Social Work MA

• Overview

  Apply now for our MA Social Work programme for January 2021 start via our website.

  The University of Northampton’s Social Work MA programme has been specifically designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge and approaches needed for 21st century social work, which is characterised by complexity and digitisation. Students therefore undertake a social work education that allows them to be respond to the challenges through a variety of learning opportunities that include simulation, practice placements, hearing and learning from users by experience and practitioner knowledge.

  Course

  Highlights

  • Practice placement to apply academic learning with a simulated environment with input and feedback from social work practitioners.
  • Opportunity to gain the Social Work England registration after graduation.
  • Study in a research environment that promotes knowledge acquisition and practice development across the Faculty of Health, Education and Society.
  • Opportunity to practice and develop key skills for social work.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  The Social Work MA programme is built on recognising the unique contribution that social work practitioners make to the lives of individuals. The programme reflects a commitment to social work values and ethics, as well as a commitment to emancipatory practice that puts users by experience at the centre of practice.

  The above is achieved through a curriculum that is both academic and practice based. The academic components of the curriculum are concerned with sociological and psychological theories, as well  as social work theories, methods and approaches that are foundational for social work practice.  Additionally, students are not just taught the importance of legislation and policy, but importantly they are instructed in how to apply it so as promote social justice.

  The practice based component of the programme consists of two practice placements and thirty Skills days. Beginning with the practice placements, they are 70 and 100 days in length respectively and take place in the first and second year of the programme. The practice placements allow students to take their academic learning into various social work environments, and with the support of Practice Educators and the Placement Visiting Team, students hone their skills and knowledge.

  The Skills Days focus on developing your communication and assessment skills, as well as your knowledge of different areas of social work practice. Skills Days are interactive and use a range of teaching methods, including workshops, online sessions and simulation suites. The development of the Skills Days has been informed by both Knowledge and Skills Statement for Child and Family Practitioners (2014) and the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Adult Social Workers (2015).

  As part of the University’s commitment to provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to practice 21st century social work, students are expected to complete a dissertation.  From the outset this dissertation demands skills associated with planning, the communication of complex information, a focus on users by experience and an ability to question robustly legislation, policy and social work practice, with a view to identifying solutions and better ways of working that are about improved outcomes for those in society that are most vulnerable.

  For more information about social work, professional bodies, adult and children services, community work and more, please see the useful websites:

  • The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
  • Community Care
  • The British Association of Social Workers and the Professional Capability Framework
  • Social Work England (SWE)
  • Knowledge and Skills Standards for Adult Service and for Child and Family Social Work.

  We look forward to welcoming you onto our programme.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Practice Placement

  Competent practice is essential for the award and you will undertake 200 days of practice learning (placement and skills for practice) during the course. Practice learning through placement experience is undertaken in blocks of the course and skills for practice:

  30 days experiential skills for practice during Year one (in the University)
  70 days (in placement) during Year one
  100 days (in placement) during Year two.

• Careers and Events
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    Employment prospects for Social Work graduates are excellent and you will be able to pursue social work careers across the country. Successful graduates can apply to the HCPC for registration, please note that you are only eligible for this if you graduate with a MA Social Work degree. This is because Social Work is a protected title.

    If you graduate without completing the full award you will not be eligible to apply for registration to the HCPC and cannot be awarded the title of Social Worker.

    
  • Open Days

    See for yourself

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a postgraduate stall, where you can speak with tutors about the postgraduate courses that interest you, to give you all the information you need about studying at the University of Northampton.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
• Requirements
  • A relevant undergraduate degree (ideally a 2:1 classification) or other recognised equivalent qualification. A Pass or 3rd will not be considered.
  • Applicants are advised to discuss the relevance of their Degree in their personal statement.
  • All applicants must have GCSE’s grade C/4 or above in English Language and Maths or certified equivalencies Key skills Level 2 will be accepted, regardless of other qualifications. Applicants without these will not be considered.
  • Applicants must have 6 months of relevant social care or social work focused work experience, ideally 2/3 days a week (and be able to evidence this). This could be paid or voluntary work.
  • Students yet to graduate should ideally provide an academic reference (although a professional reference would be acceptable). Students who have already graduated should provide a professional reference.

  All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:

  • successful Occupational Health Screening (OH),
  • satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report (this does not mean an applicant must must have a ‘clear’ DBS, however any DBS issues will need to be discussed prior to your interview (where possible) and full enrolment on to the programme) and;
  • successful interview at the University.

