Social Work
Full-time
Two year
September 2025
In a nutshell
This course opens up a challenging and rewarding career in social work, social justice, and political activism within the diverse field of social care. This nationally and internationally recognised qualification equips graduates to work in the voluntary, statutory, and private sectors within fields such as policy, therapeutic intervention, research, and management.
We welcome students of all backgrounds who seek an MA in Social Work that develops critical analysis, open debate, and the questioning and dismantling of conceptual frameworks. If you want professional social work training founded on principles of empowerment and social justice, look no further. You will qualify as a professional social worker while gaining a master's degree.
This programme is accredited by Social Work England, the professional regulatory body for social workers in England.
You will:
- Learn integrated knowledge, theory, research, and practical understanding to use in your professional practice.
- Study a programme designed collaboratively with service users, practitioners, carers, students, and academic staff.
- Develop skills to enable you to have a challenging and rewarding career in social work.
options available
students accepted
Course accreditations
This is for you if...
You are looking to change careers into social work.
You are committed to helping others.
You have a compassionate and caring character.
All about the course
This course combines academic study with practice learning in a social work/care workplace setting. The structure of the programme is as follows:
Year one
- Skills for Social Work Practice
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Contexts for Social Work Practice
- Theories and Interventions
- Professional Capabilities in Practice 1 (70-day practice placement)
Year two
- Decision-making in Social Work
- Social Work Law and Policy for Practice
- Understanding Research in Practice
- Professional Capabilities in Practice 2 (100-day practice placement)
Skills for Social Work Practice
This initial module prepares you for direct professional practice by helping to develop a range of social work skills such as communication, observations and reflection.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
This module provides an in-depth understanding of the impact of discrimination and oppression from intersectional perspectives. It takes a decolonising approach to social work and offers clear frameworks for empowering and anti-oppressive social work practice.
Contexts for Social Work Practice
This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the social work role, a range of different professional settings and the social and political contexts of social work practice.
Theories and Interventions
This module enables a comprehensive understanding of psychological, sociological and social work theories and how they relate to social work practice. The complexity of assessing and intervening in people’s lives is recognised.
Professional Capabilities in Practice 1
This module enables students to undertake a 70-day professional practice placement in an audited social work setting in order to meet the knowledge, skills and values of the Professional Capabilities Framework (end of first placement capabilities) and the Social Work England Professional Standards for Social Work.
Decision-making in Social Work
This module prepares students to work in difficult and challenging situations using appropriate professional judgement and authority. It focuses on risk and decision-making, emphasising accountability for decisions when working to safeguard vulnerable children and adults.
Social Work Law and Policy for Practice
This module provides an opportunity to focus on law and social policy relevant to the systematic process of assessment, planning, implementation, review and evaluation across of range of practice contexts.
Understanding Research in Practice
This module develops a critical understanding of social work research and its application to practice. You will have the opportunity to undertake a written research project and advance recommendations for practice in a particular area of service provision.
Professional Capabilities in Practice 2
This module enables students to undertake a 100-day professional placement in an audited social work setting in order to meet the knowledge, skills and values of the Professional Capabilities Framework (end of final placement capabilities) and the Social Work England Professional Standards for Social Work
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact.
We live in a rapidly changing world, and we’re keen to leave a productive legacy of helping people at all stages of their lives, improving their physical, psychological and social wellbeing.
What about after uni?
This course provides the professional social work qualification which enables graduates to work in any area of social work practice, including the statutory, voluntary, and private sectors.
When you qualify, you would enter social work which then offers you the opportunity to undertake post-qualifying training to enable you to progress in an area of social work which interests you – such as mental health or child protection. One of the joys of having a social work qualification is that there is no typical trajectory. It allows you the scope and freedom to forge your own career path in line with your personal motivation.
You may also choose to pursue further study and research on our Professional Doctorate (Health and Social Care/Advanced Practitioner/Social Work).
Career Links
Our course is operated and developed in close conjunction with local social work agencies and local authorities.
What you need to know
Application process
Applicants for the full-time course need to apply through UCAS under 'Social Work Studies - Postgraduate Entry' (on UCAS).
You may be invited for an assessment or interview as part of the application process. We will contact you with further details if this is the case.
Acceptance on the course is subject to satisfactory health and DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance. Visit our DBS and Occupational Health page to find out more.
International students - Academic Technology Approval Scheme
International students may need to obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate before starting their course, as required by the Home Office or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Please refer to your offer conditions.
Check if your programme requires an ATAS Certificate on the FCO website using your JACS code from your offer letter. If you cannot find your JACS code, contact the International Conversion team at application@salford.ac.uk. For queries related to ATAS, contact the ATAS team at salford-atas@salford.ac.uk.
You can apply for your ATAS Certificate through the Academic Technology Approval Scheme application service.
English language requirements
If you are an international student and not from a majority English-speaking country, you will need IELTS 7.0 with no element below 7.0. We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.
Undergraduate degree
Applicants should have an undergraduate honours degree normally at 2:2 or above.
GCSE
English at grade C/4 or above (In some circumstances, Level 2 alternative certificated qualifications in English; and a lower degree classification may be considered. Please contact the Admissions Tutor to discuss this before applying).
International Students
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
Social Work Student Bursaries
Funding may be available for social work students through Social Work Bursaries, provided and administered by Student Services, part of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). The number of bursaries for full-time courses (BSc and MA) is limited and there is no guarantee of receiving a bursary, even if your application is accepted.
The number of social work bursaries allocated to each university varies yearly. Bursaries are linked to student placements; if you are not on a placement, you will not be eligible for an NHS bursary. The University nominates social work students for bursaries and must submit your enrolment and attendance information to NHSBSA for you to retain your bursary. Once nominated, the contractual relationship is between you and NHSBSA, not the University. The capping criteria differ for the BSc and MA programmes.
The capping criterion for the MA in Social Work is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis once a student has firmly accepted an offer of a place.
NHS funding for this course may be available to eligible candidates. For more information, visit the NHSBSA Social Work Bursaries website.
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,100.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,000.00per year |
Additional costs
For more information about DBS, Occupational Health clearance, and immunisations, visit our DBS and Occupational Therapy page.
You should consider additional costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for international students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Visit our International Scholarships page to find out more.
All set? let's apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:
Enrolment dates
UCAS information
Course ID L508 (FT)
Institution S03