Social Work MA/PGDip
Study level: Postgraduate
Social Work MA/PGDip is the course for you if you're interested in working with people and taking an essential role in protecting children and young people from harm and in supporting people of every age.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
2 years full-time (MA)
18 months full-time (PGDip)
Course code
HLST203
Start date
September 2023
Course overview
Social work is a rewarding profession which enables you to work with and support individuals, families and communities of all ages who face difficulties or distress in their lives.
Currently accredited by Social Work England1, our MA/PGDip programmes have been developed in line with government recommendations in response to the demand for a highly skilled workforce.
- Grounded in practice, this course will enable you to build on your existing academic, work and life experiences in order to achieve the professional social work qualification1.
- You will undertake two placements2 of 70 days and 100 days (sourced by the university)2.
- Our high-quality teaching emphasises the knowledge, skills and values of social work; especially the importance of research-informed, person-centred and relationship-based practice.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
- Social work is a highly rewarding profession that requires human compassion. Social workers work with people experiencing difficulties and deal with many complex issues arising, for example, from poverty or relationship problems.
- Your role is to assist individuals, groups and communities to develop practical strategies to improve their situations and make a positive difference – protecting the vulnerable from harm and abuse or supporting people to live independently. It allows you to give something back to society.
- This course engages the head, the heart and the hands because theoretical knowledge, skills and practical experience and values of human compassion are all essential requisites of an effective social worker. The course provides you with rigorous academic study and a professional qualification upon successful completion of the course.
- We have been educating social workers for over 50 years and this course is professionally accredited by Social Work England1. On successful completion of this MA or PGDip in Social Work you will be eligible to apply to register as a social worker. (Additional costs may apply, please see Accreditation1 and Professional Recognition section)
- Recognised internationally, the British social work qualification allows you to apply to register for practice as a professional social worker on completion, working for local government, voluntary and third sector organisations, charities or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (additional fees may apply).
- Upon graduation you will have the opportunity to apply to work in any area of social work, rather than simply qualifying for one particular area, such as childcare or mental health – a distinct advantage giving you greater flexibility in your career choices.
- This course has been updated to reflect contemporary trends in social work practice, both locally and nationally. The course team have been actively engaged within the West Midlands Teaching Partnership, to improve all aspects of the delivery, including placement and employability.
Accreditation and professional recognition
This course has been accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Social Work England
Regulation of the social work profession is by Social Work England (SWE). These courses have been designed to comply with SWE’s requirements and are currently undergoing re-approval by Social Work England for the 2023/2024 intake. If there is any change to the approval status we will seek to inform applicants.
On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to register with Social Work England to practice as a professional Social Worker (additional costs may apply). We also encourage you as students on this course to become members of the British Association of Social Workers (additional costs may apply). Please check with the membership body for details.

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
As part of the MA course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute(CMI) for the 2023-2024 intake. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Please visit the CMI website for full details. Further details can be found under the module section and on the Professional Development page.
What you'll study
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
Our broad range of knowledge and skill within the team is reflected in our diverse teaching methods. You can expect to experience large group sessions, personal development groups, individual and group tutorial and some online content.
Teaching and learning foregrounds current practice and the courses incorporate the significant involvement of current social work practitioners and people who have used social work services. While on placement, you will work closely with, and are fully supported by a qualified social work practitioner
Teaching contact hours
During Year 1 you can expect to spend approximately 3.5 days per week at the university during term time from September to December, and January to April. The placement between April and July should involve full-time attendance (around 35-37.5 hours per week). In Year 2, the placement between September and February should involve full-time attendance (around 35-37.5 hours a week).
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
Assessment on the programme mirrors the diverse teaching methods with an approach to meet various skills and competencies as required by the regulation of the programme. This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
- Assignments
- Reflective logs
- Portfolios
- Class tests
- Practical skill demonstration
- Vivas
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
International experience opportunities
Each year the faculty offer international experiences, and social work students have previously visited Finland and the Netherlands.
Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £11,200 (MA) | £7,466 (PGDip) | Not available |
EU | £11,200 (MA) | £7,466 (PGDip) per year with EU support bursary** £18,600 per year without EU support bursary** |
Not available |
International | £18,600 | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
*Irish student fees
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
**EU support bursary
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in-line with that of UK students. Students studying a Degree with a Foundation Year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities4.

The Library
The Lanchester Library is open 24/7, 364 days a year and has 1,400 study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers more than 550 computers and an additional 120 free-to-loan laptops within the library.

Jaguar Centre
Our refurbished Jaguar Centre has been specifically designed to provide facilities and services to support our postgraduate students including: social spaces, computer suites and separate areas for small group study.

The Hub
The Hub is the centre of student campus life. It's also home to the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Spirituality and Faith Centre, the Tank Studio, Student Success Coaches and the Enterprise Hub.
Careers and opportunities
Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work
On successful completion of the course you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to practise effectively as a skilled person-centred social worker.
- Show respect for persons and for diverse organisations and communities, promoting social justice and combating processes that lead to oppression, discrimination, marginalisation, inequality and social exclusion.
- Evaluate and evidence how to support people to gain, regain or maintain control of their own lives, choices and decisions, insofar as this is compatible with their own or others' safety, well-being and rights, fostering dignity, choice and independence and effecting change.
- Engage in professional relationships with service users and carers that are characterised by openness, reciprocity, mutual accountability and explicit recognition of the powers of the social worker including statutory intervention.
- Analyse, make and implement difficult decisions (including restrictions on liberty) in situations that involve the potential for harm, including critical reflection on ethical principles and dilemmas.
Social Work MA
On successful completion of the course, in addition to the outcomes listed for the PGDip, you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate how to deal with complex, multiple and sometimes contradictory accountabilities (for example, to different service users, carers, employing agencies, professional bodies and the public)
- Appraise and demonstrate modes of working collaboratively with other professionals in interdisciplinary contexts and demonstrate leadership qualities and professional autonomy.
- Critically employ research evidence and knowledge from a range of sources (including theoretical perspectives and evidence from international contexts) to inform understanding and to underpin action, reflection and evaluation.
- Develop creative and innovative responses to the social, political and economic challenges and demands of contemporary social welfare legislation, policy and practice.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding and work within ongoing contested debates about the nature, scope and purpose of social work.
- Critically evaluate the principles of developing and proposing strategy for leading strategic change.
- Demonstrate understanding and ability in conducting small scale ethical social research.
Graduates from social work qualifying programmes at Coventry University have excellent career prospects in the caring professions, supported by our close links with local employers, who are actively involved in the design, delivery and assessment of the programme.
There remains to be healthy employment rates in the local area for qualified local authority social workers, however past graduates have also gone on to a range of positions in the NHS and voluntary sector.
Where our graduates work
Past graduates have benefited from particularly helpful working relationships with local employers who make up the West Midlands Teaching Partnership, and especially Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.
How to apply
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
Full-time international students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
5Placements
Enhanced DBS check required but health clearance dependent on provider:
Satisfactory health clearance may be required. However, an enhanced criminal record disclosure will be required. As part of the health clearance checks you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. You will also be required to provide information about your COVID-19 vaccination status. We therefore recommend that you are fully vaccinated including the COVID-19 vaccine. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is therefore unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
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