  Please note, entry requirements must be maintained as the programme is endorsed by the Social Work England.

  For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an international applicant and would like more information on applying for Social Work MA, please visit our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) with no component less than 6.5 for study at undergraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Level 7 - Year 1
  • Level 7 - Year 2

  • Readiness for Practice (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM021

    Core Module Y
  • Psychological and Sociological Perspectives (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM023

    Core Module Y
  • 70-day placement (40 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM024

    Core Module Y

  • Social Policy and Law (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM02

    Core Module Y
  • Professional Project (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM026

    Core Module Y
  • 100-day placement (60 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM025

    Core Module Y

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  • 30 skills days.
  • Digitisation of Social Work features throughout all modules.
  • Prepares you for professional social work practice.
  • Enables you to develop your practice skills.
  • Develops your skills and knowledge in working with other professions.
  • Raises your political awareness and encourages you to be a creative, critical and reflective thinker.
  • The Social Work subject team sign up to and hold the International Federation of Social Work definition of social work.
  • You will have the opportunity to develop a range of communication skills in the first year through experiential teaching and learning facilitated by Service Users, Social Work Practitioners and Practice Educators.
• Further Studies
  • Alumni 20% Discount

    Our Graduate Discount Scheme

    If you have previously studied an undergraduate degree with the University of Northampton, you may be eligible for a 20% discount on Postgraduate course fees.

    Visit our Graduate Discount Scheme page to find out more information and eligibility requirements.

    
  • Postgraduate Loan

    Get funding to study

    If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course either full-time or part-time you may be able to apply for a postgraduate through Student finance England.

    Visit the GOV website for more information on eligibility.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  January 2021 Intake

  Year 1: £4,050
  Year 2: £4,050

  The course is charged over 2 years.

  Social Work Bursary

  There are limited numbers of postgraduate Social Work bursaries awarded by the NHS Business Service Authority for those enrolled on our MA Social Work programme. Postgraduate Social Work students can apply for a bursary to help you with your living costs. If you’re eligible for a bursary, you’ll get a contribution towards your tuition fees. To be eligible for the Social Work Bursary, you must satisfy the residency conditions. For more information and to apply, please visit the NHS website.

  Please note that if you are successfully awarded the Postgraduate Social Work bursary, you will not able to apply for the student finance.

  Placement Travel Allowance (PTA)

  If you aren’t allocated a bursary, but meet the eligibility criteria, you’ll receive a PTA of £862.50 towards your travel expenses at the beginning of your academic year.

  If you’re allocated a bursary, your PTA will be included as part of your bursary so you won’t receive any further help for travel.

  Additional costs

  Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associated with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.

  The extra costs incurred by placement should be covered by the postgraduate Social Work bursary, or in the event of not receiving a bursary, the above PTA is a standalone contribution.

  Additional Information

  Placement learning opportunities can be outside of Northampton to cover diverse placement opportunities to meet your learning and practice needs. You will need to be able to travel independently. Placements are located within a 60 mile radius of the University.

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  January 2020 Intake

  Year 1: £4,050
  Year 2: £4,050

  The course is charged over 2 years.

  Social Work Bursary

  There are limited numbers of postgraduate Social Work bursaries awarded by the NHS Business Service Authority for those enrolled on our MA Social Work programme. Postgraduate Social Work students can apply for a bursary to help you with your living costs. If you’re eligible for a bursary, you’ll get a contribution towards your tuition fees. To be eligible for the Social Work Bursary, you must satisfy the residency conditions. For more information and to apply, please visit the NHS website.

  Please note that if you are successfully awarded the Postgraduate Social Work bursary, you will not able to apply for the student finance.

  Placement Travel Allowance (PTA)

  If you aren’t allocated a bursary, but meet the eligibility criteria, you’ll receive a PTA of £862.50 towards your travel expenses at the beginning of your academic year.

  If you’re allocated a bursary, your PTA will be included as part of your bursary so you won’t receive any further help for travel.

  Additional costs

  Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associated with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.

  The extra costs incurred by placement should be covered by the postgraduate Social Work bursary, or in the event of not receiving a bursary, the above PTA is a standalone contribution.

  Additional Information

  Placement learning opportunities can be outside of Northampton to cover diverse placement opportunities to meet your learning and practice needs. You will need to be able to travel independently. Placements are located within a 60 mile radius of the University.

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full time: £13,750

  The course is charged in Year 1 of the course.

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full time: £12,750

  The course is charged in Year 1 of the course.

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  TD Lewis Scholarship

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