Find out more about studying Social Work MA at University of Staffordshire? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
MA - Master of Arts
Stoke-on-Trent Campus
Full Time
Jan 2027
1 Year
Social Workers play an important role in supporting individuals and families to achieve positive change in their lives. Our pre-registration postgraduate Social Work degree will prepare you for a rewarding profession with human rights and social justice at its core.Regulated by Social Work England, our course will equip you for a career in social work within a diverse range of social welfare settings. On completing the course, you will be able to evidence and demonstrate the standards and capabilities required for registration with Social Work England as Social Worker. The course will enable you to develop the core skills, knowledge and values fundamental to social work practice.This pre-registration course is available to graduates already holding a degree from any discipline, looking to gain a social work qualification and registration with a professional body in approximately two years rather than three or four, providing an accelerated route into the profession. You will also be eligible to apply for the NHS Social Work bursary.Teaching and learning are focused on a critical approach that considers both the structural and individual factors that impact on the lived experiences of those who require social work intervention. You will also complete a total of 200 days of practice-based learning across a range of engaging placements to demonstrate your capability as a social work practitioner.In your first semester of year one, you will gain the knowledge, skills and values essential to evidence 'readiness for supervised practice.' This include modules focused on core skills, social work law, values and theory. The next semester consists of an 80-day practice-based learning placement.CareersThis pre-registration course is available to graduates already holding a degree from any discipline and looking to gain a social work qualification and registration with a professional body in approximately two years as opposed to the usual three or four, providing an accelerated route into the profession. Our course is therefore ideal for anyone who is caring and compassionate and looking for a change in career direction to really make a difference in peoples’ lives. Upon successful completion of the MA Social Work, graduates will be eligible to apply to register with Social Work England as qualified Social Workers. This internationally recognised qualification opens up a whole world of opportunities. Many of our Social Work graduates gain employment with our placement providers studying at postgraduate level can lead to a wider range of job roles at a higher level.
The Critical Theory for Social Work will equip you with the theoretical knowledge and skills required to critically apply a range of theoretical approaches in practice. In considering the way in which theory intersects with the application of social values and law in day to day practice, you will be supported to critically analyse and explore contemporary models for social work intervention and the strategies to resolve complex value or ethical dilemmas in practice.
This module is open to students enrolled on the MA Social Work course. Students will each be allocated a professionally qualified Practice Educator who will work with them throughout their placement to facilitate critical thinking, support the student to apply classroom learning to real-world practice and promote an anti-oppressive approach to social work practice.
The Core Skills for Social Work Practice module is specifically designed to equip you with the foundations for professional knowledge and skills necessary to the develop, progress and succeed in both the practice and academic elements of the course. Core topics will include, the role and function of the regulatory body and Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), MA level academic writing, referencing and reflective skills, Relationship Based Practice.
This module provides you with an introduction to the social and political context of Social Work, and the social problems that drive the need for intervention. You will be introduced to theoretical perspectives that explain social phenomena, such as inequality, poverty, and discrimination. As well as social policies that seek to address these, and inform Social Work practice. You will have the opportunity to consider future social and political developments likely to impact on practice.
The foundation of statutory social work practice is primary legislation which imposes statutory duties and powers on social workers and their employers. Therefore, it is important that social workers understand how the contemporary social, political and legal context of social work provision impacts on social work practice. The Social Work Law module aims to provide social work students with an understanding of key social work legislation as well as the social and political issues with impact upon and direct legislative change and its resultant social policy and social work practice.
Research is something we hear about every day. Many of the developments in social work practice and social policy and legislation have been guided by or initiated because of research. Therefore, it is important that students have a good understanding of research methods and their application in the professional world of social work. The aim of this module is to give students a working knowledge of the main paradigms and methods of social scientific research; in addition to understanding the reasons why research must be ethical and transparent. The module affords students the opportunity of completing their own research project, whereby, students can challenge themselves and develop their skills of data gathering, analysis and critical thinking. The topic for the research project is decided by the student and therefore it is something the student can own, enjoy and from which the student gains substantial academic, organisational and personal achievement.
This module is open to students enrolled on the MA Social Work course. Students will each be allocated a professionally qualified Practice Educator who will work with them throughout their placement to facilitate critical thinking, support the student to apply classroom learning to real-world practice and promote an anti-oppressive approach to social work practice.
Making evidence-based decisions is a fundamental element of social work practice. This module provides students with the opportunity to develop their critical understanding and skills in application of the legislative framework, theoretical perspectives and contemporary research, ensuring that upon completion, students can demonstrate a critical, creative and systematic approach to assessment, intervention and decision making in social work practice across the lifespan.
The module provides an opportunity for students to engage in a piece of independent, social work related secondary research of the students own choosing. The dissertation is a substantial piece of academic work which is undertaken to develop students skills of research, critical evaluation, organisation and ownership of their own social work education. The dissertation is both challenging and rewarding, as it should stretch students and develop and widen their abilities and resilience. However, on completion, students have a tremendous sense of accomplishment in addition to a greater and detailed knowledge of their chosen dissertation topic.
Social workers work in a variety of organisations - from small voluntary organisations to large and complex agencies like the NHS or Local Government. This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to understand how these organisations work, and the strengths and weaknesses of different types of organisation. You will also learn about quality assurance and the role of regulation in the social work profession. The module will give you an overview of theoretical concepts to help you to understand how social work organisations function. This module will also explore international approaches to social work, as well as multi-agency working, and professional identity.
