Social Work MA

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Level of study:
Masters
Entry Requirements:
More information
Start date:
January 2027
Duration:
Two years full-time
Attendance:
Full-time
Course delivery:
On-campus (City Campus)

Information for 2026/27

About this course

If you have a degree and experience in the Health and Social Care sectors and you wish to become a qualified social worker then this is the course for you. The course, which starts in January, will provide you with an opportunity to both study and work in Children and Families as well as Adult Social Work giving you the freedom to plan and take forward your career the way you want to.

We work closely with employers in the statutory and independent social care sectors to ensure that the course and placements provided reflect the latest developments in practice in terms of legislation, policy and multi-agency working.

Approved by Social Work England

The Social Work Masters degree is a two-year full-time course which is approved by Social Work England (SWE).
100%

of MA Social Work students would recommend studying at NTU to others (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2026).
Put your skills into practice

You will undertake one work placement per year, in which you will be supported by a qualified Social Work Practice Educator in order to help you get the most from your experience.
Choose your specialism

You'll have the opportunity to specialise in Children and Family or Adult Social Work.

The MA Social Work is approved by Social Work England (SWE) and is designed to be a broad course providing you with the opportunity to specialise in Children and Family or Adult Social Work. It is suitable if you wish to practice under English legislation.

During the course you will undertake one work placement per year, in which you will be supported by a qualified Social Work Practice Educator in order to help you get the most from your experience.

Please note that whilst there is no academic credit attached to the practice learning opportunities – you must pass the associated assessed written work for each at masters level and this will be graded by the academic team. You'll also study a range of taught modules.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

Core modules

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Bridget Jones

“I chose to study at NTU because of the outstanding reputation it has in the UK and around the world.”
Read Bridget's profile
Chiedza Nyamfukudza

“This course has been a positive learning experience for me. I have enjoyed learning about human growth and development from childhood right into adulthood.”
Read Chiedza's profile

The University-based intensive modules are taught through a variety of methods including workshops, seminars, online and action (scenario-based) learning that reflects the complexity of work that is carried out by social work practitioners. As part of the support you receive from the University you will benefit from a personal tutor to help and support you throughout the course.

Teaching is carried out by staff from a range of professional backgrounds and is underpinned by research, providing you with a great balance between academic and applied educational experiences.

100% of MA Social Work students are satisfied with the quality of their course (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2026).

Most of our placements opportunities within the course are within Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, and Derbyshire County Council, plus some in Leicester City Council. It would be advantageous if you have a full driving licence and access to a car.

How you're assessed

Students are assessed both during and at the end of each module using a variety of assessment methods including reports, presentations, essay based and examination work. Students are also required to pass two work-based placements in their first and second year, where their social work practice is assessed against the Professional Capability Framework.

Helen Woods

Senior Lecturer

Helen Woods is a Course Leader on MA Social Work at Nottingham Trent University.
Visit Helen Woods's staff profile
Peter Benbow

Senior Lecturer (Social Work, Care and Community)

Pete is Course Lead for BA Social Work at NTU. He teaches on both BA and MA Social Work courses.
Visit Peter Benbow's staff profile
Sarah Askin

Principal Lecturer

Sarah Askin is a Principal Lecturer in Social Work, and teaches on the undergraduate and postgraduate social work courses at NTU.
Visit Sarah Askin's staff profile
Adam Barnard

Senior Lecturer

Adam Barnard (Dr)
Visit Adam Barnard's staff profile
Helen Smart

Senior Lecturer

Helen Smart is a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University and Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Social Work Degree Apprenticeship, and Registered Social Worker.
Visit Helen Smart's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

An undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2) or other recognised qualification
A personal statement which provides evidence of experience of working in the delivery of services to people (children or adults) who have social, health or educational needs. This could be with either a government or non-governmental organisation, a school, healthcare provider, charity or faith-based service. This can include paid or voluntary work.
Complete the MA Social Work Portfolio of Evidence to evidence your previous, relevant experience and to provide a reference to verify this experience. The completed and verified Portfolio should be uploaded to your Applicant Portal.
GCSE English Language or Literature grade C / 4 or equivalents. Equivalents include Level 2 Literacy/Level 2 Key Skills.

