MSc Social Work
- MSc
Overview
This two-year professional programme is designed for people who want to qualify and practise as a professional social worker. The programme leads to a nationally and internationally recognised qualification in social work and graduates are eligible to register as a social worker with Social Work England.
Completing the social work programme at Bristol means that you can work with both children and adults. You will support people to identify their strengths and build their self-confidence, help them to overcome problems in times of crisis, and link with other services.
The teaching staff at Bristol include experienced practitioners who have worked in a variety of social work settings including child and adult safeguarding, domestic violence and abuse, school social work, foster care, physical and learning difficulties, mental health, youth offending, and hospital social work. At our research-intensive university, the programme's teaching team is also active in research, holding a wide range of funded social work research projects nationally and internationally.
Working as a social worker requires an ability to appraise complex and difficult situations, drawing on social science research, social work theories and intervention methods.
The MSc in Social Work combines university-based learning with two extended periods of supervised practice across two contrasting practice settings, together with skills training.
You will develop values and skills as a reflective practitioner, appraising relevant evidence - including research - to evaluate your own and other people's work and to contribute to the development of policy and practice.
Upon completion you will have a thorough understanding of social policies and a firm grasp of the legal powers and duties that underpin practice in England.
To explore the programme in more depth, view these videos which include interviews with previous students.
To be considered for enrolment in this programme you will need to demonstrate an understanding of social work (this could be within the United Kingdom or internationally).
More general information about the role and duties of social workers in the United Kingdom can be accessed through the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).
Programme structure
Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content of our MSc in Social Work.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any subject and English and Mathematics GCSE grade 4 (C) or above or international equivalent.
A Personal Statement must be uploaded (maximum 750 words) demonstrating evidence of interest in social work as a professional qualification and evidence of commitment and motivation to work as a social worker. Relevant work and life experience and understanding of social care, social work and commitment to the values and ethics of social work should be included.
Curriculum Vitae must be uploaded. This should include any relevant health/social care related experience.
One professional/work reference required from a social care related job/voluntary experience.
If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.
We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.
If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:
- evidence of relevant work experience in health/social care sectors.
- a relevant postgraduate qualification.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £11,300 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £26,700 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
Each year, the NHS allocates a certain number of bursaries to students on our MSc in Social Work. Following interview, the University notifies successful students if they are being recommended for an NHS bursary. Our bursaries are restricted to students ordinarily resident in England.
If you are interested in being nominated for a bursary, early application to our programme is advised. For full details of eligibility criteria, students should contact the NHS Business Services Authority.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
Completing this degree enables you to register with a social work regulatory body (such as Social Work England) and work as a qualified professional social worker in a range of settings, in different countries (contingent upon country-specific requirements).
Many graduates gain employment with local authorities in the region working with children and young people, or with adults. Social workers might develop a particular area of expertise such as in child protection, mental health, or disability.
Some graduates go on to work in non-statutory organisations where they draw on their social work training to advocate for people and communities focusing on particular areas of need.
Sometimes graduates use their training to pursue a career in academic research, or developing policy, often basing this on their experiences of practice after having qualified.
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk