Social Work - MSc *
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.
We have over 50 years' experience in training people to become social workers in the super-diverse and cosmopolitan city of Birmingham....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City South
- Award MSc
- Start date September 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Education and Social Work
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
This course is going through minor modifications for 2024 entry to ensure it meets the very highest standards, and as a result module titles are subject to change. The content, however, will remain unchanged. The modified course will also be reviewed for accreditation by the new regulator, Social Work England, having previously been accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
We have over 50 years' experience in training people to become social workers in the super-diverse and cosmopolitan city of Birmingham. If you already have a degree and want to become a professional social worker, successful completion of this generic course will enable you work with children and adults in a variety of areas and to apply for registration with the regulator, Social Work England, to obtain the protected title of social worker.
Once you are registered, you will be immediately ready and able to engage in social work with any vulnerable citizen group in any setting. This includes working with children and families, adults, disabled people, older people and/or people with mental health problems in the local authority, health, or private, independent or voluntary sectors.
What's covered in this course?
You will experience student-centred academic learning on campus and practice-based learning in a service delivery setting, in the community.
Academic learning will include a carefully blended mix of face to face lectures, workshops and seminars, complemented by online resources. In addition to practitioners and academics from other relevant disciplines, teachers include experienced social work academics, practitioners, who are currently in practice and service users and carers who are experts by experience. They will assist you to obtain the knowledge, skills, values and professional capabilities you need for successful social work practice in today’s world. This includes legal, theoretical and research knowledge, the core skills of reflection, assessment, communication, resilience, report writing and leadership, and the values of being empowering, person-centred, strengths-based, results and outcomes focused.
Half of the programme involves gaining invaluable direct practice experience through placements, provided by our practice partners and overseen by our dedicated practice tutors. You will experience two placements one in year 1 and the second in year 2. Whilst on placement you will be supported by a qualified practice educator who will always be a registered social worker.
Our practice partners include Local Authorities and established private, independent and voluntary sector agencies. There are a number of innovative projects that allow you to experience social work in the growing area of educational settings.
Our experienced academic staff have worked in a variety of social work teams and settings including child and adult safeguarding, foster-care, physical and learning difficulties, sensory impairment, and mental health and hospital social work.
You will be taught at our modern City South Campus and have access to Mary Seacole library, Academic Development Department, careers support, disability services, accommodation services, financial advice, student counselling services, students union, study spaces, laptops, skills rooms, and a variety of shops and cafes.
My experience on the course has been the most rewarding and challenging period of my life to date! While the course gives you all of the fundamental tools and knowledge for a career in social work, I’ve found that the tutors and my peers have given me so much more.
The course has taught me about myself, it has challenged my perceptions, and enhanced my understanding of politics and its impact on the services we provide to those in need. I have been encouraged to voice my opinions, concerns, uncertainties and fears in a safe space that has allowed me to grow and feel the value of sharing my experiences and feelings. I feel genuinely supported and valued.
Elizabeth Wanjiku
Why Choose Us?
- An opportunity to study in the super-diverse and cosmopolitan city of Birmingham.
- We have over 50 years' of experience in working with social work students, social workers and delivering social work education. This includes a deep commitment to pursuing excellence, and advancing human rights, social justice, equality and anti-discriminatory practice.
- You will have access to a named personal tutor who can offer academic and pastoral support throughout the programme.
- We offer a student-centered environment, and remain sensitive to your differing circumstances, aspirations, abilities, background and areas of special interest.
- You will experience high quality practice placements, inter-professional learning and opportunities to engage in international exchange.
- We are employability driven. You will have opportunities to practice at mock employment interviews and have attended a number of workshops with employers who are looking to recruit social workers. This means you will have the skills, understandings and personal attributes that make you more likely to gain employment and be successful in your chosen social work pathway
- Study in our £41 million City South Campus, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments
- Experienced and dedicated staff team will support you throughout the course, and you will have access to a personal tutor. If you've been away from education for a while, we also have a range of excellent resources to help you with study skills such as essay writing and research
- This course is regulated by Social Work England (SWE)
OPEN DAY
Join us on campus where you'll be able to find out more about your course, learn about postgraduate finance and get an insight into studying at BCU. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.