If you are working towards your GCSE English Language or Literature or equivalent qualification this must be mentioned in your application form.

Additional requirements for UK students

if shortlisted following academic assessment of your application and your Portfolio of Evidence, take part in a panel interview
demonstrate an understanding of the role of a social worker and current social work issues
be familiar with the Professional Capability Framework entry level requirements and also Social Work England’s Professional Standards
demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, through spoken and written English
demonstrate in your application your motivation to study and train as a social work practitioner
provide details of the length of time spent gaining relevant social care experience and the type of social care experience you have –(either paid or voluntary) which specifically demonstrates your suitability to study and train as a social work practitioner
provide a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly known as a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure) (which includes proof of identity)
provide a satisfactory health declaration
provide a satisfactory character conduct declaration
confirm the ability to use a range of IT facilities including email, internet and word processing.

Important information

The MA Social Work at NTU has a limited number of places available to ensure that you receive a good quality placement experience. In exceptional circumstances this may result in the course becoming full before you have completed the admissions process. In this situation we will offer you the opportunity to be considered for the following year’s entry.

Other qualifications and experience

We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Academic entry requirements:

An undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2) or other recognised qualification
English: an IELTS of 7.0 with 6.5 in each skill, or a qualification which is equivalent to that.
A personal statement which provides evidence of experience of working in the delivery of services to people (children or adults) who have social, health or educational needs. This could be with either a government or non-governmental organisation, a school, healthcare provider, charity or faith-based service. This can include paid or voluntary work.
Complete the MA Social Work Portfolio of Evidence to evidence your previous, relevant experience and to provide a reference to verify this experience. The completed and verified Portfolio should be uploaded to your Applicant Portal.

If you are working towards your GCSE English Language or Literature or equivalent qualification this must be mentioned in your application form.

We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional requirements for international students

if shortlisted following academic assessment of your application and your Portfolio of Evidence, take part in a panel interview
demonstrate an understanding of the role of a social worker and current social work issues
be familiar with the Professional Capability Framework entry level requirements and also Social Work England’s Professional Standards
demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, through spoken and written English
demonstrate in your application your motivation to study and train as a social work practitioner
provide details of the length of time spent gaining relevant social care experience and the type of social care experience you have –(either paid or voluntary) which specifically demonstrates your suitability to study and train as a social work practitioner
provide a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly known as a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure) (which includes proof of identity)
provide a satisfactory health declaration
provide a satisfactory character conduct declaration
confirm the ability to use a range of IT facilities including email, internet and word processing.

Important information

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

Other qualifications and experience

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

Getting in touch

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£8,950

These fees apply to January 2027 entry.

Social Work bursary

You may be able to get help with your living costs and tuition fees while you study through the Social Work Bursary (SWB).

View the Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant information pack.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. See which courses are eligible for scholarships.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Postgraduate loans

There is a government postgraduate loan scheme for Masters degrees. The loan contributes towards costs of study, and students can put it towards tuition fees, maintenance costs or other costs at their discretion. Find out more about postgraduate loans.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

£18,300

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

These fees apply to January 2027 entry.

Scholarships

Alumni discount

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money, the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

When you graduate you may be eligible to apply for registration with Social Work England and you will need to abide by its code of Professional Standards which is a requirement of the profession.

On completion of the course you may choose to enter the profession by working in local government or private providers of social care services for children and/or adults.

100% of MA Social Work students feel the course has better prepared them for their future career (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2026).

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).
Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.
NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

You’ll mainly be studying in the Chaucer and Newton buildings, at the centre of our vibrant City Campus. As well as a range of classrooms and lecture theatres, our facilities include a mock courtroom — where you can practise your report-writing and presentation skills with a panel of experts — and an on-site residential simulation, where you’ll get the full experience of knocking on a door, gaining entry to a property, and managing a potentially volatile situation.

NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to stay busy between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our stylish Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets for every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!

Take a few steps off campus and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. It’s stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure. Enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

Applying

UK students

All applications to this course can be made through our NTU Applicant Portal.

Courses starting in January will be open for applications from early Spring year before.

Keeping up to date

After you've applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder. You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU in our postgraduates’ guide.

Good luck with your application!

Apply now

International students

Ready to join us?

Apply directly to the University online using the NTU online application portal.

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.