Course summary
Please note applications for this programme are taken through UCAS undergraduate application scheme with the course code L508, our institution code is G56 and our institution name is GOLD. This Masters programme is ideal for graduates with relevant experience interested in pursuing a professional career in social work. You will receive an approved qualification, enabling you to register with Social Work England and work as a qualified professional social worker on completion of the programme. Work with and learn from Experts By Experience The MA Social Work is an academic and professional qualification which also provides a gateway to more specialist therapeutic qualifications and research degree programmes. Social work education at Goldsmiths has a long and distinguished record – we have one of the most respected social work units in the UK, and you'll be taught by established social work academics and associate lecturers who have considerable research and/or practice experience in their fields. You will learn the values, skills, and knowledge needed to practise as a reflective and ethical social worker, and be well equipped for the challenges of contemporary social work practice. You also will be encouraged to make links between anti-oppressive practice, the social work values, the legal framework, theories, methods and skills of intervention, and social work practice throughout the programme. You will cover some of the following areas:
- human growth and development
- community needs and services
- social work methods and skills
- assessment in social work
- law and organisational contexts of social work
- research methods
- children and families pathway
- adults pathway
- mental health and disability
Modules
Year 1 In year 1 you are introduced to social work as a professional activity and an academic discipline. You consider key concepts such as the nature of need, community, social work services, and the significance of the service user perspective. You are also provided with an introduction to life-span development, assessment in social work and a range of social work intervention approaches. Your assessed practice consists of 70 days spent as a social worker; this gives you the chance to develop your communication and social work practice skills with service users and to work in partnership across professional disciplines and agencies. Human Growth and Development 30 credits Community Needs and Services 30 credits Social Work Methods and Skills 30 credits Social Work Practice Learning Year 1 90 credits Year 2 Year 2 provides you with an overview of the legal and organisational context of social work and extends your knowledge and skills in one of the two main specialist areas of social work practice: working with children and families, or working with adults in need. You will work in small groups to explore methods of intervention, research and theories which are relevant to a particular area of social work, while another assessed practice element enables you to meet the professional requirements for social work training via 100 days of practice under the guidance of a practice assessor. You are expected to demonstrate capabilities across a range of professional standards (SWE, 2020) and this is formally assessed. The learning on the MA Social Work programme builds over the two years and prepares you to apply that knowledge to practice situations. Law and the Organisational Context of Social Work 30 credits Research Methods 60 credits Social Work Practice Learning 2 30 credits Practice placements You are required to spend 170 days in practice settings. In Year 1 there is a practice placement lasting 70 days and in Year 2 the practice placement lasts 100 days. These placements are arranged through the allocation system devised by the College. The practice placements will be supported by 30 days for the development of practice skills. You have an identified Practice Educator for each of the two practice placements. Most of our placements are located in South East London, so if you live elsewhere you will need to travel. We have partnership agreements with the following organisations for placements in social work: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – Adults Services London Borough of Lambeth – Childrens Services London Borough of Southwark – Childrens Services London Borough of Southwark – Adults Services London Borough of Lewisham – Childrens Services London Borough of Lewisham – Adults Services Royal Borough of Greenwich – Childrens Services Royal Borough of Greenwich – Adults Services NSPCC (London Region) We also work with about 20-30 voluntary/private social care agencies each year. Here are some that we've worked with recently: Equinox Care Mental Health Services Body and Soul HIV Service Jamma Umoja Family Assessment Services Advocacy in Greenwich Learning Disability Service Lewisham Refugee Network Turning Point Mental Health Services Carers Lewisham Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment method
The programme is assessed by a range of methods including assignment, essay, critical reflection, presentation, dissertation, placement portfolio, role play, seen exam, report and case study.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Social Work England
Entry requirements
To be accepted onto the programme you must: Have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard or an undergraduate degree at lower second class standard PLUS a postgraduate degree (such as an MA or MSc) or PGCE or appropriate professional qualification equivalent to a first degree Have a Grade C or above in GCSE English or certified equivalent (eg Level 2 Key or Functional Skills Literacy). Have a minimum of 12 months' full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant voluntary or paid work experience (normally within the last two years), of which a minimum of 6 months' full-time experience must have been gained by the time of application and a further 6 months' full-time experience by the start of the degree. Please make sure you read the work experience guide on our website for more information about the experience that we accept. Have the understanding and personal, intellectual, and professional qualities to become a social worker and can demonstrate this through relevant social work experience. It is a requirement of entry onto the course that students possess an enhanced check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Therefore, any offer of a place will be conditional on a satisfactory DBS enhanced disclosure, which students are required to pay for. You should also be able to demonstrate that you can communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written English. Where required, our Admissions Office will direct you to acceptable equivalency tests for those who do not meet the required grades or levels. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. Please note that, due to the volume of applications we receive, applicants who do not meet the entry requirements will not be considered.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW