Social Work
MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Course summary and entry requirements

Course duration
Full-time: 2 years

UCAS code L508 please note that applications should be made via UCAS, www.ucas.com

Professional accreditation
Social work is a profession regulated by Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and you are required to conduct yourself in accordance with the Health and Care Professions Council guidance on conduct and ethics for students.
As well as regulating individual social workers and students, the HCPC also regulate the performance of social work courses.

About the course

This two-year, full-time course is for graduates wishing to train and qualify as social workers.
Following the closure of the General Social Care Council on 31st July 2012, social work education is regulated by Health and Care Professions Council. The course meets current requirements for social work training in what is a transitional phase, integrating academic and practice learning. There is a focus on the applied social science knowledge base of social work and on the development of social work knowledge, skills and values. Further, the course reflects the multidisciplinary practice context, with opportunities for shared, inter-professional learning with education, nursing, medical and occupational therapy students.
The course runs in partnership with local agencies providing social and caring services and with users of services and carers.

Typical entry requirements

Individual offers may vary.

GCSE (minimum grade C) or Access equivalent:
Maths and English at Grade C or above, or equivalent.
For non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 7.0 overall, no element below 6.5
Other:
To fulfil professional requirements students must have:
- Satisfactory CRB clearance.
- Full educational and employment history on application form (including details of any disciplinary record).
- Satisfactory health declaration / clearance.
- All applicants who are shortlisted will be required to attend the University for interview, which will involve both an individual interview and a written test as part of the interview process.
- All shortlisted applicants must confirm prior to interview / offer that they have the ability to use basic IT facilities, including word processing, internet use, use of email and will be asked to specify how these skills have been obtained.
Degree and/or experience:
An honours degree in any subject, normally with a minimum of Upper Second class honours*.
A satisfactory academic reference and/or transcript, indicating ability to study at Level 7.
Maths and English GCSE at Grade C or above, or certified equivalences.
Understanding of, and preparedness for, social care and social work practice
Experience of providing social or caring services
A satisfactory second character reference, preferably relating to providing social or caring services and / or from most recent employer
*Applications from candidates who do not fulfill the Admissions Criteria of a Second Class Honours Degree may be considered exceptionally in the short listing process in light of the content of their application as a whole. Should this occur, they must provide a transcript of their marks/ grades on their first degree and submit written work as requested by the Admissions Tutor.
Course content

Course structure

Year 1 introduces core skills, theories and approaches for social work practice in its inter-professional context and fosters a critical understanding of key law, policy and human growth across the lifespan. Year 2 focuses on more complex and accountable practice together with the development of more specialised skills and knowledge. There is also a focus on research in social work and the critical use of evidence to underpin own practice.
Learning in practice is supported by periods of study at the university, by directed study (with a range of learning materials) and by small group practice tutorials facilitated by social work-qualified university staff.
Students are required by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) to spend at least 200 days engaged in practice learning. Each student will experience at least two practice settings, statutory social work tasks involving legal interventions and provide services to at least two user groups.

Areas of study

The course includes learning on the following areas:
- social work theories and methods
- core social work skills
- social work values, ethics and anti-oppressive practice
- legal and policy frameworks
- applied social science (social policy, psychology and sociology) for social work practice
- inter-professional learning and practice
- approaches to working with risk, assessment and safeguarding
- contemporary developments and issues in social work
- research methods and the place of research evidence in social work practice.
Fees and costs

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2013-14. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

Social Work (MSc) (Full time) [L1BH005]

UK/EU (Full Time) 4,500 GBP
Island Students (Full Time) 8,100 GBP
International (Full Time) 11,500 GBP
Location

Location Falmer

Our Falmer campus is located on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the outskirts of Brighton. Approximately 7,000 students are based here.
View campus maps and directions
Living in Brighton
Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.
Social scene
Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Arts
The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.
Sports
Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.
Career opportunities

This is an important time to enter social work, with the development of the National College of Social Work. There is a national shortage of social workers and as a result there is a range of opportunities for work with all service user groups.

Visit the careers service website.