Year one
Compulsory modules
- Social Work Theory Into Practice I
- Case Study
- Social Work as a Vehicle for Cultural Transformation
- Working with Experts by Experience
- Social Work Theory Into Practice II
- Social Work Theory Into Practice III
- Social Work First Placement
- Social Work Final Placement
- Scholarship and Research Methods
- Dissertation
Programme Specification
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of August. Access to the timetable is through the Student Hub – you will be able to access the Student Hub after you have completed online registration. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that many courses will offer placements or fieldwork which sometimes extends into the evenings and weekends.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
1st or 2nd class honours degree.
Students with other qualifications may be admitted to the course, please contact the Enquiry Centre for further details.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) may be considered for relevant prior learning at the same academic level.
More information about levels and credits.
Selection criteria
- Applicants must have some work experience in a social work/care setting before interview in order to show their full potential to the interviewing panel.
- A 2:2 Bachelors degree or above in an associated field and relevant experience and understanding of the profession of social work (assessed through application and interview).
- GCSE minimum grade C in English language and maths or equivalent. Associated experience and knowledge of current issues within and affecting social work is also required.
- Equivalent qualifications other than those listed above may be accepted.
- Students are selected according to the entry level criteria laid out in the College of Social Work's Professional Capabilities Framework.
- All places are offered subject to successful interview and numeracy test, as well as Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (DBS formerly CRB), medical fitness to practise and proof of qualifications.
Fitness to practise and health requirements
All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening. Further information will be provided following the offer of a place.
Please note that Professional Bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) have certain requirements regarding health and character status of applicants and their ability to meet the required core professional competencies and to practise safely without direct supervision. Please read the NMC and HCPC information to find out more. Please ask us for advice and/or support as early as possible in the application process if you have any questions about this requirement.
For more information about core competencies and medical fitness to train please click here. There are fitness standards provided here for most programmes of study: health professions, social work and teaching.
In some instances, an applicant may be invited to attend a professional practice panel to discuss any recommended reasonable adjustments, and whether or not core professional competencies are achievable.
In order to be admitted and continue on the course, students must be deemed as medically fit for both practice and theory by the Occupational Health Department. If you have any concerns about a health condition/issue and its impact on your ability to undertake the course please contact the Occupational Health Department as early as possible in the application process.
- Industrial Diagnostics Company (IDC)
- Phone: 01530 239 190
- Email: occupationalhealth@industrial-diagnostics.com
Disclosure and Barring Service check
If you are offered a place we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Read the DBS policy.
Application information
Making your application
Apply online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), between September and January; they will send your application on to us. All applications received by 15 January will receive equal consideration. Applications submitted after this date may still be considered, however the course you have applied for might be full by this time. If so, we may consider you for alternative suitable courses.
NB. MA Social Work is listed as an undergraduate course on UCAS. Although MA Social Work is a postgraduate course, you will have to complete the undergraduate UCAS application process.
The UCAS website provides all the information you need about universities, courses, locations, entry requirements and financial support. You are allowed to select up to five course choices; the UCAS application costs £13.00 for a single choice and £24 for two to five choices (fees correct at time of print). You need to use the correct UCAS campus and course codes as not all courses are offered at every
campus.
What makes a good application?
We consider all aspects of your application, not simply your qualifications and grades. We look at your academic background and performance, relevant experience particularly for professional courses where some voluntary or paid experience is required) and your reference. Above all, we look for motivation, commitment and potential
– evidence that you can benefit from study at higher education level.
Make sure you include:
- Relevant qualifications/evidence of ability: check our website for the specific entry requirements needed for each course. Tell us your previous academic results and your predicted grades.
- A supportive reference, from your school or college, or an employer if no longer in education.
- A good personal statement. Explain clearly what attracts you to the course and tell us about your wider interests and experience. If you are applying for a
course that incorporates professional training and placements, you should include any relevant experience or visits you have made in the workplace. Highlight your individual strengths and qualities, personal skills, capacity for teamwork, contribution to the community and your enterprise, originality and determination. Select some activities which bring out these qualities.
What next?
When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgement and if you are successful at this stage you will get either an offer (with an invitation to visit the campus to which you have applied), or an invitation to interview on a particular date. If we are not able to offer you a place on your chosen course we will usually try to offer you a place on a relevant course and will contact you to inform you of this. Alternatively, if we think you are suitable, but cannot offer you a place on your preferred campus because of the level of competition, we will offer you a place at another campus if one is available.
And if I accept?
The admissions team will contact you and send further information from February onwards about accommodation, and from April/May onwards about preparing to join the university. If you have any other queries, contact the admissions office for information and advice.
Deferred entry
We welcome applications for deferred entry on some courses. If you have specific plans during your year out, indicate these on your personal statement as they may be relevant to your course and could enhance your application.
