Social Work MA

Entry requirements

A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in a related subject (e.g. Education, Sociology, Social Policy, Politics, Psychology, Law, Health and/or Social Care).

A 2:1 (or above) UK Honours degree, or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in a non-related subject with the appropriate experience will be considered.

Applicants must demonstrate how their previous experience in paid employment, or structured voluntary work, with a relevant organisation has prepared them for a career in social work. While there is no formal requirement for a set amount of time spent getting work experience we normally expect at least a year’s full-time (or part-time equivalent) experience. Applicants should also demonstrate what they have learnt from their own life/educational/work/voluntary experiences as appropriate to their life stage and how these have prepared them for a career in social work.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The Social Work MA programme aims to educate and train individuals to be reflective, research-minded practitioners who are able to work critically and professionally and in accordance with the principle of anti-oppressive practice.

Graduates who successfully complete this programme are eligible to apply for Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.

The professional and academic elements are closely integrated throughout the programme. There are 170 placement days, with the working week divided between time in placement and time in the University.

Aims

This MA Social Work degree programme aims to provide high quality postgraduate social work education and training to equip students with comprehensive pre-entry skills to work in any agency employing social workers in the United Kingdom.

Although the statutory sector is the major employer, increasingly social workers are being recruited into voluntary and private sectors in a variety of service provision roles including community-based, residential or day care services in the UK and abroad.

The programme seeks to encourage the personal responsibility of students to function as independent learners and to develop a critical and reflective appreciation of the role of social work in society.

The curriculum provides teaching in both academic and practice elements, which are fully integrated at Brunel University London. It is designed to ensure that learning occurs in an incremental way, with learning outcomes that develop across levels enabling students to demonstrate progression in professional knowledge, skills and values through two years of study.

Specifically, the programme aims to:

• prepare students for critical and reflective professional practice according to the HCPC’s approval standards of education
• equip students to practise ethical, innovative and effective social work practice that actively promotes social justice in a diverse society
• integrate learning in academic and practice elements of the programme so that students have a holistic understanding of social work in variety of professional contexts
• enable students to identify, understand and critically appraise evidence and research which can inform social work practice
• enable graduates to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and apply for membership with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

Information for international students

English language requirements

• IELTS: 7 (min 6.5W, 6.5L, 6.5R, 6.5S)
• Pearson: 64 (58 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 70% (65% in all areas)