Social Work MSc
University of Portsmouth
Key Course Facts
Salary
Salary of all UK Graduates of
15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
---|---|---|---|
Median salary | £22481 | £20177 | £23660 |
25-75 percentile range | £20119 - £25653 | £15142 - £24804 | £17699 - £30158 |
All courses in the UK
Course Description
Overview
This two-year Master’s degree in Social Work will equip you with the skills and experience you need to become a professional social worker and make a real difference in the lives of children and families, mental health patients, people with disabilities or vulnerable adults.
The course combines theory and practice, and you’ll be supported by passionate industry experts with many years of social work experience. You’ll learn about the latest legislation, planning and policy, and put it all into practice in professional settings, with real people.
You’ll undertake two separate work placements – one in your first year and one in your second year.
The NHS bursary for postgraduate social work students can help with the cost of your fees, your living costs, and includes a contribution towards your placement travel expenses.
When you successfully complete the course, you'll have the skills and knowledge you need to apply to register as a social worker with the professional regulatory body, Social Work England.
What you'll experience
- Our staff are current and recent social work professionals
- Take part in skills days – full-day workshops with professional social workers to help prepare you for your placements
- Practise your skills in our Simulation Centre which features a realistic flat, bedroom and hospital ward where you'll prepare for home visits and care-giving in hospital and care home settings
- Work closely with our Social Work Inclusion Group – local social services users from a variety of backgrounds that help our students understand the needs of different individuals and communities
- Develop your critical and analytical skills with a dissertation project on a subject in your own area of interest
- Undertake two placements in professional practice settings which could be schools, supported living facilites, hospitals or health centres
Careers and opportunities
When you graduate from the MSc Social Work degree course, you'll have the knowledge and practical skills to work in any branch of social work.
What jobs can you do with a Social Work degree?
Career opportunities include:
- social worker
- practice teacher
- care manager
- persistent offender coordinator
- family support worker
- housing adviser
- homelessness/substance abuse charities
- PhD study
We'll provide you with as much support as possible in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.
Entry Requirements / Admissions
English language requirements
test | Grade | Additional Details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 7 | English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0 with no component score below 6.5. |
PTE Academic | 68 | An overall score of 68 with a minimum of 61 in each skill. |
TOEFL (iBT) | 100 | 100 with a minimum of 24 in Reading, 23 in Listening, 25 in Speaking and 24 in Writing |
Cambridge English Advanced | Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 185 with no component score less than 176. |
|
Cambridge English Proficiency | Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 185 with no component score less than 176. |
An upper second class honours degree in a relevant subject or a degree in an associated discipline (Anthropology, Criminology, Critical Thinking, English, Health & Social Care, Law, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, R.E, Sociology, Social Policy, Theology). Applicants with a lower classification (second class) will be considered on an individual basis, considering relevant experience and academic achievement.
Applicants must also have relevant work experience, more than 3 months in voluntary or paid employment in a health, education or social care environment.
All applicants must have an acceptable GCSE qualification in English at grade C/4 or above.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Successfully shortlisted applicants will be invited to a staged, holistic and multidimensional selection day which has been designed in accordance with Social Work England's standards. The assessment day will commence with all shortlisted applicants completing a written task, which is assessed as a pass or fail. In accordance with Social Work England standards, the written element will assess applicants’ command of English, ability to analyse and present written information, motivation to become a social worker, knowledge of the social work profession and relevant policies and legislation and ICT skills. Applicants who pass the written assessment will be invited to attend an individual interview on the same day.
International applicants must provide a satisfactory police check/certificate of good conduct from their home country (with a certified English translation if necessary), before admission to the programme can be confirmed.
All offers are subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and Occupational Health clearance.
Costs
Tuition Fees Social Work MSc
EU | £12000 | year 1 |
---|---|---|
England UK | £12000 | year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £12000 | year 1 |
Scotland | £12000 | year 1 |
Wales | £12000 | year 1 |
Channel Islands | £12000 | year 1 |
Ireland | £12000 | year 1 |
International | £18100 | year 1 |
Additional fee information
Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship.
Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice.
Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation
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 University of Portsmouth in top UK and global rankings.
Rankings of University of Portsmouth in related subject specific rankings.
Social Studies & Humanities
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-
- #52
- #451
-
- Social Sciences
-
NTU Rankings by Subject
[Published 11 July, 2023]
-
-
- #19
- #25
-
- Social Work
-
CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
[Published 08 June, 2023]
-
-
- #22
- #30
-
- Social Work
-
The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
[Published 09 September, 2023]
See all 31 university rankings of University of Portsmouth
About University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth is located on the United Kingdom’s only island city, Portsmouth. This public university, which was previously known as Portsmouth Polytechnic, forms part of the University Alliance, an organisation whose aim is to promote growth and innovation in the UK by putting an emphasis on links with business and industry.
List of 234 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Portsmouth - Course Catalogue
Student composition of University of Portsmouth
-
Total number of students enrolled at University of Portsmouth by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 18085
- postgraduates:
- 5005
- Total:
- 23090
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 | |
Social Work (Undergraduate) MSc | University of Huddersfield | 67% | 0% | 5% | £9250 | £17600 | 157 | Huddersfield | On campus Full-time | |
Social Work (Postgraduate Entry) MSc (PG) | Robert Gordon University | - | - | - | £5640 | £14350 | - | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Social Work (Postgraduate) MA (PG) | University of Hull | - | - | - | £9000 | £12000 | - | Hull | On campus Full-time | |
Social Work (Postgraduate Entry) MSc (PG) | University of Portsmouth | - | - | - | £12000 | £18100 | - | Portsmouth | On campus Full-time | |
Social Policy and Social Work PhD | The University of York | - | - | - | £2325 £2403 | £9450 £11100 | - | York | On campus Part-time | |
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 | |
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 |
Ranking publishers
The University League Tables
- Published:
- 08 June, 2023
The Guardian News and Media Limited
- Published:
- 09 September, 2023
NTU ranking
- Published:
- 11 July, 2023