University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School for Policy Studies > Social Work (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 9SPOL028T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Geraldine Macdonald
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Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Accrediting types: |
Approved by Social Work England (SWE) for the purpose of providing eligibility to apply for registration with SWE as a social worker in England. (www.socialworkengland.org.uk) |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Social work (2019) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 2 years (full time) |
This programme aims to provide students with the requisite knowledge, skills and professional abilities to enable them to register as newly qualified social workers (NQSWs). Successful completion of the programme will enable them to demonstrate qualifying level capabilities, in line with the Professional Capabilities Framework, established by the College of Social Work (TCSW), and the Standards of Proficiency set out by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
In particular the programme aims to
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Lectures, workshops, small integrated group work, tutorials, oral presentations, practice-based learning, individual research and private study |
Methods of Assessment | |
The assessment strategy for this programme will enable students to develop critical and analytical thinking, an understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice and the integration of social work theory and practice. Each unit is assessed through a range of written assignments (including essays, case-studies, examinations, reports, reflective pieces and a dissertation) and oral presentations as well as assessment of practice through 2 placements. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Lectures, workshops, small integrated group work, tutorials, oral presentations, practice-based learning, individual research and private study |
Methods of Assessment | |
A range of written assignments (including essays, case-studies, examinations, reports, reflective pieces and a dissertation) and oral presentations as well as assessment of practice through 2 placements. These will require students to demonstrate their understanding of and ability to critically analyse:
and their ability to make the appropriate links between theoretical knowledge and professional practice, understanding the nature and importance of professional values and principles. In accordance with the PCF, practice at the end of the first and second placement is assessed at two levels reflecting the increasing complexity of work to be undertaken and greater professional autonomy. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Methods of Assessment | |
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Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
All units are taught at level M. All students register for the MSc in Social Work. Some students may subsequently decide that they do not want a career in Social Work or may fail the practice learning unit. In these circumstances, if they have accumulated a minimum of 60 credits by the time they leave, they will be entitled to a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Welfare Studies, as an exit award |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
The programme is structured on the assumption that all students will aim to complete the full MSc award by completing a dissertation. However, the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work is also approved by the GSCC as a recognised professional qualification, for use in exceptional circumstances, where a student is deemed unable to complete the full MSc award but has achieved 260 credits, excluding only the Dissertation. Students who fail the practice learning component of the course, or who otherwise decide not to qualify as social workers but who have accumulated 120 credits will be entitled to a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Welfare Studies as an exit award. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
Students who a achieve all 320 credits will obtain the Masters in Social Work and will be entitled to register as a Qualified Social Worker Students who fail the practice learning component of the programme or who otherwise decide not to qualify as social workers but who have accumulated 180 credits (of which 60 credits must be from passing the Dissertation) will be entitled to a Masters in Social Welfare Studies. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Placements: The University is required to ensure that students on the MSc Social Work are able to undertake 2 period of practice learning on placements (70 days at Stage 1 and 100 days at Stage 2). Practice placements are assessed jointly by qualified practitioners and the University and pass/fail recommendations are presented to the examination board. Students must pass the practice placements in order to register as Qualified Social Workers.
Service User and Carer Forum: The Service User and Carer Forum is an integral part of the MSc in Social Work and our aim is to develop this further in the revised course. The contribution of service users and carers to the course is of significant benefit, as it provides a perspective on social work, which is rooted in experience and adds to students’ understanding of the social worker role. This contribution includes a range of activities, such as the recruitment of students, teaching, assessment and curriculum development.
Additional costs: In addition to the fees for the programme, all students on this programme must complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check as soon as they arrive for their first year of study (approximate cost is within the £1 - £100 band). All students are expected to pay for the administrative fee for this check.
As part of the Disclosure and Barring check requirement, students are also expected to pay the administrative fee for the Disclosure and Barring additional Update Service and to continue paying for this for the duration of their studies on the programme.
Prof. Geraldine Macdonald
The School for Policy Studies,
University of Bristol,
8 Priory Road,
Bristol, BS8 1TZ
IMPORTANT: Please see the additional regulations specific to this MSc Social Work.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Social Work Studies | SPOLM5102 | 40 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Practice Learning 1 | SPOLM5103 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Foundations of Social Work: The Professional Role | SPOLM0032 | 20 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Applied Social Science and Law | SPOLM0034 | 40 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Research Methods in Social Work | SPOLM0057 | 20 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
180 |
IMPORTANT: Please read the additional regulations specific to this MSc Social Work as some of the text below may not apply.
All units are must pass in order to meet the professional requirements of Social Work England. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Practice Learning 2 | SPOLM5107 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Social Work Studies 2 | SPOLM0035 | 20 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Social Work Dissertation | SPOLM0036 | 60 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
MSc Social Work | 140 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma in Social Work, students must have successfully completed 260 credit points in total through successful completion of all the taught and practice learning components of the programme.
Students who satisfy the academic requirements and achieve 60, 120, or 180 credit points, but who either:
(a) do not to proceed to the postgraduate Diploma or MSc in Social Work, or
(b) fail the practice learning components or are otherwise deemed unsuitable for professional social work
will be eligible respectively for the award of Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Science in Social Welfare Studies. The 180 credits for the MSc in Social Welfare Studies must include 60 credits awarded as a result of successful completion of the dissertation.
Awards in Social Welfare Studies do not meet the professional requirements for registration as a Social Worker.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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