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Welcome to your guide to social work education at the University of Gloucestershire. This pack has been designed to help prospective international students understand the social work profession in the UK, what to expect from postgraduate study, and how our MA Social Work programme will prepare you for a rewarding career.
Social work in the United Kingdom is a professionally regulated, graduate-level discipline focused on supporting individuals, families and communities to overcome challenges, protect vulnerable people and promote human rights and social justice.
Social workers in the UK work across a wide range of settings and populations, including:
| ≈100,000 | Registered social workers in England |
| Social Work England | The professional regulator for all social The professional regulator for all social workers in England: Home – Social Work England |
| Level 7 (Master’s) | Qualification level of the MA Social Work degree |
| 2 practice placements | Required as part of qualifying training |
| BASW | The British Association of Social Workers – the professional membership body: British Association of Social Workers | BASW |
The social work profession in the UK is underpinned by a set of core values shared internationally. These include:
These values align with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) global definition of social work, meaning your existing professional values and experience as an international applicant are highly relevant to UK practice.
All social workers in England must be registered with Social Work England. This is a legal requirement. It is unlawful to call yourself a social worker or practise as one without registration.
Social Work England is the specialist regulator for social workers in England, established in December 2019. Its role is to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of the public by ensuring social workers meet professional standards.
Social Work England: Key Functions
Social Work England has published six Professional Standards that all registered social workers must meet:
The PCF sets out the expectations for social workers at every stage of their career. During your studies you will be assessed against the PCF at three levels: Readiness for Practice, End of First Placement and End of Last Placement (qualifying level). To learn more about PCFs, further information can be found here: https://basw.co.uk/training-cpd/professional-capabilities-framework-pcf
On successful completion of the MA Social Work, you will be eligible to apply to Social Work England for registration. You will need to submit an application online, provide evidence of your qualifying degree, complete a declaration of health and character, and pay the registration fee.
Social work education in England is regulated by Social Work England. All qualifying programmes must be approved by the regulator and meet the Standards of Education and Training (SETs). The MA Social Work at the University of Gloucestershire is an approved qualifying programme.
| Qualification | Route | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) Social Work | Undergraduate – for those new to higher education | 3 years full-time |
| MA Social Work | Postgraduate – for graduates from any discipline | 20 months full-time |
| Step Up to Social Work | Employer-led – for those already working in social care | 14 months |
| Frontline / Think Ahead | Government-funded fast-track schemes (England only) | 2 years |
The MA Social Work is designed specifically for graduates who wish to qualify as social workers in an intensive, academically rigorous programme. It builds on your existing degree-level knowledge and experience, taking you to professional qualification in 20 months.
The MA route is particularly well-suited to international applicants who already hold a degree in a related field such as psychology, sociology, law, education, nursing or community development, and who bring relevant life and professional experience to the course.
Social workers support and empower people to make changes and improve lives. They act to protect vulnerable people whilst respecting and promoting human rights.
| Award | Master of Arts (MA) Social Work |
| Duration | 20 months, full-time |
| Campus | City Campus & Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester |
| Start Date | January each year |
| Regulation | Approved by Social Work England |
| Professional Body | British Association of Social Workers (BASW) |
The MA Social Work at the University of Gloucestershire is an intensive, professionally qualifying programme taught by registered social work practitioners. Our teaching staff bring specialist knowledge across a broad range of practice areas, ensuring that your learning is grounded in real-world, contemporary practice.
The course has been designed in partnership with local agencies and service users, ensuring that what you learn reflects the realities of UK social work practice. Upon successful completion, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England.
At Gloucestershire, we believe that the best learning happens through active engagement. Teaching methods include:
The MA Social Work is taught across two campuses in Gloucester, both within easy reach of each other. The City Campus, located in the heart of Gloucester city centre, is a vibrant, modern teaching space that brings an iconic building back to life as a centre for learning and community partnerships.
