Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £21,240 for the course
International/EU: £35,450 for the course -
How long will I study?
2 Years
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Where will I study?
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What is the UCAS code?
L508
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When do I start?
March 2026
Course summary
- Study contemporary knowledge, legal responsibilities and duties of social workers.
- Apply ethically sound professional judgements to social work practice situations.
- Undertake practice placements in a range of social work areas and settings which meet Social Work England (SWE) standards and guidance.
- Develop problem-solving and shared-decision-making skills to address complex social work practice issues – required for your registration as a social worker.
Over two years you’ll expand your knowledge and practice skills, integrating legal frameworks which impact upon individuals and communities within local and global social work interventions. Through direct practice you’ll develop social work expertise to analyse and interpret research, evidence and statute effectively – presenting an appropriate course of action and recommendations in an anti-oppressive, rights-based manner in the multi-cultural context of the UK.
Health and social care funding
A limited number of government bursaries are available to help with your study costs. Student finance is also available.
Employability
100% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating, with 100% in highly skilled employment or further study (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
Our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive. We take a global approach to social work – both individually and with student project groups – encouraging collaboration, professional curiosity, problem-solving skills and critical reflection.
You’ll explore case studies and real-world examples with practitioners and people with lived experience – intellectually challenging social work problems at national and global levels. You’ll develop evidence-based solutions, portfolios of evidence and transferable employability skills – preparing you to successfully register as a professional who makes ethically sound assessments and research-informed decisions.
You learn through:
- Lectures and seminars
- Specialist lectures from social work practice, carers and experts
- Interactive workshops
- Learning through reflection on practice
- Professional portfolio
- Presentations
- Use of digital technologies
- Directed learning
- Independent learning
Course topics
On this course you’ll integrate the underpinning knowledge base of social work practice, contemporary policy and legal frameworks which affect individuals and communities. You’ll learn to exercise initiative to address global social work practice issues, preparing you to register as a social worker.
You’ll utilise practice skills required in a contemporary employment setting within professional social work standards/guidance from Social Work England (SWE), and codes of ethics from the British Association of Social Work (BASW). These include planning and implementing tasks, adaptability, autonomy, leadership and reflective practice.
During your final year you’ll undertake a research project in a field of social work practice – with the potential to disseminate your research project further afield and within practice partnership forums.
Course support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate-level employment through a number of key areas:
- Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
- Individual and group course support from academic advisers, a research supervisor and colleagues
- Placement support from a practice educator (a qualified social worker) and an onsite work-based supervisor and placement tutor
- Reinforcement and enhancement of topics, writing and study skills covered in prior study
- Activities to build transferable and employability skills, reflecting on your own experiences and learning
Graduate view
‘Being able to learn on the job and go on placement is a great opportunity to meet different people from the profession, and develop a deeper understanding which you don’t get from a textbook.’
Katie Bell, MSW Social Work
Applied learning
Placements
Practice-based learning is a core element of this course. We work in partnership with five statutory sector, local authority social work providers, three NHS Foundation Trusts, and third sector organisations. It’s through working in partnership with these provider organisations that we’re able to allocate your placements. While our dedicated placement team manages the placement finding process, academic staff are key in supporting you in your placement application.
Practice learning is supported in a number of ways:
- Allocation of a suitably qualified Practice Educator (PE)
- Where the PE is based offsite, a trained work-based supervisor is also allocated.
- Allocation of a named member of academic staff to act as placement tutor
- Learning agreement processes that check learning expectations including your supervision, provision of work opportunities, building of evidence against the practice standards of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) (BASW, 2018) and explaining key aspects of the procedures
- Midpoint review meeting conducted by the placement tutor
- Concerns meeting where indicated
Handbooks for practice learning and regulations, plus supporting information
There are two placement modules which are assessed in a different way to other modules. To meet the regulations of the Professional Capabilities Framework (BASW 2018), your practice capability and evidence must be passed by your practice educator in these two placements. You’ll be assessed through direct observations, supervision discussions, reflective journal submissions, feedback from people with lived experience and colleagues, and your own written work.
Networking opportunities
You’ll have extra-curricular career-focused activities from job fairs to employer events, volunteering and leadership awards, and training to assist with professional development. As a department we celebrate international social work with a global audience, so you’ll be able to engage in a range of online international activities and events.
