Swansea University
Social Work MSc (PG)
Swansea University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 140 graduates of Social Work MSc (PG) and other courses in CAH19 at Swansea University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in CAH19.

Overall student satisfaction
84 /100
140 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

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Source: National Student Survey NSS 2023. The Overall student satisfaction data point is from 2022 (latest available year). The Office for Students made the unfortunate decision to discontinue collecting overall student satisfaction data points per course.
All CAH19 courses of Swansea University
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in CAH19

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of CAH19 at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24000 £21500 £25500
25-75 percentile range £20000 - £26000 £17000 - £25000 £19500 - £29500
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All CAH19 courses of Swansea University


Salary of all UK Graduates of CAH19

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £32600 £18167 £22182
25-75 percentile range £29467 - £33333 £14369 - £21274 £16909 - £25591
Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All CAH19 courses in the UK

Course Description

If you want a career where you can make a real, positive difference to the lives of people and communities in vulnerable circumstances, then our Social Work Master's degree is the ideal springboard. Social work is about encouraging change and human growth by supporting the social care and welfare needs of individuals, groups and communities.

This professionally accredited postgraduate course is designed for applicants who have already studied a relevant undergraduate degree and will give you the academic knowledge and practical experience to begin a career as a registered social worker. You will study the ethics and values of social work, critical practice relating to the law around child and adult care, and the key theories and perspectives underpinning social work policy and practice.

You will spend half of your time on placement with social work agencies, learning through observation and practice, and the other half being taught on our Singleton Park campus.

Throughout your studies, you will refine critical research and analytical skills in relation to social work practice and policy, and develop professional reflective practice techniques.

Being based in the School of Health and Social Care, Wales’s largest provider of healthcare education, you will be immersed in a dynamic research and learning environment with many opportunities to build links with students from related disciplines.

You will join a university that is:

15th in the UK for Course Satisfaction - Guardian University Guide 2023

12th in the UK for Student Satisfaction – NSS 2021

UK Top 25 University - Guardian University Guide 2022

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

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Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All CAH19 courses of Swansea University

Current jobs

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All courses of Swansea University

Required skill level of job after 15 months

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Welsh Studies courses of Swansea University

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Social Work MSc (PG) at Swansea University

20% Elementary occupations
12% Administrative occupations
9% Business and public service associate professionals
9% Secretarial and related occupations
6% Skilled trades occupations
6% Sales occupations
6% Customer service occupations
4% Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations
4% Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation
4% Secretarial and related occupations
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023

Grading & Study Time

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The course is both academic and practice-based, you will complete a minimum of 200 days practice learning across the two years. Half of the programme is devoted to supervised practice in social service agencies, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn through observation, rehearsal and performance. The social work placements take place in the local authorities of Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion. Your learning will be assessed through written essays, oral presentations, I.T. based exercises, reflective commentaries and portfolio work across the two years of study. Practice placements are assessed by a combination of written work, observed practice and personal assessments using the National Occupational Standards for Social Work. You will also be expected to complete a research dissertation and poster presentation in your second year of study (15,000 words approx.) with support from an assigned supervisor.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Minimum Required UCAS Tariff

See below for entry requirements.

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Welsh Studies

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Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
All Welsh Studies courses of Swansea University

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

Scottish Higher qualifications are considered on an individual basis

Access to HE Diploma

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

A UK degree (2:2 or above) in a social work/social science-related discipline. For applicants whose first language is not English we require a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) and no less than 5.5 in each component. Applicants are required to have undertaken over 300 hours of direct social care work and you should clearly reference this in your Personal Statement. For applicants who do not meet these entry requirements, there is also the option to apply for the 3-year BSc Social Work programme.

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • All Degrees

This course is open to UK applicants only.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Social Work, MSc (PG), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

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.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

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.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of Swansea University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Swansea University in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #2 
    • #183 
    Social Sciences
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]
    • #1 
    • #17 
    Social Work
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #2 
    • #25 
    Social Work
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of Swansea University

About Swansea University

Swansea University was established in 1920 and is located in the large city of Swansea, in Wales. There are two campuses, the flagship campus is located between Singleton Park, with its green parkland and botanical gardens, and Swansea Bay beach. The more recent Bay Campus on the other hand is located on an extensive beachfront property on the eastern side of town, past the marina. Apart from a vibrant academic life, students can attend the numerous yearly festivals that take place in Swansea, guaranteeing plenty of opportunities for getting out and about in your free time.

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Where is this programme taught

Singleton Park Campus
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Similar courses

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
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Social Work (Postgraduate Entry) MSc (PG) University of Portsmouth - - - £12000 £18100 - Portsmouth On campus Full-time
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Social Work MA University of Derby - - - £8775 £14900 - Derby On campus Full-time
Social Work (Postgraduate) MA (PG) University of Hull - - - £6100 £9000 £10000 £12000 - Hull On campus Full-time
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Social Work MSc University of Portsmouth - - - £12000 £18100 - Portsmouth On campus Full-time
Admission advice for international students