Social Work MSc
Birmingham City University
Key Course Facts
Course Description
We have over 45 years' experience in educating and training people to become social workers in the super-diverse and cosmopolitan city of Birmingham. If you already have a degree and want to become a professional social worker, successful completion of this generic course will enable you to apply for registration with the regulator to obtain the protected title of social worker and work with children and adults in a variety of areas.
Once you are registered, you will be immediately ready and able to engage in social work practice with any vulnerable citizen group in any setting. This includes working with children and families, adults, disabled people, older people and/or people with mental health problems in the local authority, health, or private, independent or voluntary sectors.
What's covered in the course?
You will experience student-centred academic learning on campus and practice-based learning in a service delivery setting, in the community.
Academic learning will include a carefully blended mix of face to face lectures, workshops and seminars, complemented by online resources. In addition to practitioners and academics from other relevant disciplines, teachers include experienced social work academics, practitioners, who are currently in practice and service users and carers who are experts by experience. They will assist you to obtain the knowledge, skills, values and professional capabilities you need for successful social work practice in today’s world. This includes legal, theoretical and research knowledge, the core skills of reflection, assessment, communication, resilience, report writing and leadership, and the values of being empowering, person-centred, strengths-based, results and outcomes focused.
Half of the programme involves gaining invaluable direct practice experience through placements, provided by our practice partners and overseen by our dedicated practice tutors. You will experience two placements one in year 1 and the second in year 2. Whilst on placement you will be supported by a qualified practice educator who will always be a registered social worker.
Our practice partners include Local Authorities and established private, independent and voluntary sector agencies. There are a number of innovative projects that allow you to experience social work in the growing area of educational settings.
Our experienced academic staff have worked in a variety of social work teams and settings including child and adult safeguarding, foster-care, physical and learning difficulties, sensory impairment, and mental health and hospital social work.
You will be taught at our modern City South Campus and have access to Mary Seacole library, personal development department, careers support, disability services, accommodation services, financial advice, student counselling services, students union, study spaces, laptops, skills rooms, and a variety of shops and cafes.
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
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- 6.5
- Business Graduate Degrees/ Master Degrees
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- 6.0
- General Requirements
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- 7.0
- LLM
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- 6.0
- MBA & MSc
You should have completed a degree with a minimum of 2.2 or higher in any discipline. You will also need GCSE's in English and Mathematics, Grade 4 (previously a C) or equivalent, such as Functional Skills Level 2.
You should have 3 months or more practice based experience involving working with people. Working in a care, support, or people development capacity is preferred but not essential. Applications will be considered on an individual basis.
You will need two positive references, one from a recent Higher Education Institution (Not Further Education) and one from a recent employer. If you do not have an employer reference, a character reference will be required.
You will need DBS and Occupational Health Clearance
Applicants need to confirm prior to interview decision/offer that they have the ability to use basic IT facilities.
Costs
Average student cost of living in the UK
Rent | £518 |
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
Supermarket shopping | £81 |
Clothing | £35 |
Eating out | £33 |
Alcohol | £27 |
Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
Transport within city | £17 |
Self-care / sports | £20 |
Stationary / books | £13 |
Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
Insurance | £51 |
Other | £95 |
Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
University Rankings
Positions of Birmingham City University in top UK and global rankings.
See all 17 university rankings of Birmingham City University
About Birmingham City University
Founded in 1853, Birmingham City University (BCU) is located in the city of Birmingham, England. The student population of this institution is made up of students from over 80 nationalities, which allows newly arrived foreign students to quickly feel welcome and at home. State-of-the-art facilities and resources await students on all courses, including the latest Engineering technology, 3D Printing studios, and Horology Workshops, just to name a few. BCU maintains a reputation for having a selective admissions process, so all applicants are recommended to prepare for their interview thoroughly.
List of 265 Bachelor and Master Courses from Birmingham City University - Course Catalogue
Student composition of Birmingham City University
-
Total number of students enrolled at Birmingham City University by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 20675
- postgraduates:
- 5010
- Total:
- 25685
Where is this programme taught
Similar courses
Program | University | Student satisfaction | Unemployed | Dropout | Tuition (UK) | Tuition (International) | UCAS Tariff | City | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters in Social Work MSW | The University of York | 62% | 0% | 5% | £9250 | £23700 | 161 | York | On campus Full-time | |
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Social Work MA (Postgraduate Entry) MA (PG) | University of Bradford | - | - | - | £4500 | £18566 | - | Bradford | On campus Full-time | |
Social Work MSc | University of Portsmouth | - | - | - | £12000 | £18100 | - | Portsmouth | On campus Full-time |