Social Work (Taught)

100% of our research impact in Social Work and Social Policy was assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)

9th in the UK for Graduate Prospects – Outcomes in Social Work (Complete University Guide 2025)

3rd in the UK for Social Work (The Guardian University Guide 2026)

You’ll benefit from a range of stimulating learning opportunities. Taught by our academic faculty, practitioners and experts by experience, you’ll also get to work with service-users and carers.

You’ll work within a supportive study environment. This will help you develop crucial skills for independent and collaborative learning.

Learn from people influencing social care. We work with local social welfare agencies on joint projects. These include development, training and research initiatives.

The MA in Social Work is a generic social work qualification. This means you’ll gain knowledge in a wide range of areas, ready to work in practice contexts that support, among others:

• vulnerable children, young people and families

• adults and older people

• people experiencing mental health, disability, substance use or homelessness challenges

• asylum seekers and refugees.

When you graduate, you’ll have the skills to work with other professionals and agencies such as the police, schools, healthcare providers, probation services, care home facilities and community centres.

MA or PGDip?
We also offer this course as a full-time PGDip over 19 months. The PGDip doesn’t include the research methods training and dissertation of the MA.

Accreditation

• Approved by Social Work England (SWE) for the purpose of providing eligibility to apply for registration with SWE as a social worker in England. Find out more

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.