Program Overview

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Social Work MA

Overview

This MA Social Work degree equips you with the skills, knowledge and reflective capacity you need to practise as an effective social worker.

You will develop a sound knowledge base that encompasses theory, the ethical and legal bases for practice, social policy and an understanding of how social work fits into organisational contexts.

The course promotes relationship-based practice and is unique because of the link with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

This course is delivered at both the Docklands Campus and the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

The opportunity to study both at the University of East London and the Tavistock allows you to experience university culture and a working clinic. As part of the course, you will participate in a week-long Group Relations Conference as well as weekly work discussion groups.

Because the course attracts students from different cultural backgrounds and a range of disciplines - including psychology, law, sociology, criminology, business studies and even science - the knowledge our students bring enriches the course experience as much as the teaching.

The accreditation agreement between the University of East London and Social Work England means that your degree will make you eligible to register as a social worker.

Course Options

• MA: UCAS code: L512
• Start date: September 2025
• Duration: 2 years (full-time)

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with minimum Upper Second Class (2:1) or equivalent in any subject or Lower Second Class (2.2) and a postgraduate qualification or extensive experience.
• English at grade GCSE grade C or level 4*, (or a certified equivalent e.g., Key Skills Level 2 in Communication/ Literacy; IELTS 7.5 overall and with 7.5 in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) etc).

International Qualifications

We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications.

Interview

An interview is required with a member of the academic teaching team. Further information will be provided on receipt of an application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Applicants for this course are required to complete a Student Suitability Declaration and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You need to complete this process prior to starting the course.

Fees, Funding and Additional Costs

Fees

• Home Applicant: £9,120 per year
• International Applicant: £16,560 per year

Funding

• Postgraduate Loans Scheme: £10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
• Postgraduate Scholarship: Apply for a 50 per cent discount on your tuition fees
• Alumni Discount: up to 15% fee waiver (exclusions apply)
• Early Payment Discount: 5% fee waiver
• Asylum Seekers scholarship: 100% fee waiver
• Civic Engagement: £1,000
• Hardship Bursary: up to £2,000
• Sport Scholarships: Up to £6,000

Additional Costs

• Textbooks
• Computer equipment
• Printing
• Travel
• Personal laptops and other personal devices
• Personal copies of books
• Optional study visits and field trips (and any associated visa costs)
• Costs of participating at external events, exhibitions, performances etc.

Course Modules

Year 1

• Fundamentals of Social Work: Core Module
• Social Work Law: Core Module
• Human Growth and Development: Core Module
• Professional Practice Placement 1 (70 days): Core Module
• Dissertation: Core Module

Year 2

• Professional Development: Core Module
• Professional Practice Placement: II (100 Days): Core Module

What We're Researching

Our Centre for Social Work Research (CSWR) generates knowledge in social work thinking and methods. It also helps and encourages more social workers to become involved in research to improve shared knowledge.

Our founding goal is to shed light on underlying processes in practice and policy-making. We also work to strengthen the evidence base for 'relationship-based social work'. This places the client-practitioner relationship at the heart of practice.

Current research themes include racial equity and career progression in social work, safeguarding and child protection, social work and education as well as the transformation of welfare in the UK.

Your Future Career

We are the principal social work training provider in east London. Choose this course and you will have a head start when it comes to finding a job in social work in the area.

The MA Social Work has been developed in collaboration with local employers so it reflects the priorities and needs of contemporary social work practice in east London. Local employers trust the training given to our graduates and regularly employ them once qualified.

Career Options

There are good employment opportunities in social work in London, often in children and family contexts but also in other service groups and in a variety of settings - voluntary and statutory, for example.

After gaining a professional and academic qualification in social work at the postgraduate level, you are required to continue your professional development as part of your professional registration.

This will firstly be through the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment and may also be through further post-qualifying awards in specialist areas of social work at the University of East London and the Tavistock.

How We Support Your Career Ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed.

Career Zone

Our dedicated and award-winning team provide you with careers and employability resources, including:

• Online jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work.
• Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
• 1-2-1 career coaching services
• Careers workshops and employer events
• Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth Programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you’ve mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

We Are Careers First

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top

• Enterprise and entrepreneurship support
• Ranked 2nd for graduate start-ups (2023/24)
• Networking and visits to leading organisations
• Support in starting a new business, freelancing and self-employment
• London on our doorstep

How You'll Learn

We offer a wide range of teaching styles, from lectures to seminars, tutorials to workshops.

Placement

The child observation and practice placement in Year 1 is supported by a small group reflective seminar. This work discussion continues throughout Year 2 and is an approach to learning from experience that is unique to this course.

Your initial preparation for practice includes five days of shadowing a social worker.

In preparation for practice, we also offer you the exciting opportunity to work with a group of actors from a theatre company in role-play social work scenarios.

The actors are given a brief and you will interview them or produce a case study. You are given feedback on your performance from a tutor, from someone who has used social work services and from practitioners.

How You'll Be Assessed

We use a range of assessment approaches. These include case studies, a formative service user interview, essays, online tests, group presentations, practice placement portfolios and a dissertation.

Campus and Facilities

Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD

Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.

Join us and you'll be able to make the most of our facilities including contemporary lecture theatres and seminar rooms, art studios and exhibition spaces, audio and visual labs and a multimedia production centre.

Features include our 24/7 Docklands library, our £21m SportsDock centre, a campus shop and bookstore, the Children's Garden Nursery, cafés, eateries, a late bar, plus Student Union facilities, including a student lounge.

The University of East London is one of the few London universities to provide on-campus accommodation. Our Docklands Campus Student Village houses close to 1,200 students from around the world. We are well connected to central London and Canary Wharf, with London City Airport just across the water. We also run a free bus service that connects Docklands with Stratford campuses.

Who Teaches This Course

This course is delivered by the School of Childhood and Social Care.

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

• Course leader: Dr Amina Adan
• Course leader: Angie Voela

Related Courses

This course is part of the Early Childhood and Education subject area.

• MA Youth and Community Work