MA Social Work / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

Degree awarded
MA
Duration
24 months (FT)
Entry requirements

We normally require you to have an Upper Second class honours degree or above. This can be in any subject area. Relevant employment and/or personal experience within a health or social care setting is highly desirable.

If you have a Lower Second classification degree, your application will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on your experience.

You must also have GCSE English grade C/4 by the start of the course.

We do not accept other Level 2 qualifications as equivalent to GCSE English (eg Functional Skills) and will only consider specific international qualifications as equivalents.

Full entry requirements

Number of places/applicants

40 places

How to apply

Apply through  UCAS  

Applications made directly to the University will not be considered.

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MA Y N N N

Course overview

  • Gain a nationally and internationally recognised professional social work qualification and become eligible to register as a qualified social worker with Social Work England.
  • Several bursaries, including NHS bursaries, are available for eligible students (limited number).
  • Study at the UK's sixth best university (QS Ranking 2023).
  • Times Higher University Impact Ratings (2023) rated the university as first in the UK and second in the world.
  • Learn through innovative teaching methods involving people with lived experience of social work and current social work practitioners.
  • Gain practical experience during 170 days of high-quality placements through our links with local community organisations and our membership of the Greater Manchester Social Work Academy.
  • Undertake a dissertation in a practice area of your choice with tailored individual support and supervision.
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Careers in Social Work

Open days

Come along to our open day drop-in webinar on Wednesday 6 March, any time between am and 12pm and ask one of our lecturers in social work, Barbara Tisdall, all you need to know about studying at Manchester: the course content, the placements and the student experience. Book for this session here

Fees

MA (full-time)

  • UK students (per annum): As a home student you will pay £9,000 per annum (after a £1,000 bursary is applied).
  • International, including EU, students (per annum): £25,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted are inclusive for the course tuition and administration costs. All fees will be subject to yearly review. For information visit postgraduate fees.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

The fees quoted will be fully inclusive for the course tuition and administration costs during your studies.

All fees will be subject to yearly review. For information visit postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Additional expenses

Travel costs for placements during the programme across Greater Manchester and the wider north west region can be expensive and should be included in your cost calculations. The Transport for Greater Manchester website can help you estimate costs to different sites.

Placement transport costs are normally covered via NHS bursaries and students not eligible to claim bursaries are usually able to claim placement travel costs.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

The University of Manchester bursary for home students

The University of Manchester is keen to support high quality education for social workers. As a home student you will pay £9,000 per annum (after a £1,000 bursary from the University is applied).

UK government funded bursaries and loans

The UK government usually provides a number of bursaries to postgraduate Social Work students on an MA. These are primarily for home students and will be for both years of study, administered by the NHS Business Service Authority

Should students be in receipt of a bursary they will, at the point of registration, be expected to pay to the University any difference between tuition fees and the bursary contribution. Applicants should apply for a bursary when they accept our offer of a place on the course.

Postgraduate students who do not receive NHS bursaries may be entitled to apply for a Postgraduate Master's Loan .

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.  

International scholarships

Schorships for international students are available through the Global Futures scheme. Visit the scholarship page to find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

Contact details

School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Telephone
+44 (0)161 529 4563
Email
Website
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/social-work/
School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.