MA Social Work
Become a social worker
Become a social worker
- Gain the qualification to enable you to apply to register as a social worker
- Course is approved by national regulator Social Work England
- Study modules mapped to national professional standards to ensure course remains relevant to current practice
- Partnerships with several local authorities to develop your skills and employability
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Overview
Learn to work effectively with children, adults and a wide range of social problems
Our MA Social Work course prepares you for a wide range of experiences and learning opportunities that you will encounter in practice.
We welcome students from a variety of backgrounds, whether you’re a recent graduate or are looking to change careers for something more rewarding.
Gain the skills and knowledge needed for current practice
You will gain a combination of effective and relevant skills alongside up-to-date knowledge of how to work effectively with children, adults and a wide range of social problems.
The MA Social Work course begins with a carefully structured induction programme, before you move on to study modules designed to develop your personal and professional skills.
You will be supported throughout by a structured tutorial programme; linking university-based learning to practice placements.
Apply theory to practice on placements
Alongside your academic learning, you will apply theory to practice via placements with our local partners.
We have cultivated strong relationships with several local authorities and other agencies, where you will learn to apply your knowledge to real-world situations and a gain a vital insight into the professional life of a social worker.
Dedicated personal and academic support
Your tutors ensure that you have excellent academic and personal support throughout your degree, as you gain a firm grounding in the skills, professional theory, and values of the social work profession.
We have a long tradition of providing a supportive, student-centred approach to learning and teaching and we believe it is our role to help you develop both personally and professionally throughout your degree.
This has culminated in our excellent rating in the National Student Satisfaction survey that has underpinned our well-established reputation for teaching Social Work.
Social Work England approved
This course is approved by social work regulator Social Work England.
By the end of the course, you will be eligible to apply to register with Social Work England and begin your career as social work professional.
On this course you will:
- Learn from experienced and qualified social workers.
- Gain your qualification from a university with a well-established reputation for teaching Social Work.
- Study modules that are mapped to the national professional standards for social workers.
- Receive targeted careers support to help you open future career opportunities in a variety of professional roles.
The Course
Prepare for the wide range of experiences and learning opportunities that you will encounter in practice
Our MA Social Work course is designed to prepare you with the skills and knowledge to be an effective professional in the challenging but rewarding social work sector.
The course will explore the complexities and intricacies of working within social work, as you learn to prepare for a variety of situations and dilemmas when working with both adults and children and their families.
You will underpin your theoretical learning with dedicated, practical experience and assessment as you build the knowledge and confidence that you will need to progress through your career.
Modules
Select a year
Introduction to Social Work
This module aims to introduce you to social work roles, tasks and settings, as well as provide you with a grounding in the historical and social context of social work practice.
In addition, you will explore a framework of theories, values, ethics and research mindedness as a foundation for good practice and study throughout the course.
Human Development and Psychology Across the Lifespan
An introduction to human growth and development, which will draw on developmental psychology as well as the social context of development. It will also explore difficulties in physiological, psychological and social development, including attachment theory, mental health and wellbeing. It will consider cultural and gender perspectives in relation to development. the effects of social problems on development and socialisation will also be critically examined.
Social Work Law and Social Policy
This module seeks to explore primary, secondary and tertiary legislation, case law and social policy which has relevance to social welfare. It seeks to equip you with a critical understanding of how to apply legislation, case law and policy in practice. It will enable you to link legal and policy frameworks, anti-oppressive practice and social justice.
Practice, Research and Dissertation Skills
This module aims to build on your basic communication and relationship skills in order to prepare you for social work practice. It will enable you to develop an understanding of the wider community in which social work takes place. There will be opportunities to introduce you to the perspectives of service users, carers, and the organisations with which social workers liaise and operate.
Methods of Assessment, Intervention, Risk and Safeguarding
This module aims to explore the nature of evidence and knowledge-based practice in relation to methods appropriate to risk and safeguarding. It will enable you to develop an understanding of the implicit and explicit ethical and value base underlying such interventions and approaches.
Values, Dilemma and Conflicts in Social Work Practice
Social work tasks and responsibilities require an understanding of complex situations which are likely to need high-level professional skills. This module will enable you to develop evidence-based knowledge on the multi-faceted factors likely to impact individual interpretation and understanding of dilemmas and conflicts in social work practice.
Assessed Practice 1 (70 Day Practice Placement)
There will be a range of activities to help you develop skills in critical reflection in relation to your social work practice and be able to apply appropriate social work skills and methods in practice. You will be supported to demonstrate skills in synthesising information and reflecting critically on social work knowledge.
Research Methods & Dissertation
This final module enables you to undertake a research project in a specialist area of professional practice. You will be taught a range of research methods and will then apply these to explore a subject in-depth and analyse, interpret, and synthesise relevant information and data.
Reflection, Analysis and Decision Making With Adults and Children
On successful completion of the MA Social Work you will reflect on your practice to meet the aims of the threshold requirements for entry into the profession as a registered social worker.
Assessed Practice 2 (100 Day Practice Placement)
At the point of qualification, you are expected to have developed analytical techniques and problem-solving skills and to be able to demonstrate personal responsibility and decision making in complex and unpredictable professional situations.
Linked Tutorial Programme (Year 2)
Academic tutors will focus on your academic and professional development, provide pastoral care, support the link between theory and social work practice and enable you to understand service user and carer perspectives.
