Program Overview

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MA Social Work

About this course

The social care sector is diverse and dynamic. Rapidly changing individual and population social care needs, alongside more personalised approaches, offers challenges and opportunities for social work in Local Government, the NHS, and in voluntary and independent organisations to develop flexible and new ways of delivering holistic integrated and inter-professional services.

Why study with us

• Study on a course with a flexible curriculum and assessment methods which meet industry needs.
• Learn from guest speakers, including social work practitioners and people with lived experience.
• Work and make connections with experienced social work researchers.

Course modules

Year 1

• Preparation for Social Work Practice
• Law and Social Policy for Social Work Practice
• Social Work with Children and Families
• Social Work with Adults at Risk: Interventions in Practice
• Placement 1 - 80 days full time

Year 2

• Research in Social Work Practice
• Placement 2 - 90 days full time

Course structure tables

September - Full-time

Year	Term	Module	Credits	Contact hours
1	Term 1	Preparation for Social Work Practice	15	20 hours
		Law and Policy for Social Work Practice	15	20 hours
		Social Work with Children and Families	15	20 hours
		Social Work with Adults at Risk: Interventions in Practice	15	20 hours
	Term 2	Placement 1	30	80 days full time
2	Term 1	Research in Social Work Practice	60	40 hours
	Term 2	Placement 2	30	90 days full time

Learning and teaching

Assessment methods

• Coursework
• Practical work
• Observed presentations
• Assessed placements

Learning and teaching strategy

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

• high quality teaching
• an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
• a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

• Student Involvement and Engagement
• Inclusion
• Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
• Digital Literacy and Skills
• Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

• Personalised support
• Expert lecturers
• Strong connections with employers
• An international outlook
• Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• First undergraduate degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant discipline e.g., Health and Social Care, Pastoral Support, Working with Children, Young People and Families.
• If an applicant holds a degree in a different discipline, substantial relevant work or lived experience which has allowed applicants to gain a good understanding of social work, as demonstrated through a personal statement, will be considered and discussed during the interview process.
• Applicants with a 2:2 degree will be considered on an individual basis if they have substantial relevant work or lived experience which has allowed applicants to gain a good understanding of social work, as demonstrated through a personal statement, will be considered and discussed during the interview process.
• GCSE English Language at grade C/4 or above or accepted equivalent.
• Minimum English Language entry requirements: non-UK applicants should achieve a minimum score of 7.0 overall in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment.

Non-academic requirements

• Satisfactory enhanced DBS (adult and child workforce).
• Satisfactory occupational health check.
• Write a values-based personal statement.
• Attend a values-based interview.
• Two satisfactory references.

Personal statement guidance

Your personal statement is a key aspect of the selection process.

It's your opportunity to demonstrate your drive and passion to study to become a social worker, what's inspired and motivated you to choose this profession, and to demonstrate the skills and qualities you have that will enable you to practice as a future registered social worker, showing how you can make a difference and contribute in meaningful ways when you're in post.

You need to detail the skills you have acquired such as specific communication skills, an understanding of and an ability to appreciate the needs of others such as supporting peers, and an understanding of cultural differences.

You should explain the inspiration behind your social work route and the sort of qualities you have that suit the programme you've chosen to apply for.

You should also show a genuine understanding of how the programme is structured and the differences between the practical and theoretical aspects of the programme.

There are key themes we look for in your personal statement. Ensuring you’ve clearly covered and addressed these will further strengthen and improve your application and hopefully secure an invitation to interview.

Making sure you’ve covered the below points will not only help you succeed in being offered an interview, but it provides excellent preparation for the interview as you’ll have already considered the key areas that will be discussed:

