Course in brief

This intensive programme is for graduates from any discipline wishing to train and qualify as social workers.

Through a combination of academic and professional modules, you will focus on both the social science knowledge base of social work, and on developing your practice-relevant knowledge, skills and values through 200 days of practical learning.

Taught by qualified social workers with a range of practice specialisms and research interests, this course offers exciting opportunities to learn alongside students from related professional disciplines including occupational therapy, teaching, nursing and medicine, mirroring the interprofessional nature of social work practice.

Users of social work services, carers and experienced practitioners are also actively involved in the course and the delivery of teaching sessions. 

The postgraduate diploma (PGDip) can be taken as an alternative and shorter route to obtaining a postgraduate social work qualification with students learning alongside MSc students in all except the dissertation module. It is also available as an early exit award to those registered on the MSc who opt not to take the dissertation module but meet all other requirements of the PGDip.

The MSc and PGDip are both approved by the Health and Care Professions Council, the regulatory body for social workers and other health professionals. All students will address the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers throughout the course, alongside the former College of Social Work's Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code L508 for the MSc, apply via UCAS

Apply direct to the university for the PGDip via the 'apply online' link below

Full-time 2 years MSc / 15–18 months PGDip

Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council

Apply now with UCAS for 2019 entry

Apply online

Please make sure that you meet the entry requirements before applying. If you have any questions the course team will be happy to help.

Apply now for your place

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2018. They should be used as a general guide.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows if your application is successful.

Applications for the MSc are made through UCAS. Applications for the PGDip can be made direct to the university on the link provided at the top of this page. 

Degree and 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.
  • Understanding of, and preparedness for, social care and social work practice.
  • Experience of providing social or caring services from paid or voluntary work.

Applications from candidates who do not fulfil the admissions criteria of a second class honours degree may be considered exceptionally in the shortlisting 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.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
Maths and English language, or recognised and certified equivalences. We are unable to accept Functional Skills maths or English.

For non-native speakers of English
IELTS 7.0 overall, no element below 6.5.

Other
To fulfil professional requirements, you must provide full educational, employment and study history on the application form (including details of any disciplinary record).

All shortlisted applicants will need to attend the university for an individual interview, a group task and a written test.

They will also need to confirm before their interview or offer that they can use basic IT facilities (eg word processing software, internet browsers and email) and will be asked to specify how these skills have been obtained.

The HCPC regulate both the profession and the courses through which it is taught, and you are therefore required to conduct yourself in line with their guidance on conduct and ethics.

 

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

Applicants for the PGDip with sufficient experience and who are working in a relevant role which enables them to provide evidence that meets the first placement assessment criteria may be able submit that evidence in place of undertaking the first placement. 

If we make you an offer
Once you've accepted your offer, to fulfil professional requirements, you will be expected to provide evidence of the following:

  • satisfactory DBS disclosure
  • satisfactory health declaration/clearance.

Course in detail

Course structure

In line with the guidance of the former College of Social Work, students undertake 200 days of practical learning across the course. This involves 30 days of developing practice skills within the university, a 70-day placement in year 1 and a 100-day placement in year 2.

Learning in practice is supported by periods of study at the university, directed study (with a range of learning materials) and small-group practice tutorials. The course reflects the interprofessional nature of social work, with opportunities for shared learning experiences with education, nursing, medical and occupational therapy students.

Social Work

Areas of study

Year 1 introduces core skills, theories and approaches for social work practice in its interprofessional 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.

It is possible to take the PGDip as a stand alone qualification in 15–18 months, or as an early exit award for those registered on the MSc who choose not to take the dissertation module but who meet all other PGDip requirements. 

Modules

MSc and PGDip

  • Lifespan Development: Social and Psychological Contexts
  • Legal and Policy Contexts of Decision-Making in Social Work
  • Practice Learning 1
  • Decision-making in Assessment, Risk and Protection
  • Contemporary Social Work Practice
  • Practice Learning 2

MSc only

  • Research in Social Work: The Dissertation

Careers and employability

Social work is a rewarding career for those committed to improving the life opportunities and wellbeing of others, whilst promoting rights and social justice.

Registered social workers generally have little trouble finding employment. There are many relevant vacancies advertised locally and nationally, and there continues to be a demand for social workers both in established posts and with agencies who provide temporary staff to statutory organisations.  

Social workers can specialise in many different areas, including working with children, youth offending, family centres, older people, disabled people, mental health services, homeless people, asylum seekers and refugees, and substance misuse.  

Social science student

Fees and funding

Your fees

MSc
UK/EU (full-time) 6,270 GBP

International (full-time) 12,960 GBP


PGDip
UK/EU (full-time) 4,180 GBP

International (full-time) 8,640 GBP 

Social work bursary information

Universities in England have been advised about NHS Social Work bursary allocations for students enrolling on their course in the 2018–19 academic year.

In 2016 and 2017, most students accepted onto this course who met the eligibility criteria (for example, residence) were nominated for and received a bursary. We do use a prioritisation process based upon that set out within national guidance for our bursary nominations. This means that we will prioritise applicants based upon their prior educational achievement and interview performance, taking other factors into account where appropriate and particularly in the event of a tie-break situation. Those holding offered for places on the course receive additional information about this.

For 2018-19 entrants, we expect the situation to be as last year and expect that most students to whom we make an offer on the basis of their strong prior academic experience and other achievements as well as their interview performance will be nominated for one of these bursaries. Those we cannot nominate but who are otherwise eligible,  we will include on the reserve list and these students may also receive travel support monies from the NHS as per the detailed information on the web page provided below.

The  NHS Business Service Authority administers social work bursaries, for further information and to check your eligibility visit their webpage.  

Applications for the current academic year are now open and we encourage all to apply even if we are unable to include you in our initial nomination list.

 

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

 

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2018–19.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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 DBS checks, 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 check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

i360 and ticket booth on the seafront What to expect enriching experiences

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just five miles from the centre of Brighton, our Falmer campus has benefited from over £60million of investment over the past 10 years. 7,000 students are based here, studying subjects including English, education, social science, nursing and medicine.

Recent developments include the Falmer Sports Centre – with its fitness suites and sports hall – and the innovative Checkland Building, which has natural ventilation systems and an insulating green roof.

Falmer has also recently installed more than 600 solar panels, which reduce the campus’s carbon emissions by more than 80 tonnes. The renovation has made us one of the top universities in the UK for on-site renewable energy production.

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Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We have halls of residence across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • Eligible students can apply for any of these options. Find out if you are eligible…
  • You’ll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Falmer campus is linked to halls on the Falmer campus and Varley Park.
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms and catering options. Varley Park is less than a mile from Falmer and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on campus and offer a range of room types and catering options.

We also offer Unihomes and Unilets, student houses that we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option offers the most choice and flexibility and can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other commitments.

There’s plenty of support if you choose private rented accommodation. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. And we run our housemates service over the summer for students, new and returning, looking for a place to live.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages.

Hillside hall of residence at Varley Park

Varley Park accommodation near to the Falmer campus

Student in our Moulsecoomb Place hall of residence

Maps

house Accommodation
campus University building

Falmer campus

Find out more

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Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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