A short walk away, with good bus links between the two, is Oxstalls Campus, which is home to many of the specialist facilities you will use throughout your studies. These include:
Together, the two campuses give you access to an exceptional range of facilities specifically designed to support your development as a social work practitioner.SPACE FOR IMAGES
The MA Social Work is an intensive, professionally qualifying programme and we have high expectations of all students, not only in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of professional conduct, commitment and engagement from the very first day. This section sets out what you can expect us to expect of you.
Full attendance at all taught sessions is expected. The university requires a minimum attendance rate of 80% across the programme, but we encourage you to aim for 100%. Social work education is built on participation, in seminars, simulations, group discussions and skills days, and much of this learning cannot be replicated through notes or recordings. Missing sessions affects not only your own development but also the learning experience of your peers.
Attendance is also a professional matter. Social Work England’s Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF 1 – Professionalism) requires social workers to be reliable, punctual and accountable. We expect you to demonstrate these qualities throughout your studies, just as you would on placement or in employment. If you are unable to attend a session for any reason, you must notify the relevant module lead in advance.
Attending sessions is necessary, but it is not sufficient. You are expected to read widely and independently beyond what is provided in taught sessions. This programme uses a flipped learning approach: you will be expected to complete preparatory tasks and readings before each session so that class time can be used for discussion, analysis and application rather than transmission of basic information. Arriving unprepared lets down yourself and your peers.
We expect you to engage critically with academic literature, to seek out sources beyond the reading list, and to bring your own thinking to seminars. This is Master’s level study: the expectation is that you are an active, curious, self-directed learner who takes ownership of your academic development.
From the moment you join the programme, you are training to become a registered social work professional. We expect you to conduct yourself accordingly, in seminars, on placement, and in your interactions with staff, peers, service users and placement colleagues. This includes being respectful, prepared, honest and reflective. It means taking feedback seriously and responding to it constructively. And it means raising concerns or difficulties with us early, rather than allowing problems to escalate.
The MA Social Work is structured across two years. Year 1 focuses on building the foundational knowledge, skills and legal literacy required for social work practice. Year 2 deepens your analytical capabilities and culminates in a significant placement and dissertation-level study.
| Code | Module Title | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| SW7001 | Law and Policy for Professional Practice | 15 | 3,000-word written assignment (100%) |
| SW7002 | Knowledge, Theory and Methods of Intervention | 15 | 1,000-word assignment (80%) + 10-min presentation (20%) |
| SW7003 | 70-Day Practice Placement | 15 | 5,000-word portfolio (100%) |
| SW7008 | Skills for Practice | 15 | Portfolio 3,000 words (100%) |
| Code | Module Title | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| SW7004 | Balancing Rights, Risks and Responsibilities | 15 | 2,500-word critical reflection + 500-word letter (100%) |
| SW7005 | Social Work with Adults, Families and Communities | 15 | 15-minute presentation (100%) |
| SW7006 | Dissertation | 60 | 12,000-word dissertation (100%) |
| SW7007 | 100-Day Practice Placement | 30 | 4,500-word portfolio (100%) |
This module provides the essential legal knowledge underpinning social work practice in England. You will study the legislative frameworks governing work with adults, children and families, including the Mental Health Act 1983 and 2007, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Care Act 2014, the Children Act 1989 and 2004, and human rights and immigration legislation. The module explores how law is made, how social workers use statutory powers and duties, and how to apply legal knowledge ethically and critically in practice. It includes a moot court session at Oxstalls Campus, giving you the experience of a courtroom environment before you encounter it on placement.
This module explores the rich body of sociological and psychological theory that informs contemporary social work practice. You will study classical and contemporary sociological theory, feminist perspectives, systems and ecological theory, psychodynamic approaches, attachment theory, theories of trauma and grief, complexity theory, and critical social work. A key skill developed throughout the module is the ability to apply theoretical frameworks critically to real practice situations, moving beyond description to genuine analytical engagement with ideas. The module is assessed through a written assignment and a presentation, both of which require you to demonstrate this applied theoretical thinking.
This module is your first extended experience of real social work practice. The module begins with placement preparation days that equip you with the practical and professional foundations you need before stepping into a setting, and Recall Days are built into the placement period to bring you back to university for structured reflection, peer support and academic input. The placement itself spans 70 days in a social work setting and must be in a different service area from your second placement, ensuring you develop breadth of experience across the programme. You will be supported throughout by a practice educator who will observe your practice, provide regular feedback and assess your development against the Professional Capabilities Framework at End of First Placement level. A 5,000-word portfolio evidences your learning and professional growth across the placement period.
This module prepares you for the demands of practice through a structured programme of experiential and simulation-based learning. Sessions cover communication skills, written communication, assessment skills, reflective practice, working within multi-agency contexts, and courtroom skills. The module makes full use of the specialist simulation facilities at Oxstalls Campus, including a mock hospital ward, domestic simulation flats, and the Hydra suite for multi-agency scenario work. The assessed simulation, an observed role-play with panel feedback, gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in a supported environment before going on placement. The module is assessed through a 3,000-word portfolio and skills mapping tool completed via Mahara.
This Year 2 module develops your ability to navigate the complex ethical and legal tensions at the heart of social work practice. You will explore how social workers balance the rights of individuals against the duty to protect, examining how risk is assessed, managed and communicated across different service areas and professional contexts. The module draws on specialist expertise across approved mental health practice, best interest assessment, and complex decision-making, bringing real depth to topics such as capacity, consent, safeguarding and professional accountability. Assessment combines a 2,500-word critical reflection with a 500-word professional letter, developing both your analytical writing and your ability to communicate clearly in a practice context.
This module develops your knowledge and skills for working across the full spectrum of social work practice, with adults, families and communities in statutory, voluntary and independent settings. You will explore contemporary approaches to assessment and intervention, drawing on theoretical frameworks studied in Year 1 and applying them to the complex, real-world situations encountered in practice. The module uses immersive simulation experiences in our specialist facilities, including the mock hospital ward and domestic simulation flats, to develop advanced communication and assessment skills. Inter-professional learning alongside students from other health and social care programmes reflects the multi-agency environments you will work in as a qualified practitioner. Assessment is by a 15-minute presentation, developing your ability to communicate professionally and confidently.
The dissertation is the intellectual centrepiece of the MA and the most significant piece of independent academic work you will undertake. Drawing on the module leads expertise as Research Lead and his background in critical pedagogies and social work research, you will be guided through the full research process, from identifying a research question and reviewing the literature, through to selecting a methodology, analysing your findings and drawing conclusions. The 12,000-word dissertation must engage with a topic of relevance to social work practice and demonstrate a high level of critical analysis, theoretical grounding and academic rigour. You are expected to develop your own scholarly voice and make an original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area. Research methods teaching is woven throughout the module to ensure you have the technical foundations to carry out your study effectively.
This module runs across two distinct phases. In the first semester it is taught in the classroom, where you will deepen your practice knowledge and prepare thoroughly for the demands of your final placement. This preparation phase draws on learning from across the programme, consolidating your understanding of assessment, intervention, ethics, law and professional decision-making in readiness for independent practice.
In the second phase, you move into your 100-day qualifying placement in a social work setting different from your first placement. This is the culmination of your practice learning on the MA, and you will be expected to demonstrate the full range of knowledge, skills and values required of a qualifying social worker, assessed against the Professional Capabilities Framework at End of Last Placement level. You will carry greater professional responsibility than in your first placement, managing a caseload and exercising sound professional judgement under supervision. Your practice educator will provide regular observation and structured feedback throughout.
Practice placements are at the heart of social work education. They are where you bring together your academic learning and develop the practical skills, professional judgement and personal qualities required of a registered social worker. Social Work England requires all qualifying students to complete a minimum of 170 days of practice learning.
Your Two Placements
Skills Development Days are a mandatory and non-negotiable requirement of the MA Social Work programme, required by Social Work England as part of your qualifying training. You must complete a minimum of 200 skills days across the full programme. This total includes two shadowing days and both of your practice placements. The remaining days are spread throughout the taught elements of the course and form an essential bridge between classroom learning and professional practice.
