Social Work MA

Entry requirements

Applicant with a 2:1 degree in any subject plus 3 months relevant work experience either full time/part time, paid or voluntary, in the field of social care, health or education (approx. 400 hours).

Applicant with a 2:2 degree in any subject and a postgraduate qualification in any subject plus 3 months relevant work experience either full time/part time, paid or voluntary, in the field of social care, health or education (approx. 400 hours).

Applicant with a 2:2 degree in any subject plus 6 months relevant work experience either full time/part time, paid or voluntary, in the field of social care, health or education. (approx. 800 hours)

Please note that references and a Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required prior to the commencement of study.

English language requirements:

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 7 or equivalent when you start the course is essential with no component below 6.5. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning (CELL), is available both before and during the course.

Please visit dmu.ac.uk/international for more information.

Applicants holding degree level qualifications are still required to meet English qualification level criteria.

Months of entry

September

Course content

DMU has a 30-year history of delivering social work education at undergraduate level. This course uses this experience to offer social work qualification at postgraduate level with successful completion providing eligibility to apply for registration with Social Work England.

The course is vocational and up to half of it is spent on placement in social work settings. The course aims to produce capable and competent students ready to enter the profession and make a difference to service users’ lives. The qualification is generic so you will be able to work across a range of adult and childcare settings in both the statutory and voluntary sector.

You will benefit from a variety of teaching methods including formal lectures, student-led learning, problem-based learning, self-directed study and e-learning. Alongside this, the Social Work MA has 170 days of practice-based learning.

We have strong links with placement providers which produce high quality placements supervised by practice educators. Placements are normally within the Leicester City or Leicestershire geographical area and are full-time work-based learning commitments.

Key features

• Develop your professional skills by transferring theory into practice in the 170 days on placement.
• We have strong links with the local statutory and voluntary sector to ensure good quality and supportive placement experiences.
• The course has been developed to provide the academic teaching in year one before placements to ensure that you feel equipped for practice learning.
• You will be taught by experienced social work practitioners and researchers, ensuring a rich learning experience.
• Service users, carers and current social work practitioners are directly involved in our teaching.
• Benefit from a 30-year history of delivering social work education at DMU.
• Study a range of modules including Children and Families Social Work, Human Growth and Development, Social Work with Adults, and Social Work Theories and Methods.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding:

2023/24 tuition fees for UK students for the two year course will be £7,000.

Social work bursaries and student loans

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

There will be a restricted number of NHS Social Work bursaries available for postgraduate social work students through universities in England. Further information is available on the NHS Business Services Authority.

This funding route could be subject to change so do check the situation with NHS Business Services before application. Any social work bursaries awarded to DMU will be allocated to students on a competitive basis.

Students who have not been successful in gaining a bursary may be eligible for a student loan for study depending on their circumstances.