Do you love working with people? Have you got a drive to help those within your community and feel impassioned to tackle social inequalities and injustice?
Social work is a challenging and rewarding career, practising in a diverse range of settings including child protection, adult safeguarding, homelessness, mental health, youth justice and domestic abuse, as well as social welfare and challenging inequality.
This course is available as both an MA and a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), giving you the flexibility to choose the path that best suits your goals. The MA includes two years of study, whereas the PGDip is shorter at eighteen months. Both options include practical placements, conferring eligibility to apply for registration with Social Work England.
This course is accredited by
About this course
Social workers operate within the context of relationships to support individuals, groups and communities to realise their potential. You’ll learn to work and make decisions in a multi-professional context, liaising closely with organisations such as the police, NHS, schools, probation and the voluntary sector.
Taught by experts with real-world practice experience, you’ll gain insight into social issues people live with as well as the policies relating to social welfare and the safeguarding of adults and children.
We are one of the founding members of the Humber Social Work Teaching Partnership, giving you access to the biggest employers of social work practitioners in the area. Our strong relationships with a wide range of statutory and voluntary agencies mean that we can provide you with high-quality placements.
This course is offered as both an MA and a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), allowing you to choose the route that best suits your goals and commitments. The MA includes two years of study, whereas the PGDip is shorter at eighteen months. Both options include practical placements, providing eligibility to apply for registration with Social Work England, which means you are eligible to apply to register as a qualified social worker once you graduate. The MA however, allows you to undertake a research dissertation in the second year – helping you to grow your research skills.
Some of our UK students can apply for support from the NHS Social Work Bursary Scheme which helps with study and living costs.
Social Work
1 min
Module options
For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.
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Readiness for Practice
This innovative module is co-delivered by practitioners and people with lived experience in order to prepare you for social work practice. You will be supported to get ready for direct practice emotionally, practically and analytically with an emphasis on developing the requisite knowledge and skills for safe, effective and compassionate practice. Students will be expected to develop an understanding of professional behaviour and standards as part of the module and will undertake a panel interview to establish if they are ready to progress to direct practice.
core
10 credits
Child and Family Social Work
You will learn about the entire spectrum of social work with children, young people, birth parents and alternative families from family support to child protection. You will also explore young offenders; looked after children and care leavers; fostering and adoptive families.
core
20 credits
Human Development Across the Lifespan
Study child, adolescent and adult development, focusing on attachment, separation and loss. With a strong theoretical underpinning, this is a thought-provoking and interesting module helping you understand the developmental lifespan in context of social work practice.
core
20 credits
Social Work with Adults
This exciting module focuses specifically on social work with adults in the community and explores social care for disabled people and people with long term health needs, alongside their family and carers. We will also introduce you to adult protection including the harm and abuse of adults.
core
20 credits
Social, Political, Legal and Organisational Context for Social Work
You will be introduced to the social work profession and the major disciplinary, theoretical and conceptual frameworks which underpin social work. It will provide an understanding of the landscape of social work practice and social work service users through social, political and organisational discourses, perspectives and structures.
core
20 credits
Critical Approaches to Mental Health
You will study the social, political and economic contexts within which contemporary mental health and distress is situated. You'll also examine the legislative framework which governs the understanding and management of mental health problems.
core
20 credits
Specialisms in Practice
Develop specialist knowledge in social work practice, exploring themes of substance use, domestic abuse and loss. Utilising contemporary research and practitioner input, this is an innovative module ensuring you are equipped and ready for practice.
core
20 credits
First Placement
Taken with a social work agency or organisation, the first 70-day placement is exciting and challenging. This experience will help you develop and refine your knowledge and skills.
core
20 credits
Social Work Research and Dissertation
This module provides an opportunity for you to select a topic of your own choice, carry out a library-based research review and examine the research methods, ethical procedures and dilemmas involved in social work research.
core
60 credits
Our academics
You’ll be taught by professionals who have carved out their careers working in the social care sector.
They’ve gained personal experience from being involved in children’s charities, local authorities and hospitals throughout the country, and are ready to share it with you.
Dr Victoria Burton
Lecturer in Social Work
Victoria is a Lecturer in Social Work and MA Social Work Programme Director. She has worked in roles in the Humber region, focusing on domestic abuse and coercive control. She’s a registered social worker and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Dr Lisa Revell
Lecturer
Lisa is a Senior Fellow of the HEA and Registered Social Worker. Before joining the University, she practised within Local Authority Social Services (North East Lincolnshire), and worked as a Children’s Services Practitioner with the NSPCC.
Entry Requirements
What do I need?
When it comes to applying for this Postgraduate Taught degree, you'll need an Undergraduate degree (or equivalent). For this course, you'll need a 2:1 in any bachelors degree.
The programme is designed for graduates from any discipline with a strong interest in the foundations this subject.
If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.
In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.
Typical offer
2:1 in any subject area
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Scholarships
We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.
Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.
Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship
University of Hull undergraduates progressing to a taught masters course may receive a 20% discount on the cost of their tuition fees.
Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship page.
See more Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships and awards to students at the university to help with their financial load.
To view all of our scholarships and determine whether you're eligible, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page.
Our Facilities
Future Prospects
You’ll have many different career options after studying Social Work that will involve working actively within your community including roles like social worker, mental health practitioner, substance use practitioner, community worker, domestic abuse support worker, welfare rights advisor, youth justice officer and housing officer.
You might decide to continue studying this fascinating subject, signing onto a postgraduate course to enhance your skills in therapeutic practice or research. You may even want to return to the University of Hull in a few years to complete a doctorate in Social Work.
Take your career to the next level
Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.
Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.
Not ready to apply yet?
We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.
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When you graduate from our accredited degree, you can apply to register as a qualified social worker.
All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.