Next Event: 29 June 2024
Entry Requirements
UK and International Students
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You should have completed a degree with a minimum of 2:2 or higher in any discipline. You will also need GCSEs in English and Mathematics, Grade 4 (previously a C) or equivalent, such as Functional Skills Level 2. |
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You should have 3 months or more practice based experience involving working with people. Working in a care, support, or people development capacity is preferred but not essential. Applications will be considered on an individual basis. |
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You will need two positive references, one from a recent Higher Education Institution (not Further Education) and one from a recent employer. If you do not have an employer reference, a character reference will be required. |
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You will need DBS and Occupational Health Clearance. |
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Applicants need to confirm prior to interview decision/offer that they have the ability to use basic IT facilities. |
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You must upload a considered and substantive personal statement at the time of application. Applications not meeting this criteria will be rejected automatically. |
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Any offer of a place is subject to satisfactory performance at interview. |
International Students
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Successful applicants must meet the International English Language Test (IELTS) at Level 7, no element must be below 6.5. |
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You must upload a copy of your degree certificate and transcript at the point of applications. Applicants who do not supply this at the point of application will be rejected automatically. |
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £8,925 in 2024/25
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £17,710 in 2024/25
Admissions Process
The admissions process is designed to evaluate your potential to undertake social work education at Masters level and professional practice. Your application and personal statement are screened for eligibility against the entry requirements, in order to make a shortlisting decision. If you're successfully shortlisted you'll be invited to an admissions day at the University. During the day you will be evaluated in a number of areas, including your written analytical skills and your interpersonal skills. Admissions days also involve individual interviews with academic staff and service user and carer representatives. The Admissions process is mapped against the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) at entry level; you will have to meet these criteria in order to be offered a place on the programme.
NHS Social Work Bursary
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Department for Education (DfE) allocate a fixed number of undergraduate and postgraduate social work bursaries to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) delivering qualifying social work programmes. As the number of students commencing social work programmes can exceed the number of bursaries available, there is no guarantee that all students will receive a bursary.
To determine which students are on the ‘capping list’ and therefore, subject to their meeting the NHS Bursary criteria, entitled to a bursary, the University prioritises applicants based on a ranking during the admissions process. This ranking is based on the overall score achieved by applicants during an admissions event.
If you have accepted an offer of a place on the MSc Social Work course, we encourage you to make an application for a bursary, as even if you are not on the ‘capping list’, you may still be entitled to the Placement Travel Allowance. Please be aware that the availability of NHS bursaries is reviewed regularly by the Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care.
Further information about bursaries
Student Finance England - Postgraduate Loans
This may be an option for those who are not in receipt of the NHS Social Work Bursary i.e. those who do not have a 'capped place', subject to the eligibility criteria. The postgraduate loan is a contribution towards the programme fees and/or living costs, while you are studying a postgraduate Master’s course. Unlike NHS Bursaries, it has to be paid back. A postgraduate loan is for the whole Master’s course with half received in Year One and the remainder in Year Two. Please visit the Student Finance England website for details on Postgraduate Loans: https://www.gov.uk/masters-loan. You must confirm that you are not in receipt of an NHS Social Work Bursary in order to receive a Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan. Once you have enrolled on the course, the University can provide a letter confirming this.
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Year One
Level 7:
The MSc Social Work course is run over two years.
In order to progress from Year 1 to Year 2, students must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits) and the two professional practice modules Core Skills for Practice, and First Placement.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, and central to the delivery of high quality social work is the ability to understand and develop competence in using and applying a range of professional skills in direct practice with service users, carers and other professionals.
This module is a ‘professional requirement’ and must be passed before you are considered ready and eligible to safely undertake your First Placement working directly with vulnerable people. Service users, carers and qualified practitioners work alongside academic tutors as part of an interactive and practical approach to delivery and assessment.
Numerous court cases have emphasised the need for a sound knowledge of, and ability to critically reflect on, the relationship between social work practice and the law, and there have been calls for increased legal literacy amongst social workers. Legal and policy knowledge is inherent in the domains of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), most notably domain four (Rights, Justice and Economic Wellbeing) and domain five (Knowledge). Social workers are required to work within the legal and ethical boundaries of their profession and to demonstrate an understanding of legislation relating to social work practice across various settings.
