Master of Social Work

Important news about 2012 Social Work Bursary.

Department of Health have confirmed that no changes will be made to the social work bursary for the 2012 academic year.  For further details see the link below under 'fees and financial support'.

Why study at Durham?
The Durham MSW is consistently ranked as one of the best social work programmes in the UK. It offers excellent learning experiences facilitated by leading researchers, experienced social work practitioners and children, young people and adults who have experience of accessing social work services, and has been commended by the General Social care Council for the quality of its teaching.

Durham is a beautiful historic city with excellent road connections via the A1M, rail connections (15 minutes to Newcastle and 3 hours to London) and direct air links to London, Europe and beyond via Newcastle and Durham & Tees Valley airports.

How long does the programme last?
The MSW is full time, starting in September and continuing over twenty two months. Following government regulations for social work training, 200 days (half of the programme) are spent in academic learning and 200 days are spent in practice placements. The programme does not run to university terms. There is approximately ten weeks vacation time, including public holidays, during the course of the whole programme.

What will I study?

The MSW is structured around six modules designed to meet the academic and practice learning requirements for a degree in social work.   

* module descriptions are current as at January 2012

Practice Placements
You will undertake two periods of practice learning (100 days each) in two different social work settings, focusing on two different service user groups.  Most placements will take place in the northeast region. 

How will I be assessed?
Academic learning is assessed through essays, observation studies, project reports, case studies, group and individual presentations. Knowledge and understanding of social work law is assessed in a take away law exercise. Fitness for practice learning is assessed via a DVD showing your communication skills and a field visit during which you will shadow a qualified social worker.  Competence in practice is assessed by a practice assessor and through case studies of work undertaken on placement. Research in social work is assessed through a dissertation proposal and a 10,000 word dissertation.

Fees and financial support
Home students are normally entitled to a bursary and tuition fees.  The bursary scheme is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority.  For details see: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/825.aspx

Academic and personal support
All students have an academic tutor throughout the programme and an approved practice teacher for each practice placement. First year students benefit from membership of a small professional development group. The programme provides support for students from minority groups. We currently run support groups for Black and minority ethnic students, and for lesbian, gay and bisexual students. The University Service for Students with Disabilities (DUSSD) provides support for disabled students, including those with dyslexia.

All Durham students are encouraged to join one of the colleges of the university that provide a range of pastoral and academic support as well as social activities.

Employment prospects
Qualified social workers are in high demand in all areas of social work and Durham social work graduates have an excellent record of gaining social work employment.

The staff team
The academic team consists of 5 full time staff, 2 part-time teaching fellows and several part-time tutors with wide experience of social work in the UK and abroad.  Children, young people and adults who access social work services and practice agency partners are involved in teaching, assessment and programme management.

Approved practice teachers are drawn from Children's and Adults' Services, and from the voluntary and independent sectors. Their work is overseen by a practice learning coordinator who is a full time member of the staff team.

Social work research at Durham
Social work staff and PhD students are engaged in a wide range of research regionally, nationally and internationally.  For further details see staff pages at http://www.dur.ac.uk/sass/staff/academic/

Further information on the University and the School of Applied Social Sciences is available at http://www.dur.ac.uk/sass/

Frequently Asked Questions