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This Social Work MA is a Professional Qualifying Programme.

Social work changes lives and a career in social work is varied and rewarding. This 2-year Social Work MA provides a pathway to professional social work practice, and includes academic modules complemented with practice placements. This equips and prepares students to qualify as social workers and take up professional social work posts within the social care workforce. 

The course is informed by the QAA Benchmarks for Social Work (QAA), and the National Occupational Standards for Social Work (Social Care Wales) and complies with the requirements of Social Care Wales as Wales’s social work regulators.

We work in close partnership with Gwynedd, Ynys Môn and Conwy local authorities, who host and provide placements for students on the programme.

The key features of this Social Work MA are: 

• Condensed timetable of 2-3 days per week
• High level of tutor support
• Practice placements arranged for students
• Bilingual*
• Employment at the end of the course with social work posts starting from approximately £35,000 per annum

*Our partners ask that the students they host have bilingual Welsh / English skills. This requirement is in order to meet the needs of their communities and to comply with the right to a Welsh language service under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. This means that students are able to follow lectures that are predominantly though the medium of Welsh with bilingual slides, and are able to converse naturally in Welsh with bilingual individuals. However, we are not talking about ‘perfect’ Welsh (if there is such a thing!). Students are able to submit their assessments in their preferred language. If you’re interested in applying for a place on the programme, but unsure if your Welsh is ‘good enough’, please come to talk to us. We can help assess your skills and ensure that you don’t miss out if your skills are good enough, and / or if you could benefit from support to build on current skills.

Frequently Asked Questions 

To find out more about this Social Work MA, please read our Frequently Asked Questions document.ÌýÌý

We regret that we are unable to accept applications from international students for this course. 

Student Testimonials

"I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to study Social Work at ¶º±ÆÖ±²¥, and have gained valuable teaching and practice experiences - the last practice experience leading directly to work I really enjoy. Through the support of the team in Bangor, I've gained the confidence to work in my field." Cai O'Marah. Social Work MA graduate

"I felt extremely supported right through from the application process to completing the course. The support and guidance from the team at Bangor and also the team on placements has been above and beyond. Completing the course has been my greatest achievement so far." Cherise Lloyd, Social Work MA graduate.

"The opportunities I had at Bangor have served me well starting out in my career. Their close links with the surrounding Local Authorities and associated placements made the transition from student to newly qualified Social Worker much easier." Kate Thomas, Social Work MA graduate

"Being ready to help and support others and ready for a challenge is a big part of social work. Working to develop and improve the lives of others is an invaluable experience." Llinos Foulkes, Social Work MA graduate

Watch: MA Social Work 

What will you study on this course?

You will be taught via a range of teaching methods and learning opportunities. These will include lectures, seminars, group work, role play and student-directed learning projects. During your 200 days of practice placements (which are divided in to two 100 days per year), you will learn from skilled and experienced practitioners within a structured and supportive learning environment. 

Practice placements can take place in a variety of social work teams e.g. Children and Families, Disability, Older Adults, Mental Health. Placements are carefully planned and arranged by placement coordinators based in our partner local authorities. Placements help to prepare the student for holistic social work practice and employability within the current social work workforce.

All modules are core within the course and students are required to pass all assignments

Year 1

• Knowledge and Skills Base for Social Work
• Social Policy for Social Work Practice
• The Life Course
• Values and Ethics for Social Work Practice
• Law for Social Work 1
• The Research Process
• Practice Placement 1 (100 days)

Year 2 

• Social Work with Adults
• Social Work with Children, Young People and Families
• Law for Social Work 2
• The Literature Review 
• Practice Placement (100 days)
• The Social Work Dissertation

Dissertation: The Dissertation provides students with an opportunity to conduct a small-scale, yet significant piece of individual research, supervised by a research supervisor. Students identify a research question and collate and analyse data that relates to the research question, utilising an appropriate analytical framework. They then address the research question in the light of their findings. The research undertaken is presented in the format of a 20,000 word dissertation employing usual conventions.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Social Work Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

• 2.2 degree classification or higher
• A minimum of 3 months* (FTE) relevant social care or equivalent experience*
• Grade C GCSE at least or equivalent qualification in Maths and English/Welsh first language
• Offers for places on the course are based on a satisfactory interview of applicants that meet the admissions criteria.
• Speaking & Listening Welsh language skills required**

It is also a requirement that all students accepted onto the programme successfully complete an Enhanced DBS check, and are able to register with Social Care Wales, and maintain their registration throughout their studies.

*Experience may be voluntary or paid work, offering personal care to individuals, and / or help and support to individuals, families and groups. Examples include, but are not restricted to, 1-1 support work in school, social care or health care assistant, sports and leisure activities for children / adults with disabilities, i-can scheme (mental health support), advocacy.  It is important is that you have a basic understanding of the role of social work and why people may need social work at certain points in their lives.

**This means that you need the ability to follow lectures that are predominantly though the medium of Welsh with bilingual slides, and able to converse naturally in Welsh with bilingual individuals. Assessments can be submitted in Welsh or English. If you’re interested in applying for a place on the programme, but unsure if your Welsh is ‘good enough’, please come to talk to us. We can help assess your skills and ensure that you don’t miss out if your skills are good enough, or if you could benefit from support to build on current skills.

For information about gaining work experience in the field of care work before applying, please contact: 

• Tonwen Davies, Gwynedd Council
• Maria Jones, Isle of Anglesey County Council
• Nia O’Marah, Conwy County Borough Council

Information for International applicants: We regret that we are unable to accept applications from international students for this course. 

After qualifying, there will be opportunities to take up posts in a wide range of health or social care settings, often working alongside other professionals in multidisciplinary teams. Our links with employers mean that most years all our graduates secure employment contracts before completing their studies. Over the last 3 years, 100% of our graduates became employed as social workers. 

Typical starting salaries for these posts are currently approximately £35,000.

Links with employers

The University works in partnership with Gwynedd, Ynys Môn and Conwy Local Authorities to develop, deliver and manage this Social Work programme. Partner local authorities are involved in recruitment, student selection, contributing to teaching and assessment of students. The partners also provide practice learning opportunities, along with other employing agencies, and ensure that students develop a strong understanding of social work practice in North Wales alongside their academic development. This is also a good opportunity for employers to identify the future workforce. We also work with carers and individuals who use social services in recruitment, assessment and management elements of the programme.