Social Work MA
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.
Applications for January starts open from April the year before.
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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).
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Choose your specialism
You'll have the opportunity to specialise in Children and Family or Adult Social Work.
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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.
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Taught by expert staff
Teaching is carried out by staff from a range of professional backgrounds and is underpinned by research.
What you’ll study
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.
Preparing for Professional Social Work Practice
You'll learn about the social work environment, the expectations of employers, the professional requirements and service user perspectives. There is a focus on skills development so a lot of the work will be experiential either in the classroom or in observation and shadowing.
Human Growth and Development - Promoting and Protecting Individual Development Within Social Contexts
This module analyses the principles of child and adult development, following a 'normal' spectrum of development but also considers alternatives as well as people's social, economic and political contexts.
Law and Policy for Social Work
This module provides a thorough grounding of the legislation and policies that underpin social work across the spectrum. The critical evaluation of a social welfare policy helps you to build your confidence in preparation for the dissertation.
Practice Learning Opportunity One
This module includes the first placement period (80 days) plus recall days to include teaching that enhances professional practice. Before embarking on a placement, you need to ensure your own and other’s health and safety; you need to be familiar with and commit to the SWE Professional Standards.
While on placement, theory provides grounding for the work that is carried out. Being able to apply theory and adapt to changing situations is crucial to being able to provide a service. The University provides the placements in partnership with local authorities and independent sector agencies.
Support on the placement and assessment of knowledge and skills is provided by a qualified practice educator in conjunction with a tutor.
Theories, Methods and Models of Social Work Practice - Assessing and Intervening in Order to Achieve Best Outcomes for Service Users
The purpose of this module is to develop a critical knowledge of assessment frameworks, principles, models and practice.
Safeguarding: Working with Risk and Complexity
Safeguarding children and adults is a key statutory social work role. This module is designed to explore contemporary safeguarding practice with children and adults. It will equip you with the skills and knowledge to balance competing elements such as the right to self-determination and individual freedom, with the social worker's duty to protect.
Practice Learning Opportunity Two
This second placement is longer (90 days) with complementary academic input to develop professional expertise and leadership skills. The placement will be arranged by the University and is likely to be within a setting that is undertaking statutory interventions with service users. Examples of settings are child protection and mental health teams.
After an induction period you're expected to work as part of a team providing services to individuals, groups and communities. You'll need to be confident in your abilities and act in accordance with the procedures of the organisation. You will be supervised and guided by your practice educator and colleagues and supported by your tutor.
Three days teaching will occur during the placement recall days to develop leadership and management skills at a masters level.
Dissertation - Research skills for Effective Social Work Practice
While on placement, you'll be undertaking a specialist investigation into an area of practice that will help bring new knowledge to the agency or service users. Methodological teaching for this module will allow you to prepare a proposal for either a literature-based or research-based project.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Q&A - MA Social Work
How you're taught
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.
There are two broad approaches to assessment. The first is academic and this includes essays and practical methods such as verbal presentations and report writing. The second form of assessment is through practice placements, which are focused on your ability to meet the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).
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.
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.
If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course, visit our Careers and Employability page.
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.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
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.
- It is also a requirement that you provide a reference that evidences your social care related experience.
- 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
- take part in a 2-stage interview process that is inclusive of an online written test, and 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
- 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.
- A reference that evidences the experience in your personal statement (this should be from an employer or somebody who has known you in a professional capacity)
- English: an IELTS of 7.0 with 6.5 in each skill, or a qualification which is equivalent to that.
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
- take part in a 2-stage interview process that is inclusive of an online written test, and 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.
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
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.
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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.