Teaching and Assessment
Receive the support of dedicated and experienced social work professionals
On our MA Social Work course, you will get to experience a mix of teaching strategies to make sure that you are building the knowledge and confidence you need to progress in this career.
Receive the support of our tutors
Your personal tutor will support you throughout your time on the course.
We have a team of experienced professionals who work together to give you the best experience while at university.
You’ll get to know the team, and we will get to know you personally. We pride ourselves on our student support and our commitment to your learning.
You will learn in lectures, in small groups and in practice placements where you will receive personalised support and guidance.
Assessment
We use written assignments, group work, workshops, feedback, presentations, discussions and placements to develop your skills.
The practice elements of the course are assessed through portfolio presentation and assessor reports.
There are support sessions for particular assessments and a dedicated online platform for study skills to help support your written academic skills.
Qualification outcomes
The programme has three possible levels of outcome:
- Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert): The Postgraduate Certificate lasts for approximately 12 months. Completion of a set number of academic credits will enable the award of Postgraduate Certificate. This qualification is not sufficient to enable you to register with Social Work England.
- Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip): The Postgraduate Diploma lasts for a period of between 18 and 24 months. The award of the Postgraduate Diploma is conditional on the achievement of academic credits at Master’s level (FHEQ Level 7). The Postgraduate Diploma is an exit award which has been approved by Social Work England and enables graduates to apply to register as social workers.
- Master’s Degree (MA): Completion of the dissertation will enable students to achieve the cumulative 180 credits required for the award of the MA. Completion of the MA makes graduates eligible to apply to Social Work England to join the Social Work Register.
Experience
Discover facilities that help support your learning
Our MA Social Work course is located on the historic Bishop Otter campus in Chichester, which has a variety of facilities to allow you to get the best out of your time at university.
Close community
Our commitment to a friendly and close-knit student community contributes to a high degree of success for our graduates.
Expert staff
Learn from expert and experienced teaching staff who are here to support your needs.
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms and the Support and Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
Subject specific librarians
If you have difficulty finding material for an essay, seminar or project, subject librarians will be happy to provide assistance.
Family Festival 2024
The Childhood and Social Work department organised the inaugural Family Festival in response to student feedback. There were many free activities for students and their families to participate in and the day was a huge success. There is something special about the way we listen to our students and then turn this into practical action and support.
Work Placements
Gain vital experience within the social work sector
We have developed strong working relationships with local authorities across the south of England where you will gain the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of working within the social work profession.
Placement requirements
Social work programmes must ensure that students spend at least 200 days (including up to 30 skills days) gaining different experiences and learning in practice settings.
At Chichester, you will have the opportunity to carry out key social work roles within practice placements totalling 170 days.
In addition, your professional development will be supported by 30 Skills Days.
70-day placement
For the first (70-day) placement in your second year, you could gain experience in organisations such as West Sussex and Hampshire County Councils, Homestart, Stonepillow, Aldingbourne Trust, Barnardos and Citizens Advice.
We also have opportunities in schools which have units for pupils with additional needs. These include Front Lawn Primary and Felpham Community College.
There are similar opportunities in hospital teams and other support organisations such as Motiv8, My Sister House, Cornerhouse Mental Health Resource Centre and Change, Grow, Live.
100-day placement
The second (100-day) placement in your third year include local authorities like West Sussex and Hampshire County Council within teams such as family support and protection, looked after children, fostering, disabilities, older persons, youth offending, children’s asylum and mental health.
30 Skills Days
The skills day programme is integrated into the course and is designed to develop key skills and knowledge that you can apply in practice.
Whether developing your resilience or learning to use play in direct work with children, Skills Days are an essential part of your professional development.
Careers
Take the first steps to becoming a registered social work professional
Our MA Social Work course is approved by the national social work regulator: Social Work England.
This means that graduates will be able to register with Social Work England as a registered social worker.
Our close relationships with our social work placement partners often result in our graduates continuing into Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) roles with those local authorities.
Our employer partners provide careers support and guidance to enable your transition to becoming a Registered Social Worker.
Further study
You may also choose to develop your knowledge and practice further.
- MA Advanced Professional Practice
- Certificate in Counselling
- Postgraduate research.
Student View
"Speaking from the heart, the course would have to be described as life changing"
Ano
Peter
Hannah
Nikki
Course Costs
Course Fees 2024/25
UK fee
International fee
For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fees page.
For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.
To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.
University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.
Course specific costs
You will be required to have a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check costing £40 which needs to be paid for before the start of the course.
Entry Requirements
Honours degree
GCSE
IELTS
DBS Check
MA Social Work applicants are required to have an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check which needs to be paid for before the start of the course.
We strongly suggest that all students sign up for the Disclosure and Barring Service update service for which there is a small annual charge, this makes the DBS portable both during and after the degree.
Failure to sign up for the update service might require the student to gain a further enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check which will incur additional costs.
Interview
The interview is designed to assess the applicant’s suitability for the social work profession.
It is expected that most students will have significant experience of a statutory care agency or voluntary/private organisation providing a social work or social care service.
Social work experience
We typically expect our prospective students to have social work or social care experience of up to six months or equivalent part-time (paid or voluntary).
A satisfactory occupational health assessment is required.