All skills days must be recorded and evidenced using the Skills Day Mapping Tool, which is a live working document that you will maintain and update throughout the programme. This tool is not an administrative formality; it is a formal record of your readiness for practice and your progression through the programme.
Before you can progress onto your first (70-day) practice placement, you must complete all Readiness to Practice Skills Days as identified in the Skills Day Mapping Tool and submit this tool as part of your Readiness to Practice Portfolio. You must pass this portfolio to be eligible to begin your placement. Failure to complete the required skills days, or failure to pass the Readiness to Practice Portfolio, will result in a significant delay to your placement and consequently to your completion of the programme as a whole.
There are two formal review points for skills days. The first is at SW7008 Readiness to Practice assessment. The second and final review point is at the SW7007 End of Last Placement Portfolio. You cannot pass the MA Social Work programme without fulfilling this requirement in full. This is not discretionary; it reflects the regulatory standards set by Social Work England for all qualifying social work programmes in England. Further information on practice learning requirements can be found in Social Work England’s Standards of Education and Training: www.socialworkengland.org.uk/standards/education-and-training-standards
The University of Gloucestershire has strong connections with a wide range of placement providers across Gloucestershire and the surrounding region. Placements are available across:
One of the most common misconceptions among social work students is that placements must take place in statutory settings such as local authority children’s services or adult social care teams. This is not the case, and it is important that you understand the full picture before you begin the programme.
The MA Social Work is a generic qualifying degree. This means it prepares you to practise across the full breadth of social work, with children, adults, families and communities, in statutory, voluntary, community and independent settings. Social Work England’s qualifying standards reflect this breadth, and your placements are designed to develop you as a rounded practitioner capable of working effectively in any context, not just one sector.
In practice, this means your placements may be in settings such as hospices, housing organisations, domestic abuse services, refugee and asylum seeker support services, community mental health teams, third sector organisations, schools, hospitals or youth justice services. In some of these settings the role may not be titled ‘social worker’, but the work, the values and the professional standards are the same. What matters is that the placement provides genuine social work learning opportunities assessed against the PCF, and that the practice educator is suitably qualified to support you.
There is also a deliberate structure to the progression of your two placements. Your first placement (SW7003) is designed to introduce you to professional practice in a supported environment, with manageable levels of complexity and risk. Your second placement (SW7007) builds on this foundation, placing greater professional responsibility on you and requiring you to demonstrate the fuller range of competencies expected of a qualifying social worker. This graduated approach is not accidental; it reflects best practice in social work education and ensures that your development is safe, supported and properly scaffolded.
Before you go on placement, the SW7008 Skills for Practice module will prepare you through communication skills workshops, court room skills simulations, multi-agency working scenarios, and assessed role-play simulations observed by a panel. Our specialist simulation facilities replicate real practice environments, giving you the confidence to step into placement from day one.
Placements are arranged entirely by the university. You cannot source or arrange your own placement, and the university does not accept self-arranged placements. This is because all placement providers must be formally audited to ensure they meet both the University of Gloucestershire’s standards and those set by Social Work England for practice learning environments. This is also because we support an equitable system. Placements must be shared fairly between universities running a social work programme. Members of the same cohort of UoG students should be treated fairly too. This process exists to protect you, to ensure the quality of your learning experience, and to ensure that your practice educator is appropriately qualified to assess your work.
The university’s placement team is led by Sarah Davies, who has over 20 years of experience in social work practice education and placement coordination. Sarah and her team work to match students to placements that reflect their learning needs, interests and circumstances, and all placements are within 50 miles of the campus.
Gloucestershire is a predominantly rural county, and outside of the city of Gloucester and the larger towns, public transport links can be limited. Driving is a significant advantage when it comes to accessing the full range of placement opportunities and being matched to settings that align with your interests and career aspirations. Many international students do not drive when they first arrive in the UK, and this is completely understandable, but it is something worth planning for.
If you are not yet driving, the placement team will always work to find you a suitable placement that is accessible without a car. However, you should be aware that this may limit the range of settings available to you, particularly in more rural parts of the county. If obtaining a UK driving licence is something you are considering, starting this process as early as possible in the programme will widen your options significantly. The university’s international student support team can offer guidance on the process of converting or obtaining a UK licence.