International students
Applications for full-time undergraduate study are made through UCAS. Please see the international pages of our website for full details of our entry requirements (including English language skills) as well as contacts for advice and support. From 2009 the UK introduced a Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) for students coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Students entering higher education will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) plus finance confirmation to obtain a Tier 4 student visa. UK education providers are licensed by the UK Visa and Immigration services. When students apply for their visa (or entry clearance) they will need a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Studies from the university.
Please note that a CAS is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued. See the following websites for further details:
Tuition fees for UK students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
Please note that fees for modules and programmes will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Research Degrees (PhD)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Alumni Discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students. International students will be entitled to the same absolute discount (not percentage) as home and EU students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate in the last 5 years and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Student Loans
Postgraduate master's loan
If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan to help with course fees and living costs. For Postgraduate Healthcare courses, there is a different package of support available. Please see the NHS Postgraduate Healthcare section below.
What you’ll get
Academic year | Maximum Loan (£) |
---|---|
2019/20 | £10,906 |
2020/21 | £11,222 |
Funding for postgraduate loans is different if you normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.
NHS Postgraduate Healthcare courses
England domiciled students commencing study on designated pre-registration postgraduate healthcare courses will be entitled to apply for the standard package of support available to UG students, including tuition fee support, maintenance, long course loans and supplementary grants.
A tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 is available from the Student Loans Company. This can be used as part payment (e.g. MSc Physiotherapy) or full payment (e.g. MSc Occupational Therapy) of tuition fees.
Your student finance application is likely to take around 2 months to finalise so it is important to complete your application as soon as possible. We recommend completing your application by the end of May (new students) or June (continuing students) to avoid any delays in receiving your funding. Please note, you need to apply for the undergraduate student support package.
Maintenance loan
You can apply for a maintenance loan to assist with meeting living costs such as food, accommodation and travel expenses. These are normally paid in three instalments throughout the university year directly to your bank account.
Depending on household income, students may be able to apply for the following amounts:
Living arrangements | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
Living at Home | Up to £7,529 |
Up to £7,747 |
Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £8,944 |
Up to £9,203 |
You can work out how much of a loan you are entitled to apply for using the Student Finance Calculator.
NHS Learning Support Fund
Students starting and continuing their course from September 2020 can apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (NHS LSF) if they’re on one of the eligible pre-registration undergraduate or postgraduate courses. The list of eligible course can be found here.
The Learning Support Fund offer support for:
- a Training Grant for all eligible students of £5,000 per academic year
- Parental Support of £2,000 for students with at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs (this used to be called Child Dependants Allowance)
- reimbursement of excess costs incurred on practice placement for travel and temporary accommodation costs (Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses)
- students experiencing financial hardship (Exceptional Support Fund)
For further details and to apply, visit the NHSBSA web page here.
Note: there are differences in the way students from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are funded for postgraduate courses. If you don’t live in England, information can be accessed here.
Postgraduate doctoral loan
If you’re studying a doctoral degree, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
Start year | Maximum Loan (£) |
---|---|
2019/20 | £25,700 |
2020/21 | £26,445 |
Repaying your loan
The earliest you start repaying your Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral Loan is when your annual income is over £21,000 and it’s either:
- the first April after you leave your course
- April 4 years after the course started
Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change or you leave your course early. You’ll have to pay back any overpayment straight away even if your income is less than £21,000.
How much you’ll repay
You’ll pay back 6% of your income over the minimum amount (‘threshold’). This is £21,000 a year, £1,750 a month or £404 a week.
Example
You earn £2,500 a month before tax. This is £750 over the monthly threshold. You’ll repay £45 (6% of this amount) each month.
If you already have a Postgraduate Master’s Loan then you’ll make a combined repayment of 6% covering both postgraduate loans. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment until your loan is repaid in full or cancelled.
You must repay any undergraduate student loans you have at the same time.
Repayment terms are different if you normally live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Scholarships and bursaries
Social Work bursary
MA Social Work students may be eligible for a grant up to £3,362.50 and a means tested maintenance grant up to £2,721. Full details are available on the NHSBSA website.
The number of people who can get a bursary is limited (or capped). This means that there is no guarantee that if you take up an offer of a place on the MA Social Work course, you will receive a bursary. The university will provide a shortlist of students to the NHSBSA who will then assess bursary applications.
Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Ltd is offering 13 bursaries across a number of subject areas. The bursaries are worth £500 each and are open to students from anywhere in the world.
To apply for a Postgrad Solutions bursary, visit their website.
Alternative funding
For other courses not covered by either the Masters Loan or specialist funding, we advise you to do some research as early as possible into what funding is available to you.
Click on the links below for information on potentially available funding.
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces and wish to enhance your education, then you can receive help covering your funding through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme.
- Medical Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries - bursaries of £500 towards fees in various subjects.