• Insight and understanding of the social work profession and how you are suited to the specific field of PG study:
  • Demonstrate you understand what social workers do, research the skills and qualities expected for the role.
  • You can also check out the Social Work England website for further background information.
  • Consider what challenges social workers face in their day-to-day work and demonstrate how you have overcome challenges or stress in your work or study.
  • Tell us why you think you are well-suited to become a future social worker.
• Your motivation and inspiration for the chosen programme and profession:
  • Consider the factors that have motivated or inspired you to pursue your chosen programme and a particular field of social work.
  • Be clear and concise in your writing and show how your previous experiences personal or practice have motivated or inspired you for the role of the social worker (specific field) by using real examples and maintaining confidentiality.
  • An understanding and commitment to the values, qualities, and behaviours expected of the social work profession
  • Demonstrate the values, qualities, and behaviours you have that suit the role of a social worker.
  • Tell us how your values align with those of the Social Work England and how you demonstrate those values.
  • Reading through the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work in England will help you with this section of your personal statement
• Details that are relevant to the application: e.g. previous training, work or life experience, placements, transferable skills and evidence of digital literacy skills
  • Do not worry if your experiences are not social work-related or even work-related as many skills are transferable to the social work role. Be specific as to how your experiences have affected your decision to apply for MA Social Work and being part of a caring profession.
  • What are your relevant hobbies or interests or influential personal/professional experiences?
  • Relate how your skills and experiences are transferable to the role of a social worker.
  • Share any achievements you are proud of and how these relate to your chosen profession.

References

All applications should be supported by a second reference in addition to that supplied on your application form.

We require a second reference for courses that lead to eligibility for professional registration; this is because they are academically challenging and involve working with the public. It is therefore our responsibility to ensure that applicants are suitable for professional registration on graduation. As such, recruitment to these courses requires two good, recent references as part of the entry requirements.

One of these references will be your reference provided on application. The second reference will be requested after acceptance of a place and will attest to your suitability to commence social work training, character, behaviour, and general ethics.

In total we require an academic and an employer reference, but we understand that this may be difficult to supply if you have not recently been in education or employment- suggested alternatives may include:

• Employers
• Personal tutors
• Mentors
• Volunteer coordinators
• Someone you have supported or cared for in a voluntary capacity
• A faith or religious leaders
• Club or group leaders i.e. sports or recreational groups you participate in

You will be asked to supply this second reference as a condition of your offer. Once you have accepted your offer, you will then be asked to provide the details of your second referee, who will be sent the Second Reference Request Form.

This form must be completed in full and returned to the Admissions Team in a timely manner so as not to delay any progress with the status of your application. Full details on how to complete and send the form will be sent once you have accepted your offer.

Fees and finance

Funding

UK Home Students:

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your tuition fees.

International Students, including EU Students:

Visit our web page for international students.

Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount

Some Leeds Trinity graduates are eligible for a tuition fee discount on postgraduate courses of up to 50%, excluding PGCE Delivery Partner Model and Lead Partner Model, and Masters by Research courses. You will need to achieve a 2:2 or above in a Leeds Trinity undergraduate course to qualify.

Postgraduate course	Discount
MA/MSc programmes and LLM Law	50% for graduates with a 1st class honours degree
MA/MSc programmes and LLM Law	35% for graduates with a 2:1 honours degree
MA/MSc programmes and LLM Law	20% for graduates with a 2:2 honours degree
MA Childhood and Education/MA Education/MA Family Support MA Mental Health in Children and Young People	20% for PGCE graduates if none of the above apply

Social Work Bursary

Students who normally live in England may be eligible for a Social Work Bursary to help towards tuition fees and living costs, including placement travel expenses. For more information visit Social Work Bursaries | NHSBSA

How to apply

There is no official closing date for applications, but the course will be closed when it is full. We therefore encourage you to make your application as early as possible.

Please ensure you complete the application form in full and supply all the required supporting documentation when you make your initial application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.

If you need advice on your application, please contact our admissions team.

What happens next?

Our admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application.

Where applications are submitted but references are still in progress, admissions will wait for the reference(s) to be received and then will process it, and forward it to the relevant Programme Leader within five days of receipt of the reference(s).

The Programme Leader will make a decision based on your application. You may be asked to provide a reference to demonstrate your academic and non-academic experiences, or you may be invited to attend an interview. If you are successful and are made an offer, the conditions will be outlined in your offer letter.

Applications will be acknowledged within five working days. Applicants will be contacted within 15 working days with a request for additional information, an invitation to an informal interview or an application decision.

Made an offer?

You should accept or decline your offer by emailing.

If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.

You may be asked to present the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student information point on campus - if originals are not needed, you’ll be contacted and given details of how to provide the supporting documentation.