Course contact details
Admissions Enquiries
Email:ug-admissions@york.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)1904 324000
University of York
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD
Social Work (Taught)
- Master of Arts
- 2 Years
- Full-Time
- October 2027
- Postgraduate
- Main Site
Course summary
Develop yourself with a qualification that allows you to apply to register as a social worker.
Discover a career where you can make a real difference to the quality of people's lives.
This course offers you both a Masters degree and a professional qualification. Our course lasts two years and will equip you with the skills and knowledge you'll need for effective professional practice as a social worker. It is suitable for graduates from a wide range of disciplines who are committed to a career helping people.
You'll focus on professional practice and take part in two placements in different areas of social work.
You will also gain skills and specialist knowledge that would be suitable for a wide range of careers in social work.
If you are in the final year of a degree or already hold a degree you are eligible to apply for this course. If not and if you are studying for or have completed Level 3 qualifications please apply for our 4 year Masters in Social Work L507.
Modules
Course Modules
Year 1
In the first half of Year 1 you'll prepare for your first statutory placement with a range of core modules which ensure you're ready for practice. You will explore the ethical, legal and policy contexts for social work, which will equip you to manage the competing pressures of social work practice.
The placement begins in the Spring Term and lasts for 70 days, after completion of a module designed to support your professional development.
Year 2
As part of your second year you'll undertake your final statutory placement. This will take 100 days and will contribute 40 credits toward your course. You will also choose a module that will allow you to study a particular branch of social work in more depth, and work on your dissertation.
You will work with a qualified social work practice educator who will support and assess you throughout the placement. Your placement is a chance to develop and follow your own professional interests, with guidance from our academic staff.
Assessment method
Types of assessment in this course include: essays, practical assessment of communication skills, presentations and reports, portfolios, placement supervision and assessment, 16,000 word dissertation. You'll also submit work that won't contribute to your final grade. This allows you to get feedback on your progress and understanding before you submit assessed work.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Social Work England
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies
- International does not have vacancies
- EU does not have vacancies
- United Kingdom does not have vacancies
Apply by
13 January 2027
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- L508
- Institution code:
- Y50
- Campus name:
- Main Site
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
You should have at least a 2:2 undergraduate degree or equivalent. https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/ma-social-work/
Additional entry requirements
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) / Disclosure Scotland Check
- Health Checks
- Interview
- Other
- GCSE (or equivalent) English at grade C/4. An offer of a place will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a satisfactory health declaration. Experience working in social care, health care or related voluntary work would be welcome but not essential.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We require IELTS 7.0, with a minimum 7.0 in each component or equivalent. Please refer to the English Language requirements for your course: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/ma-social-work/#entryhttps://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/apply/international/english/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland | £12000 | |
| EU & International | £26900 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Please note these fees are for 2026 entry. Fees for 2027 entry are yet to be confirmed and will be updated as soon as possible.
Sponsorship information
Scholarships and bursaries 12
Each year the NHS funds a number of students on our Social Work courses. For students on the MA in Social Work this bursary may contribute toward your tuition fees.
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