Social Work MA

• Overview

  Interested in this course? Come along to our Postgraduate Drop-in evening on Wednesday, 19 June, and talk to the tutor. For more information and to register to attend, visit our PG events webpage.

  We continue to be committed to providing an excellent student experience which prepares you for Social Work Practice in the 21st Century work place.

  The MA Social Work academic team continue to ensure that the student experience at the University of Northampton is centred around developing excellent professional practice and following an extensive review and redesign of the programme we are confident that all students will be prepared for the contemporary challenges of 21st Century Social Work.

  Course

  Highlights

  • Practice placement to apply academic learning.
  • Opportunity to gain the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration after graduation.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  This programme ensures that outcomes for you continue to be of a high standard and will prepare you for your professional practice and employment. As such our MA in Social Work reflects these intentions as well as the changing professional landscape and political direction of Social Policy and Social Work.

  The MA Social Work academic team continue to ensure that the student experience at the University of Northampton is centred around developing excellent professional practice. This will take place through high quality teaching and the application of theory to practice placement experiences.

  The course will provide you with the opportunity to develop and enhance key skills in working with service users, colleagues and professionals from a range of backgrounds.

  The practice placement modules will offer you the opportunities to apply your academic learning and develop relevant professional skills, through two five-days-per-week placement experiences opportunities which sit at the core of the programme.

  The first placement will cover 70 days with the second one being 100 days. Between the placements you will be in University embedding this learning experience within taught academic sessions. Placements are offered in a variety of settings, all of which meet the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency, Education and Training.

  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, normally a 2:1 classification or other recognised equivalent qualification
  • You will also need to evidence at least 6 months relevant social care or health focused work experience (within a voluntary or paid capacity)
  • For entry onto the MA Social work we ask that you hold at least a GCSE grade C/4 in English Language and Mathematics or equivalent qualifications. (Please contact our admission team to confirm equivalent status of qualifications)
  • If your first language is not English an IELTS score of 7 is required (with no component less than 6.5)
  • All candidates will be asked to declare any DBS cautions or convictions prior to interview and enrolled students are subject to regular monitoring of their DBS status in line with HCPC and University guidelines
  • Places on the programme will be offered following a satisfactory DBS and Occupational Health clearance
  • Applicants must have and be able to demonstrate an ability to provide some evidence of meeting the entry point on the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) which is managed by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

  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)
    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
  admissions2019@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2019
  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

  • Diversity (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM011

    Core Module Y
  • Life Span 1: Human Growth and Development (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM012

    Core Module Y
  • Life Span 2: Assessing & Managing Risk in Child and Adult Protection (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM013

    Core Module Y
  • Preparing for Professional Social Work Practice (40 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM014

    Core Module Y
  • Social Work Law and Policy (20 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM015

    Core Module Y
  • Dissertation and Research Skills for Effective Social Work Practice (60 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM010

    Core Module Y
  • 70 Day Practice Placement (0 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM018P

    Core Module Y
  • 100 Day Practice Placement A (0 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM019P

    Core Module Y
  • 100 Day Practice Placement B (0 Credits)
    Module code: SWKM020P

    Core Module Y

  Modules you will study

  You will complete 180 credits at level 7 through a range of modules covering the theoretical, socio-political, legal, economic and contemporary challenges of Social Work Practice, incorporating two placement modules. These have been developed to meet the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency and Standards of Education and Training, as well as covering the BASW Professional Capabilities Framework and Code of Values and Ethics.

  These taught modules are complemented by two professional practice placements, which offer you the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge, academic skills and developing professional identity to service user, carer and family settings.

  At completion of the full 180 credit award (assuming a pass at both practice components) you will be able to apply to register with the HCPC which is mandatory to practice as a Social Worker in England.

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  • 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 in 2018/19 either full-time or part-time you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,609 through Student finance England.

    Visit the GOV website for more information on eligibility.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  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.

  Year 1: £5,000 (100 credits)
  Year 2: £4,000 (80 credits)

  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.

  2018/19 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 18/19 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Year 1: £3,675 (100 credits)
  Year 2: £2,940 (80 credits)

  The course is charged over 2 years.

  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.

  Year 1: £7,075 (100 credits)
  Year 2: £5,660 (80 credits)

  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.

  2018/19 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 18/19 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Year 1: £6,775 (100 credits)
  Year 2: £5,420 (80 credits)

  The course is charged over 2 years.

  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

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

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