Your practice will be assessed throughout each placement against the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF). Your practice educator will observe your practice, review your written work and provide structured feedback. You will maintain a portfolio evidencing your development, which forms part of your assessed submission for each placement module.
It is important to be honest with you about the demands of the MA Social Work, particularly during placement periods. This is a full-time, intensive programme and there will be points, especially during your 100-day final placement, when the workload is genuinely challenging.
During taught semesters, the programme is structured to be demanding but manageable. You will have lectures, seminars and skills days scheduled across the week, with two days of protected independent study time built into your timetable. These days are not free time; they are intended for reading, assignment preparation, reflective journalling and self-directed study. Using them well is essential to keeping on top of your academic work and arriving at each session properly prepared.
During placement, the picture changes significantly. You will be on placement for the equivalent of full working days, which means that academic work, including your placement portfolio and any other submissions falling in that period, must be managed around a full professional timetable. Most students find this the most demanding phase of the programme. The following will help:
The programme team are experienced in supporting students through the challenges of combining full-time placement with academic study. You will not be left to manage this alone, but the expectation is that you take responsibility for planning and managing your own workload from the outset.
The MA Social Work is specifically designed for people who want to qualify and practise as professional social workers in England. Entry requirements are set to ensure that all students are well-prepared for the academic and professional demands of the programme.
Academic Entry Requirements
All applicants must have at least three months of recent work experience in a social care setting. Voluntary, paid or placement experience are all accepted. You will be asked to discuss this experience at interview.
Places on the programme are offered by interview. Interviews assess your motivation for social work, your self-awareness, your understanding of the profession, and your ability to reflect on experience. Please refer to the University of Gloucestershire interview guide: glos.ac.uk/interviews
Pre-Enrolment Requirements
If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency.
| IELTS Requirement | Overall score of 7.0, with no individual component below 6.5 |
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted. For country-specific entry requirements, visit: www.glos.ac.uk/international
| Entry | UK Fee (Total) | International Fee (Total) |
|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | £10,120 | £18,490 |
| January 2028 | TBC | TBC |
International students are not eligible for UK government postgraduate loans. However, there are several funding options to explore:
UoG alumni receive a 15% discount on postgraduate tuition fees. Terms apply. Contact the Money Advice team: [email protected] or 01242 714535.
In addition to tuition fees, you should budget for:
To study in the UK you will need the appropriate visa. Most international students studying a full-time postgraduate course will require a Student visa (formerly Tier 4). It is important to begin the visa process as early as possible once you have received and accepted your offer.
Student Visa: Key Requirements
The University of Gloucestershire has a dedicated International Student Support team to help you throughout your journey. Support includes:
For country-specific visa requirements and guidance, visit: www.glos.ac.uk/international/visas-and-immigration
International students on a Student visa can typically work up to 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during holidays. Please note that during practice placements your time will be significantly committed to placement days and academic work. Please seek visa compliance advice from the university before taking up employment.
Studying at the University of Gloucestershire places you at the heart of a welcoming, diverse academic community in one of England’s most historic and beautiful regions.
Gloucester is a vibrant cathedral city with a rich history, a growing arts and culture scene, and a strong sense of community. It sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, one of England’s most picturesque areas of outstanding natural beauty, and is within easy reach of Bristol, Oxford and London by rail.
For international students, Gloucester offers a more affordable cost of living than many larger UK cities, without compromising on quality of life or access to facilities.
The University offers a comprehensive range of support services to help you succeed and thrive:
Every student on the MA Social Work is assigned a Personal Tutor (PT). Your personal tutor is one of the most important sources of support available to you throughout your studies, and we strongly encourage you to make active, regular use of this relationship, not only when things are difficult, but as part of your ongoing development as a reflective practitioner.
Your personal tutor can support you with academic concerns, help you navigate university systems, and crucially for international students, advocate on your behalf where needed. If you are facing financial difficulties, your personal tutor is well placed to help you access support and to advocate for you with the relevant services.