Our student Social Work Society, our Global Majority Student Group and the Diverse Voices Conference are opportunities for you to come together and share experiences with other students and academic staff. From the point of student recruitment to assessment, our colleagues with lived experience and employer partners enhance your student experience and create real links to practice. You’ll have many opportunities to learn with and from students across the college, representing a range of health and social care professional groupings.
Field trips
A range of experiences are built into the course to develop your skills in connecting theoretical knowledge to real-world applications. As a department we value the importance of learning from diverse experiences, broadening your professional understanding and becoming a culturally competent social worker. Through the Turing Grant Scheme, we have a range of active partnerships across Africa, Europe and India, offering volunteering visits to community development or refugee agencies.
Course leaders and tutors
Chrissie Edmonds
Senior Lecturer in Social WorkChrissie Edmonds currently occupies a range of roles across the department, including Module Leader for the BASW and MSW, Placement Tutor for students whilst on prac … Read more
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
The aim of this module is to enable you to apply knowledge of research theories, including epistemology, and methods in order to critically evaluate research paradigms and evidence for practice. It will enable you to develop a critical understanding of research approaches, principles and processes that underpin research activity in the workplace and address the ethical dilemmas and organisational complexities of undertaking practice-based research.
Indicative content:
- Research paradigms
- Research context
- Research Question Development ·
- Research methods
- Systematic literature review
- Data collection
- Methods of data analysis
- Ethics and research governance Service user involvement in research
- Inclusive perspectives of research
- Proposal development
This module introduces the legal context of direct social work practice, including statute law and guidance to engage with core social work processes within a framework of rights, duties, responsibilities and powers.
You’ll study topics such as:
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The legal system in England and Wales
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Civil, criminal, private and public divisions of the justice system
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Rights-based law, including human and civil rights, and equalities legislation
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Social work duties and powers roles as defined in law and policy
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Thresholds for intervention using legal means
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Skills for presenting evidence
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Informing recommendations and decisions in formal proceedings
This module demonstrates your capability against the PCF domains (BASW 2018) and SWE Professional Standards for End of First Placement. It’s a requirement from our PSRB that the first social work placement is 100 days full time.
You’ll apply learning and skills such as:
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Undertaking supervised assessed practice
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Engagement in supervision to develop safe and effective practice
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Taking responsibility for caseload management and professional authority
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Professional judgement and decision-making informed by law, policy, theories and research
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Writing for a range of professional purposes, including records, emails and reports
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Communication skills across a range of settings, roles, complexity and risk
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Effective teamwork within and across organisational roles and boundaries
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Compassionate relationships with individuals, families and communities
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Ethical and inclusive person-centred practice
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Reflecting on your continuing professional development and other people’s
This module develops your critical application of key theoretical concepts, values and ethics, which inform social work practice with service users in a contemporary global context.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Models for understanding human development and behaviour across the lifespan
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Factors influencing identity formation (culture, economic status, life experience)
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Critical application of the impact of global issues and social policy on practice
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Assessment and intervention with people experiencing a range of psychosocial problems
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The impact of power, discrimination and oppression on disadvantaged individuals, groups and communities
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Principles of social justice, economic wellbeing, inclusion and equality
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Ethical tensions/dilemmas between public protection and respect for autonomy
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Critical reflection on personal values, professional boundaries, ethics and practice, accountability and supervision
Final year
Compulsory modules
This module will enable you to develop and conduct an in depth investigation of a topic that challenges and contributes to your area of professional practice. It provides the opportunity to engage in and apply an understanding of research methods and demonstrate your ability to work with relative autonomy in undertaking a sustained, in-depth piece of independent learning, disseminating findings to your professional community
Indicative content:
- Creating and contributing to research and evaluation for practice
- Application of approaches to research, research methods including improvement and evaluation methodologies
- Project planning
- Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Data Management
- Dissemination of findings
- Challenges in applying study outcomes to practice
- Addressing inclusivity in your research process.
