Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree with at least 3 months of relevant work experience/volunteering in a caring role. We will also consider your application if you have a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree with 12 months of relevant work experience/volunteering in a caring role.

Relevant experience can be gained from a voluntary or employed capacity and can include work with social welfare and community groups, children or young people, older people, disabled people, or those with mental health problems. It will require the candidate to provide evidence that they are able to call upon formative experience or from school or college placements, in a relevant health and/or social care setting.

You must have GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4/C or above. Please make this clear on your application as we are unable to proceed with your application without confirmation.

We accept alternatives to this, including: a minimum 12 credits for Mathematics or English GCSE equivalent unit, providing these are approved university and Access Validating Agency units. We also accept level 2 adult numeracy and literacy as valid substitutes, but not Application of Number.

Before joining the course, you will be expected to have basic IT skills, including being able to use the internet, word processing software and email.

As part of the admissions process you will be required to complete an online interview and test should your application be successful.

To help you prepare for the interview, we've put together a guide on what to expect and how you can prepare.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Develop your understanding of the theories surrounding social work, as well as their practical implications, to become a professionally competent, reflective and analytical social work practitioner.

Course description

Our Social Work MA is a prestigious two-year course which focuses on the strong relationship between theoretical and practical education. Once you've completed your MA, you will gain a competitive professional masters degree, recognised by Social Work England.

On this course you will:

learn from a diverse team of professionals
gain hands-on experience through two placements
receive support throughout to help you achieve your full potential

You will receive high quality teaching from a diverse team of professionals, including passionate, research-active academics, current social work practitioners, peers, service users and other specialists from a variety of backgrounds and organisations. Together, they will help you develop a detailed understanding of how to apply social work theories in practical settings.

To complement your university-based learning, you’ll gain hands-on experience through two placements offered by the South Yorkshire Teaching Partnership (SYPT). Our relationship with the SYTP is unique and ensures all students complete a 100-day placement in each year of study. You’ll work in a local authority statutory setting in mental health, adult or children and families’ practice. Regionally, we are the only programme to offer this for both placements at masters level.

We’ll support your practical learning with dedicated University recall days and weekly personal study time, enabling you to reflect on your experiences, catch up with your peers, and seek support from your personal and placement tutor.

By the end of this programme, you’ll be equipped with the skills and knowledge to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable people and communities.

Placements

Our MA in Social Work offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience through two placements in mental health, adult, child or family care. Both placements last 100 consecutive days, which meets the Social Work England practice learning requirement – an initiative unique to the SYPT and the University of Sheffield.

These placements are carefully chosen to provide you with a well-rounded view of modern social work. Where possible, they will be offered in a setting that supports your career and development aspirations. You’ll also build strong connections with local authorities, which can lead to exciting job opportunities in the SYTP and beyond after graduation.

All placements are offered in a timely manner, to ensure you can start your practical education without delay. Each placement is quality assured by our local authority partners against rigorous criteria defined by the Department of Education.

We understand that everyone's circumstances are different. If you have caring responsibilities, health issues, or a disability, we’ll seek to find a placement close to your home. Most placements offer some flexibility with working patterns.

If you have any questions, or are concerned about how the course may fit with your current commitments, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with our Admissions Officer.

Advice, information and support for students with caring responsibilities

Disability and Dyslexia Support Service

Support

We're here to support you every step of the way as you work towards becoming a qualified social worker.

From your first day to graduation, you’ll have a strong support network in our department, across the wider university and within the SYTP. Your support network includes:

an academic tutor - your constant contact with the department. They will take the time to understand your individual circumstances and support you in progressing through the degree and with your personal development
a dissertation supervisor - your support throughout the second year as you complete a dissertation relating to your academic interests
a practice educator - allocated during your placements to support your learning in the workplace
a placement tutor - your supportive link between local authorities and the university while you are on placement

Your fellow social work students are also a fantastic source of support and encouragement to help you reach your full potential.

Find out more about additional support from the Department of Sociological Studies.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by Social Work England (SWE). Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration from SWE as a qualified social worker.

Please see our University website for the most up-to-date course information: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses