Social Work MA

To prepare for your future as a Social Worker your studies will include practice placements in a variety of settings, which will give you a breadth of diverse experiences to meet Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements for the role. You will have the opportunity to experience the diverse nature of the profession by undertaking regular placements spanning social care, charities, and contemporary emerging areas of practice.

Placements will be full time blocks of 70 and 100 days, depending on the level of study.

From your first year you will have the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of people in need through your professional practice, from shadowing social workers to undertaking work placements with statutory social work teams, substance misuse charities, homeless hostels and children’s centres. The MA social work course is structured to help you put learning into practice. The placements you undertake must be in different service areas, to broaden your perspective and experience. We have good connections to help you gain industry experience through a wide range of placements – across a variety of settings within Gloucestershire and beyond.

Our students have undertaken work placements with Gloucestershire Asylum Seeker and Refugee Advocacy Service (GARAS), Countrywide Community Projects (CCP) – plus Gloucestershire and Herefordshire County Councils, and the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust who are key employers of Social Workers locally. A high proportion of students progress into graduate roles after being on their social work placements within these organisations.

The School of Health and Social Care at University of Gloucestershire, work closely with Practice Placement Partners across Gloucestershire and neighbouring or wider associated counties to support practice-based learning placement experiences in central environments and across community services. Travel to and from placement will be required for the duration of your course.

We pride ourselves on making your development a major focus, not just academically, but also personally and professionally whilst on placement – as such, all students have access to a personal tutor and linked placement tutor.

Find out about Social Work placement travel arrangements and additional costs.