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MA - Social Work

If you have a clear desire and motivation to work with and support the most vulnerable people in society, a MA in Social Work is for you.

Extend your knowledge, engage in research production and dissemination, and undertake 170 days of practical placement to improve your skills in a real world setting. Become a registered Social Worker and work with your local community to support people who need it.

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Approved by:

Social Work England

Course Overview

This course is designed to be sector-specific. It integrates values, knowledge and skills you need to fulfil the professional requirements of registration. You will learn about the knowledge and skills required for practice from our expert lecturers, while exploring contemporary issues impacting social work and social justice, spurring you on to get actively involved in the development of future practice.

Our excellent relationships with local employers, particularly practice placement providers and educators in practice settings will support your professional development. We work closely with a range of key partner and stakeholder agencies including a number of Experts by Experience. You'll complete 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 future job prospects.

On this course you will...

Study a range of academic modules to enhance your knowledge on the role and remit of a social worker working in different settings.
Complete 30 skills days and a further 170 days in placement. The successful completion of which will enable you to register with Social Work England as a registered social worker.
Develop your academic skills with the assistance and support of a personal tutor who will be assigned to you on entry to the programme for the duration of your studies.
Benefit from working closely alongside fellow students and academics to build up meaningful, engaging and productive professional relationships to enhance your personal and professional journey.
Gain hands-on practice experience with our modern facilities, including our mock house to simulate home visits and hospital wards for practising hospital discharge meetings.

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Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationCarlisle - Fusehill Street
Institute: Institute of Health
UCAS CodeL500
Delivery StyleBlended Learning
Course DurationFull-time: 2 Years
Start DateSeptember 2023
September 2024
AwardMA
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysCarlisle - Fusehill Street
All

Minimum entry requirements

2:2

Honours degree

Tuition fees

£5,600

UK | Per year

Price is for 2022/23 year, subsequent year fee is subject to inflation.

£16,400

International | Per year

Course Structure

What you will learn

Throughout the programme, you will be challenged academically and professionally. Building on the skills attained in your previous studies you will develop the ability to apply knowledge and skills creatively to unpredictable and complex situations. You will have the opportunity to focus on your own area of professional interest, as you develop your emerging professional identity and focus.

The modules will encourage you to review, evaluate, and utilise research within your practice and develop your own research creatively for innovative responses to contemporary practice settings. Time spent on placement will allow you to develop as an autonomous practitioner in a changing and evolving society while continuing to embrace a commitment to social justice.

Year one

Effective Communication in Social Work
Build on your existing graduate skills to develop your verbal and written communication skills.
Using our Theoretical Imagination for 21st Century Social Work
Examine and analyse contemporary issues in social work using social and psychological theories.
Using Evidence to enhance the Discipline of Social Work
Develop the postgraduate techniques and methodologies of scholarship and research with which to explore answers to original research questions relevant to social work practice.
Safeguarding & Ethical Issues
An introduction to the different aspects of practice and the activities that are core to generic social work practice, including safeguarding.
Critically Evaluating Interventions With Diverse Populations
Learn to understand the detailed identification, assessment and management of safeguarding issues and the actions, which must be taken for both adults and children.
1st Placement (70 Days)
Undertake an insightful and challenging experience in a social care setting in which you can apply the knowledge and skills you have gained on the programme, and demonstrate your ability, under supervision, to become a Social Worker.

Year two

Critical Applications in Statutory Social Work Practice
Gain a comprehensive, systematic and critical understanding of the legislation and processes, which are essential for social work practice involving statutory responsibilities.
Dissertation: Research Production, Analysis and Dissemination
An opportunity to develop and demonstrate your ability to gather and manipulate data, and generate and test an original hypothesis or a unique research question applicable to social work practice.
Resilience, Employability and Leadership
Develop the skills to manage a long and successful career in social work, in which you can maintain your emotional resilience and take your place as a future leader of your profession.
Final Placement (100 Days)
A statutory social work experience and the opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of the PCF to the level of ‘End of Final Placement’.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

Learning is based in academic study as well as practice placements which students will be actively encouraged to use, apply and integrate their developing knowledge within the context of Social Work practice. In adopting a reflective approach, we endorse a pedagogically valid method that fosters an enquiring, evaluative attitude to academic study. Learning and assessment are interrelated. We recognise that as individuals you all have different learning styles and needs. We also recognise that as we encourage you to be critical thinkers, we must also be the same and that no one theory about effective learning will meet with our complete endorsement. There are a number of theories that we advocate. These are Transformative Learning (Mezirow, 1997) and Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge (Meyer and Land, 2003, 2006, 2010). These theories show us how learning can have an irreversible impact on each individual and this can change how the learner views the world and their place in it. In terms of postgraduate learning, the team also emphasises Threshold Learning, which we believe has relevance to the transition from undergraduate study to holding a Master's qualification.

