Entry requirements

Students accepted on to the course would usually have at least a second class honours degree in a relevant social sciences or related subject area. GCSE Maths and English at grade C (or equivalent). The equivalent of 6 months full-time work or voluntary experience in a social care, health care or related voluntary setting is usually, but not always, required. Undertaking a caring role in a personal capacity for a minimum of 6 months may be accepted as relevant experience.

Months of entry

January

Course content

Social work is an incredibly rewarding career that gives you an opportunity to work with people in times of need to achieve positive change in their lives. Northumbria University is proud to have over 50 years' experience in providing excellent qualifying social work programmes. We are the largest provider of social work education in the North East and boast a team with extensive experience in broad range of social work contexts. You will learn from the very best during your Master's in Social work.

Our academics’ research contributes to new practice developments and policy and will directly inform your learning. Current research areas include; child protection and mental health, child sexual exploitation, autism, learning difficulties, mental capacity, social justice, gender and research minded social work practice.

The Social Work MA at Northumbria has both a national and international focus and offers the opportunity to gain experience across cultures. Trips previous students have undertaken include observing social work practice in Greece, Turkey and Northern Ireland.

This Social Work Master’s programme has excellent placements within local networks providing excellent practice learning opportunities (70 days in Year 1 and 100 days in Year 2).

We ensure that all our students are offered two, high-quality, contrasting placements in order to offer the very best and most varied work experience to prepare you for qualified practice. Students are supported by a placement team focused on your learning needs during placements

State-of-the-art facilities at Coach Lane Campus also offer simulated placement settings to help you feel prepared. For example, it may include a mock set-up of a bedroom, living room or kitchen and you may be asked to observe the setting for red flags or indicators that somebody is struggling to cope. We also work closely with our Educators by Experience (people who have accessed services) to ensure that students can draw on real life experiences to support their development.

Social work is a diverse and challenging profession where you will encounter people from a breadth of social, economic, religious, racial, cultural and diverse backgrounds. We are keen to reflect this diversity in our student recruitment and will consider every applicant beyond their professional and academic experience within the context of their life experience too.

We welcome applicants with any undergraduate degree and upon successful completion of this course, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the regulator, Social Work England, to be granted the protected title of Social Worker.

Once registered, you will be immediately ready to enter the social work profession and work with people in need in a broad range of settings. You could choose to work with children and families or adults in the local authority, health, or private, independent, or voluntary sectors.

Information for international students

Students whose first language is not English must have an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum score in each component of 5.5. Pearson Academic score of 62 (or above) with a minimum score in each component of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking of 51.