Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Social work
- Postgraduate
Become a qualified social worker in two years with Kingston University, where you will be eligible to register with Social Work England.
Learn life-changing skills in real-world settings
Be a part of someone’s life journey
Studying Social Work at Kingston will accelerate your path towards a career with the potential to change lives for the better. Social workers are highly sought after, and this qualification will open opportunities in everything from children’s services and community care to criminal justice and mental health.
You’ll learn from social work academics, researchers, expert practitioners and people with lived experience across a range of specialist social work fields. Through a blend of theory and practice, you’ll deepen your expertise in your chosen specialism and equip yourself with a range of skills.
Prepare for transformative learning experiences in a supportive, inclusive environment. You’ll follow a psycho-social and life-course approach, encouraging critical thinking and anti-discriminatory practice in response to people and community needs.
Teaching will come from fully qualified experts, many of whom are also practitioners.
On successful completion of this course, you’ll be able to apply to register with Social Work England to work as a qualified social worker.
Many of our graduates have even transferred their qualification across the globe, with former students currently working in the USA, Canada and Australia.
Throughout the course, you’ll benefit from Kingston University’s Developing Together Teaching Partnership with local authorities and voluntary organisations. The partnership creates a leading community of social work education, academic research and frontline practice.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. We are ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Social work placements
Kingston University has a strong teaching partnership with a range of local social work agencies. You'll benefit from two contrasting placements totalling 170 days. We arrange your placements for you, making sure your practice experience aligns with the current and future requirements of the workforce. There are also opportunities to apply for internships at a particular partner to complete both your placements.
The Skills Lab
A portion of your learning will take place in our purpose-built Social Work Skills Lab, where you can develop professional assessment, intervention, mentoring, teaching and supervision skills.
The Skills Lab is a flexible, multi-functional space. It’s perfect for developing your creative and communication skills, as well as receiving feedback and simulating a range of environments.
Sector-leading research
Many of our staff are active in research, often in partnership with NHS Trusts. That means they bring the latest thinking and best practice to your studies. Key social work research activity focuses on everything from risk and child abuse, children’s rights and adult safeguarding to professional education, mental capacity and more.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by Social Work England. On successful completion of this course, you’ll be able to apply to register with Social Work England to work as a qualified social worker.
Course content
You will gain the core knowledge, skills and values required for social work practice. On this programme you will learn about effective approaches to work with children and their families and adults at risk (including older adults, and mental health social work practice). You will study legal, policy and ethical frameworks for social work practice; human development; social work methods of assessment and intervention.
A specialist practice interest module provides you with the opportunity to undertake an in depth study in a chosen area of special interest and can be taken in a national or international setting.
Year 1
Core modules
Year 2
Core modules
Career opportunities
After you graduate
You will be eligible to register as a social worker with Social Work England. Previous graduates have gone on to work in children's services and family support, community care and adult services, adult or youth criminal justice and community, day, residential and health settings. Others have taken roles in mental health, disability, older adults, addictions and forensic services.
You can also use this qualification to work overseas, or even as a route into another programme of study. Development opportunities, training and awards are now established parts of the social work profession.
The Social Work Conference
Our annual social work research conference features keynote speakers, showcases research and gives staff and students the chance to present their work to an audience of academics and practitioners.
Social work seminars
Our free monthly seminars are open to all statutory, voluntary and private sector staff in local services organisations, as well as people with lived experience, carers and organisations we work with. Each one features a keynote speaker and presentation. For more information, and booking, please email Rick Hood.
Social work internships
The Developing Together Social Work Teaching Partnership offers a number of unpaid student internships each year to both undergraduate and masters social work students studying at Kingston University.
Successful students will undertake two practice placements within their preferred local authority before being interviewed for a newly-qualified social worker position upon graduating.
Placements are available in a variety of practice settings and the scheme is ideal for students who have a clear idea of which organisation they might like to work for at the end of their degree. Organisations that have offered internships to date are:
- Achieving for Children (providing children's services for Kingston and Richmond)
- London Borough of Sutton (children's social work)
- London Borough of Merton (adult social work)
Other partners that may offer future opportunities are:
- London Borough of Croydon (adult social work)
- Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (adult social work)
- London Borough of Sutton (adult social work)
Applications for undergraduate students open in Spring each year (towards the end of the student's first year).
Teaching and assessment
You will gain the core knowledge, skills and values required for social work practice. You will learn about effective approaches to work with children and their families and adults at risk (including older adults, and mental health social work practice). You will study legal, policy and ethical frameworks for social work practice; human development; social work methods of assessment and intervention.
Fees and funding
Fees for future course years
Full time MSW (2 years)
If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.
If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.
Part time MSW (3 years)
If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years. The third year is charged at the full-time rate corresponding with your year of entry.
If you take a break before starting your second year or third year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 or Year 2, your future fees may increase in line with the course's annual increase.
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. Find out more through the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
Interested in studying Master of Social Work (MSW) at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to UCAS where you will complete your application. You should:
- Submit your application between the beginning of the September before you come to university and mid-January if you're a British or EU applicant
- Visit the UCAS website for exact dates and more information
- Complete your application in full, including your personal details and academic record
- Supply a reference and personal statement
- Submit your application as early as possible to have the best chance of receiving the right offers.
- The UCAS code for Kingston University is K84.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Sponsorship
If you have a sponsor, they need to complete the Tuition Fees Sponsorship Agreement form. It’s your responsibility to make sure they complete it fully and upload it with your application – otherwise you might be invoiced personally. If your sponsor needs a Purchase Order number on their invoice, please provide it on the sponsorship form. You should send the completed form to [email protected].
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
