Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

Entry requirements

Normally a First or Upper Second Class Bachelor’s degree in Social Work plus at least 3 years’ professional experience. Masters preferred. Registration with Social Work England is required.

Months of entry

October

Course content

The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) has been designed to meet the needs of social work professionals. You will come from any field within social work, be it supporting children or adults. You should have several years of professional experience, perhaps at a senior level. You should desire to pursue an area of research related to, and drawing on, your professional work. Your research will create new evidence-based knowledge, practice and understanding that will bring benefits both to you and your wider professional community.

There is a strong emphasis on individualised learning and critical reflection. You will engage at an advanced level with varied academic and professional issues relevant to your own practice. You will develop the three key skills of independent learning, independent research, and sustained critical and self-reflexive analysis.

The programme is divided into two Phases. Phase One is the Taught Phase. You undertake three ‘strands’ of taught study, organised into six modules (20 credits each). You will also write substantial research Proposal (60 credits), during this Phase. The Proposal forms the foundation for Phase Two, the Research Phase. Here, you undertake a supervised thesis project, much like a traditional PhD student would.

Information for international students

https://www.hope.ac.uk/postgraduate/postgraduatecourses/socialworkdoctoratedsw/

Fees and funding

https://www.hope.ac.uk/postgraduate/postgraduatecourses/socialworkdoctoratedsw/