Course summary

Please note that applicants must apply to this postgraduate course through the UCAS Undergraduate route and not via our website. Please visit https://www.ucas.com for further information on applying. Make a difference to people’s lives. Combine in-depth professional training and tuition with practice placements - and graduate ready to apply to register as a qualified Social Worker. Our full time Masters degree is designed for graduates with at least six months’ relevant work experience, who want to qualify as professional Social Workers. Offered in Cambridge or Chelmsford, this two-year MA Social Work is approved by Social Work England, so when you graduate, you’ll be eligible to apply for professional registration. Typically, in your first year you’ll have three days of lectures a week on campus, with the rest of your time spent in independent study or on placement. In the second year, you’ll have one day on campus, with 3-4 days per week on placement. An intensive orientation programme at the start of this postgraduate course will introduce you to theories and approaches within social work and develop your practical skills, ready for your first placement. We’ll support you towards becoming a: Qualified practitioner: preparing you for effective practice using a curriculum that focuses on critical engagement with the values, ethics, skills, and knowledge required to meet the complex challenges inherent in practice. Professional: develop the qualities that represent the profession with integrity, demonstrate a commitment to accountability and in-depth understanding of the role of social work. Social scientist: supporting you to be research-minded and critically reflective learners who transition into practice with an enthusiasm for life-long learning. You’ll spend 70 days on practice placement in Year 1 and 100 days in Year 2. These placements will be in contrasting settings, one of which will involve experience of statutory work, and with one placement in children’s services and one in adults. It’s likely that you’ll have to travel as part of your placement, so you’ll need your own transport to visit service users in the community, where public transport may not be available. From communication skills to legal duties, professional decision-making to an understanding of socio-economic factors, our MA Social Work will equip you fully for the challenges you’ll likely face in social work. You may be eligible for a Social Work Bursary in either year of your studies. This can help with living and travel costs and doesn’t have to be repaid. Eligibility criteria is set by NHS Bursary and a quota of students do get the bursary each year. This course is not currently available to international students. You may be interested in our MSc International Social Welfare and Social Policy degree as an alternative.