Social Work - MSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
We have over 50 years' experience in training people to become social workers in the super diverse city of Birmingham. If you already have a degree and want to become a professional social worker, successful completion of this course will enable you to work with children and adults in a range of social work settings to bring about positive change in their lives....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Award MSc
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location City South
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
"My name's Clare Graham, I am currently the Head of Service for Contextual Safeguarding based at Birmingham Children's Trust. My role within this service means that I oversee a multi-agency partnership team that looks at reducing, mitigating, responding and intervening to risks to children outside of the family home. So this involves children who go missing from home or care, children exploited criminally and sexually, children who may be vulnerable or groomed into gangs, and children who are involved in serious youth violence. The course, I think, for myself, was a bit of self-reflexion, there were parts of the course that enabled me to look at my own lived experiences. So it made me aware of why I thought the way I thought and why I practised the way that I practised. But I guess for me, the hands-on practical experience of being on placement was the bit that I didn't really have and brought up a lot of emotional feelings, I guess being a child who has been care experienced, a child that used to go missing, a children that's experienced neglect within the home, but it enabled me to kind of look at those traumas through a different lens and gain the practical experience whilst on placement of how we then go on to support children who have obviously been through similar situations as myself. I think because of my own lived experiences and the challenges that I had as a young person, BCU was one of the universities that took a chance with me and encouraged and supported me on my journey of my career. They were so patient and they championed me all the way, supported me, encouraged me, fought for me. The most rewarding part is when I see children who have been involved in gangs or serious youth violence or groomed into exploitation come through the other end and become the adults that can contribute to society. Know that this is not an easy job, it's full of trauma and know where to go and get the support from. And never stop learning because just because you've reached a certain place or got a certain title, it doesn't mean that we stop learning. So I'd say for any new students coming in, out of university into a new role, don't stop learning."
We have over 50 years' experience in training people to become social workers in the super diverse city of Birmingham. If you already have a degree and want to become a professional social worker, successful completion of this course will enable you to work with children and adults in a range of social work settings to bring about positive change in their lives. You’ll also be eligible go apply for registration with the regulator, Social Work England, to obtain the protected title of ‘Social Worker’.
Being a social worker requires commitment and tenacity to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Social Work could be the career for you if you enjoy working with people, challenging discrimination and oppression, and promoting human rights and wellbeing. Social Workers work in diverse areas of practice, to enable both early and crisis intervention. These areas involve safeguarding, disability services, adoption and fostering, and adult social care to name but a few. You would work directly with people to support their needs and promote choice and independence. Social work is challenging and often emotional, but also a very rewarding career with a variety of routes and specialisms, as well as opportunities for progression, open to you once you qualify.
What's covered in this course?
You will experience a mixture of student-centred academic learning on campus and practice based learning in a service delivery setting within the community, reflecting the nature of social work as both an academic and practical discipline.
Academic learning will include a mix of face-to-face and online lectures, workshops and seminars, complemented by online resources and independent study. In addition to practitioners and academics from other relevant disciplines, your lecturers and tutors will include experienced social work academics, current practitioners, and service users and carers who are ‘experts by experience’. Together they will assist you to develop the knowledge, skills, values and professional capabilities you need for effective social work practice in the challenging world today. By bringing together these elements, you will learn to identify and navigate the complexities of social work to promote and protect wellbeing within a diverse community.
Approximately half the course involves direct practice experience through professional (practice based) placements. These are provided by our practice partners in both the first and second year of the course. On placement you will be supported by a team that includes a dedicated and qualified practice educator who will always be a registered social worker. Our practice partners include Local Authorities and the private, independent, and voluntary sector agencies.
Recent changes to our course plan mean that you will experience a range of assessment methods in addition to written assignments, such as role plays and presentations.
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, understanding and personal attributes that make you more likely to gain employment and be successful in your chosen social work pathway.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 28 June 2025
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
Applicants are normally expected to have a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent, in any discipline.
Applicants will also need:
- Three 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.
- 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.
- To confirm that they have the ability to use basic IT facilities.
Applicants must upload a considered and substantive personal statement at the time of application. Applications not meeting this criteria will be rejected automatically.
Applicants will also need to complete the relevant safeguarding checks for this course.
Any offer of a place is subject to satisfactory performance at interview.
Applying with international qualifications
See below for further information on applying as an international student.
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 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £9,190 in 2025/26
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 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £18,600 in 2025/26
Application deadlines
We advise you to apply early to allow sufficient time for you to prepare to start your studies in September. Please apply by Friday 18 July to allow time to arrange accommodation, student finance and visas where required.
Late applications will be accepted where places are still available, but please note that Welcome Week begins on Monday 15 September 2025, and teaching begins on Monday 22 September 2025. International students are invited to arrive from Monday 8 September 2025.
To find out more, see our application timeline.
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.
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. 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.
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.
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 Social Work Practice, and Practice Placement One.
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.
Central to the delivery of high quality professional social work will be your ability to understand and critically consider the link between inequality, injustice, and discrimination in our society. In addition, social work demands the understanding of social work values, ethics and anti-discriminatory principles and approaches during practice whilst being able to reflect on self. This academic module is delivered as preparation prior to professional practice and involves the need to learn about and reflect on discrimination, oppression, ADP and the relevance of your own personal value base and identity.
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.
In preparation for the complex and constantly evolving nature of social work practice, this module enables you to develop knowledge and understanding of theories and methods of both human development and social work intervention. It provides the grounding in current theory and has at its core the application to and implication for practice. You will be required to apply and appraise a diverse range of theories, whilst considering wider anti discriminatory and anti-oppressive elements and aligned values of the theories, critically considering alternative global perspectives.
This module develops students’ skills to become research-minded practitioners. It 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 and Social Work MSc programmes to satisfy their individual learning needs, whilst contributing to their area of study.
The Practice Placement One module is a professional requirement that builds on the Social Work Skills for Practice module. The successful completion of the Practice Placement One module is a pre-requisite to commencing your Practice Placement Two in year two.
The Practice Placement One is a zero-credit module that commences with a five-day preparation period provided by the University. This preparation period includes teaching on professionalism, supervision, and reflective practice.
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 Practice Placement Two:
This module contributes to the overall programme aim of developing suitably qualified graduates who are fit for social work practice, eligible for professional registration and capable of lifelong learning. It aims to develop critical thinking and critical application of learning to practice whilst considering diverse ways of working.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the Social Work programme, this module will focus on pursuing excellence in social work practice, and assisting you to become practice-led, employable and have a local, national, and global outlook.
This module builds upon the knowledge, skills, and values you applied during your Practice Placement One and integrates your ongoing learning from the academic modules undertaken in years one and two.
The Practice Placement Two module is a zero-credit module, it is practice-led and provides you with the opportunities to apply and embed your theoretical and legislative knowledge to the practice setting, and to develop and apply skills of critical reflection and critical analysis to your own practice and the complexities of social work issues. The Practice Placement Two module including the 100 days of practice learning will help prepare you for employability.
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.
Download course specification
Download nowCore Skills for Social Work Practice, Practice Placement One and Practice Placement Two 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 PgDip 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, and attend a resiliency retreat. There will be opportunities to engage in international events, including an exchange, research cluster events, 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 through 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 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 you have contrasting placements.
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.
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
Associate Professor of 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