Central to the delivery of high quality professional social work will be your ability to understand the link between identity, inequality and injustice and to critically apply core values, ethics and anti-discriminatory principles and approaches during practice.
This module supports the programme aims of pursuing excellence, being practice-led, employable and having a local, national and global outlook.
In order to prepare you for the complex and constantly evolving nature of modern social work practice this module enables you to develop knowledge and understanding of theory and methods of intervention. This module supports the programme aims of pursuing excellence, being practice-led, employable and having a local, national and global outlook.
This module specifically addresses the broader programme aims related to “pursuing excellence” and “practice-led, knowledge applied” through a flexible provision that encourages students to develop their research ideas, enabling those on various Health MSc programmes to satisfy their individual learning needs, whilst contributing to their area of study.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, the First Placement module will focus upon practice learning. Social work is a practice led profession and this is reflected in practice learning being integral to the social work programme. The First Placement module will support you to link your developing knowledge, skills and values to practice through the provision of a 70-day practice placement that will provide opportunities for you to work directly with service users, carers, colleagues and other professionals. This module also contributes to the programme philosophy and aims by enhancing your interdisciplinary, for example by developing your ability to work with and learn from other professionals; and employability, for example by giving you opportunities to develop your professionalism and practice excellence in a service delivery setting, and be work ready.
Year Two
In order to complete this course, a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits) during the second year, and the professional practice module Last Placement:
The module contributes to the overall programme philosophy of producing critically reflective and knowledgeable social work graduates, who are prepared for the reality of contemporary modern social work practice. The module has been designed to provide you with the necessary knowledge of safeguarding practices and legal insight needed to become effective social work practitioners in the complex world of modern social work practice to safeguard and protect vulnerable service users as specified by the Standards of Proficiency, Professional Capability Framework, and Key Indicator Statements. It contributes to the programme aims of pursuing excellence in safeguarding practice, applying legal knowledge to practice, developing your ability to understand the roles of and work in partnership with other agencies and professionals, enhancing your employability and ensuring that your global outlook includes being aware of and learning from international research.
This triple module forms the final bridge between the award of a Postgraduate Diploma and a Health MSc related to a named award. It provides the student with the opportunity to complete a piece of work around a chosen topic in order to demonstrate competence in the planning, execution, analysis and evaluation of a Research Project, a Systematic Review or Project Management. The focus is on facilitating the student's independent, critical study in their academic discipline or area of professional practice. It will also serve those who wish to embark on Doctoral studies in the future.
This module contributes to the programme philosophy and aims by embracing diversity, values, emotional intelligence and continuing personal and professional development. Your goal in undertaking this module will be to further enhance one or more of the following capabilities that can transform your current professional practice, the organisation and community you work in and the lives of the citizens you serve - leadership, innovation, resilience and/or taking a strengths/asset based approach. It will provide you with opportunities to pursue excellence, be practice-led, apply current and developing knowledge, learn with and from other disciplines, develop your local, national and global outlooks and further enhance your employability and professional practice.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme the Last Placement module will focus upon practice learning. This practice-led, knowledge applied module contributes to the programme philosophy and aims by further enhancing your interdisciplinarity for example, your ability to work with and learn from other professionals; and employability for example, giving you opportunities to develop your professionalism and practice excellence in a service delivery setting, and be work ready. The Last Placement module is a professional requirement that builds on the level 5 First Placement module.
Download course specification
Download nowCore Skills for Practice, First Placement and Last Placement are professionally required modules that have 0 credit value. These modules must be successfully completed in order to achieve either the MSc Social Work or the PG Dip Social Work awards, leading to eligibility to apply to register with the regulator.
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1 will begin with an invaluable induction week that provides opportunities for you to meet other students in your cohort and the teaching team, and to become familiar with your campus and essential information about your course, especially support services.
Essential information will include your teaching timetable, course guide, assessment schedule and assessment regulations. Information will be provided on what to do should you become ill or have personal difficulties.
Teaching in year 1 will focus on the foundations of law and policy, values, ethics and anti-discriminatory practice, core skills, theories for social work practice and understanding how to research.