This module critically engages you with key legal, ethical and practice-based approaches when working with children, young people and adults in need of care and support. You’ll also explore the social work roles in working with adults, including mental capacity, adult safeguarding, risk assessment and intervention – as well as with children, young people and families, including prevention, safeguarding and promoting welfare.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Research-informed practice with adults
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Personalisation and relationship-based approaches
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Engaging adult service users to promote their rights and best interests
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Contextual safeguarding
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Responses to the impact of harm, abuse and neglect of children and young people
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Assessing parenting capacity
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Promoting the wishes and feelings of children and young people
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Evidence-based decision making to inform recommendations
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Transglobal themes including displaced, exploited and trafficked people
This module enables you to critically reflect on and evaluate the key components of integrated health and social care required to effectively support service users, carers and their families who have complex health and care needs.
You’ll learn through content linked to the case studies which are used to frame the module. This will include specific interventions related to physical and psycho-social challenges in addressing complex needs of patients with acute and long term conditions across a range of delivery settings in which you will work with other disciplines. Other elements of content will address the following:
- Co-morbidity
- Policy and legislation
- Care pathways
- Clinical reasoning
- Integrated care and advanced practitioner roles
- Leadership
This module demonstrates your capability against the PCF domains (BASW 2018) and SWE Professional Standards for End of last placement/completion, in readiness for qualified practice. It’s a requirement from our PSRB that the final social work placement is 100 days full time.
You’ll apply learning and skills such as:
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Undertaking supervised assessed practice
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Engaging in supervision to develop safe and effective practice
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Increased autonomy in case management and professional authority
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Professional judgement and decision-making informed by law, policy, theories and research
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Writing for a range of professional purposes, including records, emails and reports
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Communication skills across a range of settings, roles, complexity and risk
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Effective teamwork within and across organisational roles and boundaries
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Compassionate relationships with individuals, families and communities
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Ethical and inclusive person-centred practice
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Reflecting on your continuing professional development and other people’s.
Future careers
Social work is an in-demand profession with a protected title. Our MSW is a professionally approved course which prepares you to become a newly qualified social worker. We have an excellent record of graduate employment – there are many aspects of employability skills designed into the modules and practice learning.
Previous graduates of this course have gone to work in:
- Local authority children and families social work teams
- Local authority adult social work teams
- Safeguarding roles
- Mental health low/medium secure units
- Community mental health teams
- Third sector organisations, like NSPCC, Womens Aid, Fostering Sector agencies
The course considers the Knowledge and Skills Statements for both adults and children's workforces. This provides key knowledge in preparation for your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
Equipment and facilities
On this course you’re based at our Collegiate Crescent campus, which includes:
- Our £13 million purpose-built Robert Winston Building
- Specialist facilities, including a courtroom and simulated spaces
- A 24-hour library and learning centre
- Electronic tools and platforms for academic and professional work
- Employment-based databases and client record systems
360 tour - social work facilities
Learn more about your department
Health and Social Care Facilities Tour
Learn what it's like to study health and social care at our Collegiate Campus from our adult nursing student Alex.
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities
Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
All students
Normally five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English language or literature or equivalent*, plus
• an honours degree recognised in the UK at 2.2 or above in any subject, together with relevant personal or professional experience of social care
You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more
GCSE English equivalents are
• equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
International and European Union entry qualifications
If you are an international or EU student, please visit our international qualifications web page to see the country specific academic qualifications we accept.
IELTS
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent. Please note that the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) require IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5 for registration.
Helping your application succeed
Experience
Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care. It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.
Reference
You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution with your UCAS application.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an online interview. To confirm your identity on the day please bring a valid form of photo ID with you, preferably a passport or photo driving licence.
View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.
Course enrolment - professional requirements
Before enrolling you must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission declaration forms provided during the admissions process:
- unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
- involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
- involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
- enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University
In addition
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) (PDF, 38.1KB) as part of the application process
- if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
Occupational Health Screening
You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.
Immunisations
You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge. Please obtain details of your immunisation history from your doctor so you can submit this during your Occupational Health Screening.
Pre-course Day
After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK it is important for you to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the next stage of the professional requirements for your course. The pre-course day is also a good opportunity to meet fellow applicants on the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, as well as some current students and teaching staff. We will look forward to welcoming you on the day.
Other professional suitability information
Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received.
If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.
Disability support
We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.
You can contact our University student support staff and explore any issues you may have.
The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £21,240 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time. Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 are: Year 1: £10,620 Year 2: £10,620. A limited number of government bursaries are available to help with your study costs. Student finance is also available. Find out about health and social care funding options.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £35,450 for the course which includes placement costs.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 279KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
