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Social Work Masters (Postgraduate) at Kingston University - UCAS

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2025 - 2026
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Kingston University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

Reasons to choose Kingston

  • On successful completion, you will be qualified to practise as a registered social worker. The MSW is recognised and approved by Social Work England, the professional regulator for social work.
  • Our teaching partnership with local authorities and voluntary agencies creates a leading social work education community shaped by academic research and frontline practice.
  • In addition to working in the UK, this MSW is also recognised as a professional social work qualification in Canada and the USA.
About this course The Masters of Social Work is a postgraduate intensive qualification that will enable you to become a social worker in two years. You will be taught by social work academics, researchers, expert practitioners and people with lived experience, spanning the range of specialist social work fields. This prepares students to become social workers in their chosen areas of specialist social work practice, equipped with a broad range of theory and evidence. The course provides transformative learning experiences in a supportive, inclusive environment. It is underpinned by a psycho-social and life-course approach, encouraging critical thinking and anti-discriminatory practice in response to the needs of people and communities. You will develop knowledge and skills in our state-of-the-art Practice Learning Skills Lab. Through a specialist practice interest module, you may study a chosen area in depth. We provide two quality contrasting placements of 70 days and 100 days. You will make observation visits, learn from service users, carers and experienced social workers.You will study effective approaches to working with children and their families, and adults at risk, including older adults and mental health social work practice. A satisfactory health declaration, including immunisations, and a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check are required from accepted candidates before registration for the programme. Example modules – Readiness for Direct Practice – Assessment and Intervention – Legal, Ethical and Policy Frameworks for Social Work Practice Career opportunities Fields of practice as a qualified social worker include children’s services and family support, community care and adult services; adult/youth criminal justice services, community, day, residential and health settings; and mental health, disability, addiction and forensic services. You can also progress to the Advanced Social Work MA.

Modules

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Readiness for Direct Practice First Placement 1 (70 days) Final Placement 2 (100 days) Assessment and Intervention Human Development and the Social Environment Applied Social Work Practice Legal, Ethical and Policy Frameworks for Social Work Practice Specialist Practice Interest Independent Study: A Capstone Project

Assessment method

Individual and group presentations, essays, exam, case studies, portfolio, feedback, practice assessment and final project.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Social Work England

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
L508
Institution code:
K84
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Applicants require a degree at 2:2 or above, normally in a social science subject. GCSE English at grade 4 or equivalent also required. Applicants are also required to have demonstrable experience in the social care sector, obtained through paid employment or as a volunteer or user/carer experience; and have other work/life experience related to the sector or likely to be of value to the sector.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.kingston.ac.uk/postgraduate-course/social-work-msw/entry-requirements.html

Additional entry requirements

Admission tests

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Health checks

Interview

Institutions Own Test (IOT)

The selection process includes a written test, a role play and a series of mini interviews.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers who do not have the equivalent of GCSE English at grade 4 (formerly grade C) (eg. Functional Skills Level 2 Literacy) require an IELTS score of 7.0 overall with 7.0 in all elements

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1

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

For international fees, please visit: https://www.kingston.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/fees/ Please visit the provider course webpage for further information regarding additional course costs.
Social Work Masters (Postgraduate) at Kingston University - UCAS