You will develop a deep understanding of emotional intelligence, social justice and anti-discriminatory practice, practice the skills of communication and assessment with vulnerable people, shadow a qualified social worker and attend a well-being retreat. There will be opportunities to engage in international exchange and to gain invaluable practice experience during your first 70 day practice placement.
Year 2
Teaching in year 2 will focus on safeguarding law and policy, effective inter-professional practice, and further enhancing professional capabilities that will assist you to make a real difference in society e.g. leadership, resilience, innovation and/or strengths-based approaches to professional practice.
You will build on the introduction to research in year 1 by working on your chosen dissertation topic. You will be supported by a supervisor during your dissertation.
You will gain further invaluable practice experience during your second practice placement of 100 working days. This placement will involve statutory tasks involving legal interventions. During your journey through practice you will be supported by a qualified practice educator.
By the end of year 2 you will be highly professional and work ready, and a creative enterprising problem solver. You will have opportunities to practice at mock employment interviews and have attended a number of workshops with employers who are looking to recruit social workers.
Employability
Employability
By the end of the course you will have the knowledge, attitudes and skills that employers need and want. You will also have the skills that will ensure your future and ongoing success as a social work practitioner.
The skills that enhance your employability are developed through our teaching and learning strategy which has a significant focus on embedding core skills whilst at University and developing these further during your practice placements.
Placements
There are two major practice-based placements that ensure, by the end of your course, you are work-ready, employable and prepared for social work practice.
Your First Placement in Year 1 will be for 70 full working days and your Last Placement in Year 2 will be for 100 days. In order to ensure you have a ‘generic’ qualification i.e. you will have gained the experience to apply for and work effectively with either adults or children once you qualify (or during your career), we ensure that, if you are placed in a setting working with adults in your first placement, you will be placed in a setting working with children in your last placement or vice versa.
During each placement you will be given learning opportunities and support from a qualified practice educator to help you to meet the social work professional capabilities framework at first or last placement levels.
In your last placement you will be enabled to take on more complex work, work more independently, exercise more initiative, demonstrate higher levels of judgement and leadership, and collaborate on more equal terms with other professionals.
We will take into account your preferred area of future practice and do our best to ensure that your last placement is within a setting or has learning opportunities that helps with your future career aspirations.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £260 million on new learning facilities.
We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that medical staff may come across.
These resources are essential in offering students a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice. Much of our teaching is carried out within our state-of-the-art, £30m Seacole Building, which houses cutting-edge learning facilities.
Take a virtual tour of our skills suites at Seacole
In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that students learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. These include the only mock operating theatre in an English university and a cutting-edge radiography virtual clinical training facility, virtual ward and virtual case creator.
Home Environment Room
The Home Environment room is the perfect setting for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for paramedics, mental health and learning disability nurses and also midwives.
Mary Seacole Library
The Seacole library, based at City South Campus, is one of the UK's largest specialist health education libraries. The state-of-the art facility offers an extensive range of information and reference materials set out in a relaxing environment, conducive to studying. There are comfortable seating areas, group study areas, a silent study area and private study rooms.
Computer Facilities
The Seacole building houses a large open access IT Suite which comprises of 96 PCs, full colour printers, photocopiers and scanners. Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
- Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
- Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
- Microsoft Office software
- Research and statistical software
- Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
The IT Suite offers extended opening hours and is supported by a specialist Open Access Assistant during term time. In addition to the open access PCs within the IT Suite, there are 12 networked student PCs available within Seacole library.
Our staff
Jessica Wagner
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
After qualifying from the University of Wales in 2003, Jessica has spent the majority of her professional experience within statutory children’s services, where she held posts both as a practitioner and manager in safeguarding teams. This allowed her to gain experience of working in child protection and child in need services and through the...
More about JessicaDr Peter Simcock
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
Peter began working in social work education in 2010 and joined the Department of Social Work at BCU in January 2018. Prior to working in academia, Peter worked for Age Concern, Hull, before moving to the West Midlands and from 2001 to 2008 worked for Wolverhampton City Council in various social work roles including social worker within a...
More about PeterGero Kaur
Senior Lecturer
Gero qualified as a Social Worker in 2000. Upon qualifying as a Social Worker Gero worked within a Local Authority generic adult team. She started supervising social work students on placement when she became a Senior Practitioner in 2002.
More about Gero