International students are not eligible for the university’s general Hardship Fund. However, a separate Crisis Fund exists for students experiencing acute financial difficulty, and this is available to international students. If you find yourself in a situation of genuine financial crisis, for example, an unexpected emergency or a sudden loss of income, this fund may be able to provide short-term assistance.
Access to the Crisis Fund typically requires advocacy from your Personal Tutor. If you are in difficulty, please speak to your personal tutor as soon as possible so they can support your application. Do not wait until a situation becomes unmanageable before asking for help.
For financial guidance, budgeting advice, and information about any funding options available to you, the university’s Money Advice team is available to all students: [email protected]. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with them if you have any concerns about managing your finances during your studies.
The university can assist you in finding accommodation, whether in university-managed properties or private rentals in the Gloucester area. As a postgraduate student, you are likely to be living independently, and the university’s accommodation team can provide guidance on local options and what to expect.
All your module materials, assignment briefs, reading lists and resources are hosted on Moodle – the university’s online learning platform. You will be expected to access Moodle regularly, complete preparatory tasks before sessions, and submit your assignments digitally.
A qualification in social work opens doors to a wide and varied range of career opportunities. Social work is a profession that is in high demand across the UK, with strong employment prospects and clear pathways for progression.
Graduates of the MA Social Work programme go on to practise across a broad range of sectors and settings, including:
Newly qualified social workers in England typically start on salaries in the region of £28,000–£35,000 per year. Social workers in senior, specialist or management roles can earn considerably more.
Once registered, all social workers must demonstrate continuing professional development (CPD) as part of annual Social Work England re-registration. The University of Gloucestershire offers a range of CPD opportunities for qualified social workers.
At the University of Gloucestershire, 95% of graduates are in work or further study within six months of completing their degree (Graduate Outcomes Survey, published 2025). If you are not in a job six months after graduating, UoG will provide six months of free support, followed by the offer of a paid internship and a commitment to lifetime career coaching. Eligibility conditions apply. Further information at: www.glos.ac.uk/promises
Studying at Master’s level in a UK university is a significant intellectual undertaking. It is different in important ways from undergraduate study, and understanding what is expected of you will help you prepare and succeed. This section gives you an honest picture of what postgraduate academic work involves on the MA Social Work.
At Level 7, you are expected to move beyond describing or summarising what others have written. The key shift is from reporting knowledge to critically engaging with it. This means questioning assumptions, weighing competing arguments, identifying gaps or limitations in evidence, and forming your own reasoned, evidenced position.
Your lecturers and markers are not looking for the ‘right answer’. They are looking for evidence that you can think independently, handle complexity, tolerate uncertainty, and write with intellectual rigour. This is especially important in social work, where real-world practice rarely offers straightforward solutions.
Critical writing is one of the most important skills you will develop on the MA. It means more than finding fault; it means bringing analytical depth to everything you write. In practice this involves:
Writing critically can feel unfamiliar at first, particularly if your previous academic experience emphasised factual recall or descriptive writing. The teaching team at Gloucestershire will support you in developing this skill from the start of the programme.
All academic work at UK universities requires you to reference your sources accurately and consistently. This means acknowledging every idea, argument or piece of evidence that comes from another writer, whether you quote them directly or put their ideas into your own words.
The University of Gloucestershire uses a standard referencing system, and you will be given clear guidance on this at induction. Good referencing is not just a technicality; it demonstrates that you have engaged with the academic literature, and it allows your reader to trace and verify your sources.
Plagiarism (presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own) is a serious academic offence at all UK universities and can result in significant penalties. All submissions are checked using plagiarism detection software. The solution is straightforward: always reference your sources and always write in your own words.
Artificial intelligence tools, including large language models and AI writing assistants, are increasingly present in academic and professional life, and the University of Gloucestershire recognises that you may encounter and use them during your studies. It is important that you understand both the potential and the boundaries of their appropriate use on the MA Social Work.