Threshold Conceptual learning may be ‘considered as akin to a portal, opening up a new and previously inaccessible way of thinking about something. It represents a transformed way of understanding, or interpreting, or viewing something without which the learner cannot progress.’ Meyer and Land (2003). They state 5 characteristics of this theory which are:

Transformative Learning: a dramatic shift in one’s perspective
Irreversible: once learned it is not possible to unlearn
Integrative: you begin to see connections between previous learning and theories that had previously not been considered or observed.
Bounded: while the integrative attribute may be present at times, there must be the recognition that there are limits between different theories, and that while they might share some similarities, there is always a demarcation line between the two.
Troublesome: when grappling with new material and knowledge there is a process where you ‘get it’. When it is applied to a situation, you realize that you haven’t quite got it and you need to return to learn more.

How you will be assessed

A key feature of your academic journey will include formative assessment. That is work that helps to inform or become part of your final ‘summative’ assessment, and the nature of it varies across the modules. Formative work may include in‐class or online activities such as presenting draft assignments, work in progress, or multiple-choice tests. Everything that you undertake, and the products of that learning, embed through active participation for, dialogue and feedback. A number of modules include formative activity that helps your tutors give you feedback on your development to enhance your overall learning (Nichol & McFarlane-Dick, 2006).

Summative assessment is authentic and aligned to both the module-learning outcomes and programme aims. Summative assessment encourages progressive development through feedback and reflection, which is of relevance to both further academic progression and your future employment needs. Intellectual, subject specific and key transferable skills are central to learning opportunities and assessment. The curriculum follows a specific strategy for assessing students to ensure you meet the requirements of Level 7 study as well as Social Work England requirements. For example, we incorporate assessed group presentations into the curriculum, which will assess your own contribution to the topic as well as the overall group performance. Once you have qualified as a Social Worker, being able to successfully work in groups with other professionals will be a crucial element of everyday practice. Similarly, being able to communicate effectively both verbally and in written form is something you will need to be consistently successful in doing. Our assessment strategy reflects these professional and academic needs and ensures that our graduates are able to immerse themselves productively in the demands of the profession.

At Master's level, you will discover the importance of research and how to integrate knowledge, application and production of research in your everyday practice. This programme runs yearlong research modules in both academic years to ensure you are fully able to integrate your research capabilities into your practice and ongoing professional learning. Research is not an optional attribute for either professional or Master's study.

Indicative Range of Assessment Methods: The breadth of assessment methods acknowledges that graduate and employability skills are many and varied and so students need opportunities to develop, practice and be assessed on as full a range of skills as possible. An example of the range is as follows: intervention design and evaluation, critical reflection, academic essay, portfolio, presentation and simulation.

Overview

A 2:2 bachelor's 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 or equivalent. Associated experience and knowledge of current issues within and affecting social work is also required.

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.

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

Equivalent qualifications other than those listed above may be accepted.
Students are selected according to the entry level criteria laid out by The British Association of Social Workers.

All places are offered subject to a 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 information about Medical Clearance and vaccination requirements (including Covid-19 Vaccines) click here.

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.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2023 - 2024

£5,600 - UK
£16,400 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

The following is a list of the key texts for the first year of the programme. It is not recommended that students purchase all these books before the course has started. You may decide that you wish to own some but many can be accessed through the library. Many books are available electronically as ebooks. Graham, M., J. (2017) Reflective Thinking in Social Work, Learning from student narratives. Abingdon: Routledge. Healy, K. Mulholland, J. (2019) Writing Skills for Social Workers (Social Work in Action series) London: Sage. Ingram, R. (2015) Understanding Emotions in Social Work: Theory, Practice and Reflection. Maidenhead: OU Press (available as an e-book). McLaughlin, H. (2011) Understanding social work research. London: Sage (Available as an e-book). Parrott, L., & Maguinness, N. (2017) Social work in context: theory and concepts. London: Sage (Available as an e-book). Walker, J. (2017) Social work and human development. 5th edn. Exeter: Macmillan.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Clothing and Equipment

There is no dress code for the social work classroom. However, in fieldwork placements, students are expected to wear clothes that are smart casual and appropriate for a professional working environment.

Field Trips

The University of Cumbria has an annual social work conference in the summer which students are encouraged to attend. The fee is modest and likely to be no more than £20.

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Location
Carlisle - Fusehill Street Campus
The Fusehill Street campus has been the setting of life-saving treatments since World War I. Now, it's home to world changers, life-savers, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs with access to high-quality facilities and innovative thinking.
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MA - Social Work