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How do you tell a child that she’s going to live with another family? Provide support to an adult struggling with a schizophrenia diagnosis? Or help a family who are caring for someone with dementia?
At the heart of social work is the promotion of human rights and social justice, and the protection of individuals and their families. It aims to bring about change through working in partnership with individuals, families and communities often at the point of distress and vulnerability.
Our MA Social Work course is approved by Social Work England. This means, when you graduate, you can apply for professional registration to practice as a registered social worker. This two-year, full-time masters degree is designed for students with an undergraduate degree who wish to become registered social work practitioners. We'll make sure that you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the professional standards by the time you complete your course.
As a registered s...
2 years full-time
Lyn Romeo - Chief Social Worker“It is heartening that Manchester Met is investing in and supporting social work and interdisciplinary approaches across health and social care. This really is the solution to making sure that people are supported to have the best possible lives and for us all to make the most effective use of the resources we have available to us.”
Department of Health
As our MA Social Work is an approved course, this means that once you successfully complete this qualification you’ll meet the professional standards set by Social Work England and can apply to be registered with them as a Social Worker.
Year One of MA Social Work focuses on developing your understanding of social work practice and your skills. In Year Two, we focus on professional development and preparing you for your role as a social worker.
Some of your learning will be delivered by people with lived or living experience and will include skills development including how to communicate and engage with people, how to support, empower and respect the value of their experience.
You’ll consider topics such as international human rights conventions, the development of the welfare state, social constructionism, cycles of vulnerability, and contemporary issues, such as mental health and safeguarding. You’ll look at how welfare is delivered across society, the psychological and sociological factors that impact on life, how the law can be used to safeguard and protect vulnerable people in society, and the ethical considerations for social workers. Topics cover the life course from pre-birth to end of life.
Social work can be difficult and challenging at times and, as well as developing your academic knowledge, we aim to develop your resilience and help you to learn ways to manage the situations that you’re faced with.
You’ll have practical skills sessions and workshops, such as how to conduct a home visit to a vulnerable adult, and how to interview families or communicate with children.
We also use high fidelity simulated learning and use the community flat, Birley Place, in the Brooks building to simulate situations you might come across as a social worker. Birley Place is a purpose-built, mock flat and it features a one-way mirror to a lecture theatre so that you can watch scenarios and learn how you might deal with situations such as a home visit. We use the flat to simulate conditions within homes that could cause concern.
You’ll learn from an academic team who have worked as social workers in areas such as criminal justice, homelessness, statutory children and families, statutory adult services, probation and substance misuse services. Working alongside the team is a number of current social work practitioners and people with lived experience.
Staff and students have a commitment to working within community settings. Many of our team also volunteer in their own time, helping at local food banks, homeless charities, and working with the local community. There’s usually an opportunity for you to get involved in volunteering too.
Bursaries may be available for this course subject to specific criteria applied by the University (this is based on confirmed bursary numbers and score at interview) and the NHS Bursaries office. Our academic team are unable to provide financial advice, for the latest information visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
Applicants are expected to have a UK Honours Degree (or international equivalent) at upper second class (2:1) or above.
Applicants with a lower second class (2:2) will be considered on an individual basis depending on their experience.
All applicants will also require GCSE English Language at Grade C or Grade 4. Equivalent qualifications (Eg Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Key Skills) may be considered.
A satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this programme. In addition, students who have resided outside the UK will be required to provide evidence of a satisfactory overseas police check. Instructions on how to complete these checks will be provided once you hold a firm offer for this course.
Satisfactory occupational health clearance is also required to participate in this course. Due to the nature of the environments in which you will be undertaking placements, covid-19 vaccination may be required by placement providers and future employers.
Demonstration of a genuine commitment to social work and social justice is essential. Relevant experience 'or' employment is essential as is previous study in a relevant subject.
Please note that this course does not follow traditional term dates due to the requirements of practice placements.
Full-time fee: £10,250 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Fees for this course have yet to be confirmed and will be updated shortly.
Full-time fee: £20,000 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Fees for this course have yet to be confirmed and will be updated shortly.
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Compulsory estimate: 2 to 12 a day whilst on placement (costs will vary considerably)
You will need to budget for travel costs to your placement which could be up to 80 kilometres from the University. Travel costs to placement will vary considerably depending on where you live, the location of your placement and how you choose to travel. Information on public transport costs within Greater Manchester can be found at www.tfgm.com. You should budget for car parking whilst on placement.
Compulsory estimate: £0.00 to £51.00 depending on your status
Optional estimate: 0 - this may change pending a review of the social work regulatory body
DBS checks - before starting on your course, you must undergo a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check (Enhanced Disclosure). The University covers the cost of payment for the DBS application and ID verification for new students where the DBS check is a requirement of the course, and where the application is made through the University, using the University’s approved service provider, currently First Advantage Disclosures.
Responsibility for DBS clearance on employment-based and CPD programmes normally lies with the employer, not the University. Where a DBS check is required for placement but not supported by your employer, the University will cover the cost of the first check when completed through the University, using the University’s approved provider, currently First Advantage Disclosures, as above.
Upon completion of the DBS check on whichever course, students have the option to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. The Update Service allows individuals to keep their DBS certificates up to date, and allows employers or education providers to check a current certificate, without the need to request a new certificate. As of April 2022, the cost of subscription to the DBS Update Service is £13.00 per year, to be paid by the student. Subscription is strongly encouraged for students embarking on programmes, where DBS clearance will be an ongoing requirement for placements and professional practice.
Students who have resided outside the UK continuously for a period of twelve months or more in the last ten years, while over the age of 18, will also be required to provide evidence of a satisfactory overseas police check, and to meet any associated costs, including the cost of a certified translation if required.
Returning students who have previously obtained DBS clearance but who require a new check, for example, due to a suspension of study, are required to pay the DBS application fee of £38.00 (accurate at 6th April 2022) and any associated costs, including the cost of ID verification through the Post Office Certification Service, which is approximately £13.00 but subject to the relevant cost at the time of application.
You may also need to budget for student membership of professional bodies.
At the time of going to press there are no costs related to professional membership. This may change in the future.
Optional estimate: £400
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, many students choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. Students may also need to print their assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £100 each year for books and printing.
Our MA Social Work course is approved by Social Work England. This means, when you graduate, you can apply for professional registration with Social Work England to practise as a registered social worker.
Our staff have excellent working relationships with employers. Employers support the ongoing delivery of the course and help you to develop your employability skills and improve your chances of finding work after you graduate.
You might work in a social services department within a local authority or for an organisation such as the NHS. Perhaps you’ll work for a private company, such as in a residential care home, or for a charity. You could also specialise in an area you’re particularly interested in, such as social work with children and families, social work with adults, social work and mental health. From working with children and young people leaving care, or people experiencing domestic violence to adults with learning disabilities, you could develop your career as a social worker across a number of different areas.
THE FLAT (SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY)
To give you as broad a range of experiences as possible, we organise practical simulations in ‘The Flat’ (our specialist space that represents a community flat) and our home and hospital suites, as well as special projects with local organisations. You might work on a project helping women experiencing homelessness or be involved in a simulation where you have to deal with challenging behaviour in someone’s house.
Apply through UCAS.
You are encouraged to apply early for this course, however the UCAS January deadline does not apply for MA Social Work.
Search for the course in the Undergraduate listings on UCAS. Here are the codes you'll need:
UCAS course code: L508
Manchester Metropolitan University institution code: M40
As a postgraduate social work student, you can apply for an NHS Social Work Bursary to support with your living costs and tuition fees. Check if you’re eligible and find bursary guidance on the NHS website.
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.