- Family Action's Educational Grants Fund - £200 - £500 grants for families and individuals on low incomes.
- The Wellcome Trust - funding for biomedical research and medical humanities
- The Leverhulme Trust - scholarships for research and education
- Rotary Foundation Scholarships
- Fulbright Commission - US exchange programme
- IEFA - a searchable database of scholarship and bursary information
- Association of Commonwealth Universities - provides scholarships, grants, loans and assistantships open to commonwealth graduates who wish to undertake further study at a commonwealth university outside their own country
- American Association of University Women Educational Foundation - the largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women
- Scholarship search
Check out the websites below for more information about applying for postgraduate funding.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for EU students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
Please note that fees for modules and programmes will increase due to inflation.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Research Degrees (PhD)
Fees for 2018-19 academic year (PDF)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Alumni discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria, or any of its legacy institutions.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. For research degrees, this will apply to any alumni that have graduated in the last 5 years. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Student Loans
Postgraduate master's loan
If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
Start date | Maximum Loan (£) |
---|---|
2019/20 | £10,906 |
2020/21 | £11,222 |
Funding for postgraduate loans is different if you normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.
Postgraduate doctoral loan
If you’re starting a doctoral degree on or after 1 August 2018, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
Start year | Maximum Loan (£) |
---|---|
2019/20 | £25,700 |
2020/21 | £26,445 |
Some courses, for example Social Work and some Health Professions Masters degrees do attract some funding. Contact us for more information.
Repaying your loan
The earliest you start repaying your Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral Loan is when your annual income is over £21,000 and it’s either:
- the first April after you leave your course
- April 4 years after the course started
Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change or you leave your course early. You’ll have to pay back any overpayment straight away even if your income is less than £21,000.
How much you’ll repay
You’ll pay back 6% of your income over the minimum amount (‘threshold’). This is £21,000 a year, £1,750 a month or £404 a week.
Example
You earn £2,500 a month before tax. This is £750 over the monthly threshold. You’ll repay £45 (6% of this amount) each month.
If you already have a Postgraduate Master’s Loan then you’ll make a combined repayment of 6% covering both postgraduate loans. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment until your loan is repaid in full or cancelled.
You must repay any undergraduate student loans you have at the same time.
Repayment terms are different if you normally live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Ltd is offering 13 bursaries across a number of subject areas. The bursaries are worth £500 each and are open to students from anywhere in the world.
To apply for a Postgrad Solutions bursary, visit their website.
Alternative funding
For other courses not covered by either the Masters Loan or specialist funding, we advise you to do some research as early as possible into what funding is available to you.
Click on the links below for information on potentially available funding.
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces and wish to enhance your education, then you can receive help covering your funding through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme.
- Medical Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Professional and career development loans
- Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries - bursaries of £500 towards fees in various subjects.
- Family Action's Educational Grants Fund - £200 - £500 grants for families and individuals on low incomes.
- The Wellcome Trust - funding for biomedical research and medical humanities
- The Leverhulme Trust - scholarships for research and education
- Rotary Foundation Scholarships
- Fulbright Commission - US exchange programme
- IEFA - a searchable database of scholarship and bursary information
- Association of Commonwealth Universities - provides scholarships, grants, loans and assistantships open to commonwealth graduates who wish to undertake further study at a commonwealth university outside their own country
- American Association of University Women Educational Foundation - the largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women
- Scholarship search
Check out the websites below for more information about applying for postgraduate funding.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for international students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
The tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year will be confirmed soon.
Please note that fees for modules and programmes may increase due to inflation.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Research Degrees (PhD)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year will be confirmed soon.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Alumni Discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria, or any of its legacy institutions.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students. International students will be entitled to the same absolute discount (not percentage) as home and EU students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. For research degrees, this will apply to any alumni that have graduated in the last 5 years. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Paying for your accommodation
If you choose to stay in univerisity accommodation you will be required to make a pre-payment of £250, and a pre-payment of £100 towards catering packages.
After you have made the pre-payment(s), and the contract has been returned, the balance of your contract will be due. Payment must be made by registration. Instalments are not available.
Please note that you do have the option to pay for the accommodation and catering in full with the contract.
Payment must be made in pounds sterling. You will be given the option online to convert your currency when making a payment.
If you’re having trouble paying online or have any questions, please contact your admissions officer who can give you advice about paying by bank transfer.
Additional costs
All students will need to purchase stationery, course books and personal equipment. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc.
Additional costResources and facilities
Online technology is used throughout the course to enhance your experience, including ePortfolios, wikis and online discussion boards alongside traditional learning. Blackboard, our Virtual Learning Environment, will allow you to keep connected to the university even when on placement.
We use video cameras to film role play activities, allowing you to examine your skills and techniques and reflect on your experiences in a supportive group environment. This will support implementing your new-found skills within your placement.