AI tools can be a legitimate and useful aid in certain aspects of your academic work. For example, they may help you to explore an unfamiliar topic, generate initial search terms, summarise a broad area of literature to orient your reading, or check the clarity of your written English. Used in this way, as a starting point for your own thinking and not a substitute for it, AI can support your learning.
However, AI must never be used to generate, write or substantially draft any part of your assessed work. Submitting AI-generated content as your own is an academic integrity offence, equivalent to plagiarism, and will be treated as such. This applies regardless of how much you edit or rework the output. Social work is a profession built on critical thinking, human judgement and professional accountability, qualities that cannot be outsourced to a machine, and which your assessments are specifically designed to develop and evidence in you.
It is also worth noting that AI tools have significant limitations as research instruments. They can produce plausible-sounding but inaccurate or entirely fabricated references, misrepresent the findings of real studies, and reflect biases present in their training data. Any AI-assisted exploration of a topic must always be verified against peer-reviewed academic sources; AI output is never an acceptable substitute for genuine engagement with the literature.
The rules around AI use are not uniform across all modules or all types of tasks. Your assessment briefs will clearly specify what use, if any, is acceptable for each piece of work. If you are ever uncertain, the golden rule is simple: ask before you act. Speak to your module lead or personal tutor; they would far rather clarify expectations in advance than deal with an academic integrity concern after submission.
As the regulatory and professional landscape around AI in social work practice continues to evolve, this guidance may be updated. Always refer to the most current guidance from the university and from Social Work England.
The MA Social Work is an intensive programme but contact hours in taught sessions represent only a proportion of your total study time. You are expected to take responsibility for your own learning outside of scheduled teaching. This includes:
Independent study is where much of the deepest learning happens. Developing strong self-management habits early in the programme will make a significant difference to your academic performance and your confidence on placement.
The MA Social Work is a demanding programme delivered entirely in English. If English is not your first language, you will already have demonstrated a high level of proficiency through your IELTS score. However, academic writing in English has its own conventions, around formality, sentence structure, argument construction and vocabulary, that are worth familiarising yourself with before you arrive.
The University of Gloucestershire offers academic skills support throughout the year, including writing workshops, one-to-one tutorials and online resources. You are encouraged to make use of these services early and regularly; they are available to all students, not just those who are struggling.
A useful resource to explore before starting the programme is Stephen Bailey’s Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students (Routledge), which covers the essentials of academic English writing at university level. This is available through the university library.
You are not expected to arrive as an expert, but beginning to familiarise yourself with key texts, frameworks and websites before the programme starts will give you a significant advantage. The following are a starting point.
All your assessments on the MA are marked against Level 7 marking criteria, which are shared with you at the start of each module. Your work is assessed by the module lead, moderated by a co-tutor, and reviewed by an external examiner before results are confirmed at the Board of Examiners.
Feedback on your work is an important part of your learning. You will receive written feedback on all assessed work, and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module lead. The aim of feedback is not just to explain a grade; it is to help you improve in your next piece of work.
Formative (ungraded) assessment opportunities are also built into the programme to give you practice before your summative submissions. Take these seriously; they are low-stakes opportunities to get feedback and build confidence.
The MA Social Work is taught by a dedicated team of registered social work practitioners and academics. Every member of the teaching team brings substantial frontline experience to the classroom; they are not just academics, but practitioners who have worked in the settings you will be entering. This means your learning is always grounded in the realities of contemporary social work practice.
All teaching staff hold current or recent registration with Social Work England. Many are also qualified Practice Educators, meaning they have direct experience of supporting students through their placements.
Kate is a qualified Social Worker and Senior Lecturer with over 15 years of experience in frontline child protection and safeguarding, and in fostering and adoption. She has held roles as Advanced Practitioner, Deputy Team Manager and Team Manager. Kate is a qualified Practice Educator who particularly enjoys supporting students through their placements. She joined the University of Gloucestershire in 2018 and teaches across the Cert HE, BSc and MA Social Work programmes. Kate is an early-career researcher currently studying at PhD level, with her research focusing on social work in mental health contexts and the experiences of women as informal carers of young adults.
