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. Why study MA Social Work at Goldsmiths 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.
- The MA Social Work is an academic and professional qualification that 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.
- In the 2023 Guardian League Tables, our team was rated top in London for course quality and satisfaction.
- The Masters includes two practice placements in statutory and non-statutory settings and with different service user groups, so you'll be able to gain valuable real-world experience.
- We will encourage you to think deeply about human rights and social justice, and to embed these values in your practice. You will develop your skills for reflective and evidence-based practice and will be able to further your research mindedness.
- Over 95% of MA Social Work graduates at Goldsmiths go on to full-time graduate-level social work practice.
- Goldsmiths' social work programmes are highly regarded by potential employers in London, the South East of England, and nationally, and our alumni have an excellent record of securing employment. Past graduates have gone on to work in local authority children's services departments, adult services departments, and independent/voluntary sector agencies such as the NSPCC, Family Action and Mind.
- As we were a founding member of the South East London Teaching Partnership initiative, we have established a fantastic programme where you will be jointly taught by practising social workers-teaching consultants. Depending on your profile, interests, and experience, you may also secure social work placements in local authority settings.
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. Theories of Individual Development Multidisciplinary Research Design and Methodologies Social Work Skills and Methods 1 Introduction to Law and Social Work Social Work 70-Day Placement and Practice Integration Theory, Policy and Practice 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. Social Work Skills and Methods 2 Research Methods/Social Work Dissertation Social Work 100-Day Placement and Practice Integration Practice placements You are required to spend 170 days in practice settings. 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 second-class honours standard Have a Grade C or above in GCSE English or certified equivalent. Have a minimum of six months full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant voluntary or paid work experience (normally within the last two years), of which a minimum of three months full-time experience must have been gained by the time of application and a further three 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. Meet the Fitness to train requirements. This includes 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 7.0 overall 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
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW