Program Overview

Introduction to the Master's Programme in Advanced Development in Social Work

The Master's programme in Advanced Development in Social Work (ADVANCES) is designed to give social workers outstanding levels of practice skills so that they can confidently respond to the vulnerabilities and uncertainties facing societies across the world.

Programme Specifications

• The MA in Advanced Development in Social Work is a 2-year research-based full-time programme.
• The programme is set to 120 ECTS credits.
• The AAU modules are set to 30 ECTS credits.

Admission Requirements

• Admission to the MA in Advanced Development in Social Work requires a bachelor degree in social work or closely related subjects.
• Students with another bachelor degree can, upon application to the consortium board, obtain access on the basis of a concrete academic assessment, insofar as the applicant is deemed to have comparable academic qualifications.
• The consortium board may demand that applicants pass supplementary tests prior to the commencement of study.
• Work experience is highly weighted.

Programme Title and Competence Profile

• Master's programme in Advanced Development in Social Work
• The Master's programme entitles the graduate to the English designation MA in Advanced Development in Social Work (Joint Degree).
• Nordic Master in Social Work and Welfare (NOSWEL) (specialization)
• The Master's programme entitles the graduate to the English designation Nordic MA in Social Work and Welfare (Joint Degree).

Competence Profile of the Programme

The Aim of the Programme

The Master's programme in Advanced Development in Social Work (ADVANCES) is designed to give social workers outstanding levels of practice skills so that they can confidently respond to the vulnerabilities and uncertainties facing societies across the world.

Competence Profile/Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes reflect the competence levels for second-cycle (Master) programmes of the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area (Dublin Descriptors).

• Knowledge and Cognitive Skills
  • Demonstrate comprehensive, critical, and advanced knowledge of social work practice and contemporary social issues in various country contexts as well as international level.
  • Sensitively apply key theoretical concepts in international social work, including indigenous social work, ecological approaches, power, and intersectionality.
  • Critically analyse complex social work issues and interventions, showing substantial understanding of the international, national, and local contexts of social work practice as well as the key concepts, principles, skills, and methods that inform social work practice.
  • Design and conduct independent, original, critical, and ethical research projects with clear international relevance and practice impact.
  • Engage in critical reflection and reflexivity when analysing social work practice and professional processes.
  • Understand the complexity of social work values and ethical principles and their relevance for promoting inclusion and confronting social, political, cultural, and economic injustices, reflecting on relevant international codes of conduct for social workers.

Professional and Key Skills

• Demonstrate the skills, values, and competences to work in diverse national and international settings.
• Sensitively transfer social work knowledge, analysis, and practice recommendations across contexts, countries, and regions.
• Plan and develop innovative interventions and entrepreneurial responses to build the capacity of the social work profession, challenge marginalisation, reduce risk, and enhance well-being.
• Lead, supervise, mentor, plan, and manage professional practice, social work projects, practice-based research, and new learning processes.
• Evaluate the processes and outcomes of social work interventions, projects, and services in line with professional values and concern for service user well-being.
• Facilitate participation and social development processes in social services, charities, and non-governmental associations.
• Explain and justify decision-making in complex situations.
• Work autonomously and in partnership with individuals, groups, organisations, and communities to tackle social work problems and build capacity.
• Effectively communicate complex analysis and ideas to a variety of audiences, including frontline social workers, managers, policymakers, service users, and the general public.
• Learn independently, plan professional development, and continuously develop knowledge, understanding, and new skills to a high level.

Structure and Contents of the Programme

The MA is a closed programme, which extends the knowledge and insight that students have acquired in the bachelor programme.

• The AAU semester consists of three modules:
  • Module 4: Research Methodology and Ethics (10 ECTS)
  • Module 5: Power relations and actor perspectives (10 ECTS)
  • Module 6: Field Study and Problem-Based Approaches in social work (10 ECTS)
• Overall, the MA in Advanced Development in Social Work consists of 13 modules.

Overview of the Programme

• Offered as: 1-professional
• Study programme: Advanced Development in Social Work
• Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation method | Assessment method | Language
  • 1 Semester University of Lincoln
  • 2 Semester Aalborg University
    • Research Methodology and Ethics | Course | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English
    • Power Relations and Actor Perspectives | Course | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English
    • Field Study and Problem-Based Approaches in Social Work | Course | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English
  • 3 Semester University of Lisbon
  • 4 Semester Master Thesis - choose between 5 universities

Additional Information

• Rules concerning written assignments, including the master's thesis project and its scope
  • The master's thesis: The research project (Module 13), at approximately 25,000 words, is designed to be an in-depth evaluation of a social work intervention or service that displays critical analysis, professional reflection, and practice recommendations on the basis of primary research.
  • The master's thesis must document skills in applying academic theory and methods to a specific academic subject. The thesis completes the programme.
• Rules for examinations
  • Examinations are conducted in English.
  • Exams are conducted in the same semester as the teaching. Examinations of master's thesis, however, are conducted continuously as required in the period 1 August-30 July.

Commencement and Transitional Rules

• The curriculum is approved by the dean and enters into force as of September 1, 2020.
• The Study Board does not offer teaching after the previous curriculum from 2013 after the summer examination 2021.
• The Study Board will offer examinations after the previous curriculum, if there are students who have used examination attempts in a module without passing. The number of examination attempts follows the rules in the Examination Order.