Aimee has 20 years of experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) settings, with expertise in assessment, risk analysis, evidence-based interventions, and complex case formulation including neuro-development, attachment and trauma. She is a qualified Practice Educator and volunteered with Social Workers Without Borders for four years, supporting human rights and best interest assessments for refugees and asylum seekers. Aimee is currently studying at doctoral level, with research focusing on women, poverty and social work. Her teaching approach is strongly relationship-based and draws on transformational, critical and international social work perspectives.
Stephen has over 20 years of experience as a social work teacher and researcher, having held positions at Coventry University, The Open University and Ruskin College Oxford. He is Research Lead and REF Unit of Assessment Lead for Social Work at UoG, and leads research methods teaching on both the BSc and MA. He is an editor of The Routledge Handbook of Critical Pedagogies for Social Work (2020) and a member of the editorial collective of the journal Feminist Dissent. His current research includes the social work safeguarding role in relation to radicalisation and mental health social work in international contexts.
Ki is a qualified Social Worker with 20 years of experience in social care, including adult social care in learning disability teams and hospital settings, specialist work with individuals experiencing domestic abuse, substance misuse, homelessness and end of life care, and 12 years in fostering as a Supervising Social Worker, Team Manager and Quality Assurance and Practice Development Manager. Ki has been a qualified Practice Educator since 2011. She joined UoG in 2022 and also holds an MSc (Distinction) in Psychology, with original research examining the relationship between personality traits and burnout in social workers.
Eugie is a qualified Social Worker, Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) and Best Interest Assessor (BIA), qualifying as a social worker in 2008 and as an AMHP/BIA in 2012. She has extensive frontline experience in Emergency Duty Teams, forensic social work, Veterans mental health liaison, and management. Eugie teaches across the BSc, MA and Social Work Apprenticeship programmes and has been a Practice Educator since 2009. She is currently studying at PhD level, with research focused on child and adolescent mental health care in Cape Coast, Ghana, exploring sociocultural beliefs and their implications for resources and access.
Davy is a registered social worker who has worked in children and families social work since 2003, qualifying in 2006 with an MA in Social Work from Warwick University. He has been a Senior Lecturer since 2014, specialising in ethics, rights, risks and children and families social work. Davy continues to undertake specialist assessments as a senior practitioner. His teaching style emphasises active engagement, ethical dilemmas and practice simulations that place students outside their comfort zone in preparation for placement. His research interests include playfulness in social work practice and increasing participation of children and families within statutory systems.
Lisa is Apprentice Course Lead and Senior Lecturer in Social Work, with over 20 years of frontline experience in safeguarding adults, children and families in both England and Ireland. Her pedagogy is informed by social work theory, evidence-informed practice and her own scholarship, with a strong commitment to transformative, emancipatory and co-constructed approaches to learning. Lisa seeks to create environments where students feel confident to challenge, stretch and share their learning, ensuring that all voices, including those of students and service users, are represented in education and curriculum design.
Toni leads on skills for practice teaching across the social work programmes at the University of Gloucestershire, coordinating the experiential and simulation-based learning that prepares students for their practice placements. Toni plays a central role in the delivery of the SW7008 Skills for Practice module and in the organisation of the programme’s specialist simulation facilities.
We welcome applications from international students who are passionate about social work and committed to practising in England. Here is a step-by-step guide to applying for the MA Social Work.
| 1. | Check you meet the entry requirements – academic, English language, work experience and personal suitability |
| 2. | Submit your application online via the University of Gloucestershire website: www.glos.ac.uk/courses/apply |
| 3. | Include a personal statement explaining your motivation for social work and your relevant experience |
| 4. | Provide two academic or professional references |
| 5. | If shortlisted, attend an interview (in-person or online for international applicants) |
| 6. | If successful, receive and accept your offer |
| 7. | Apply for your Student visa using your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) |
| 8. | Complete your pre-enrolment requirements: DBS check, health declaration, overseas clearance |
| 9. | Attend induction and begin your studies |
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01242 714535
University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, GL50 2RH
The information in this pack was correct at the time of publication. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the university website or contact the admissions team directly.