Analyse social issues and research key issues in social work
Year of entry: 2021 (September)
Meet us online on Wednesday 9 June to discover postgraduate study at York.
Book nowThis course is ideal for research training in social work. If you would like to become a qualified social worker you should look at the MA in Social Work.
You'll undertake intensive research training which will equip you with the skills to carry out your own research. You'll also become adept at critically interpreting the research of others.
During this course you'll undertake your own research project in which you'll explore an aspect of social work that you find interesting.
Ranked third in the UK for overall research performance and joint first for the impact of our research
(Times Higher Education rankings of the most recent Research Excellence Framework, 2014)
This research-based course will give you a foundation of research skills through the taught modules. From a broad introduction to social research methods you'll go on to focus on research in a social work context. You'll follow this with modules that will guide you through advanced research methods.
You'll then progress to developing your own research project.
You will take modules totalling 180 credits during your degree. This includes 100 credits of taught modules that concentrate on social research techniques and specifically address researching social work. You'll acquire the skills required to develop and carry out your own research dissertation, which you will complete for the 80 credit Independent Study Project.
In the Summer Term and summer months you'll take part in two compulsory modules:
This will give you the chance to develop your research interests and participate in a group project with other students who have similar interests. You will also use this time to work on a dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words for the Independent Study Module.
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
You'll also complete a dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words. The dissertation will allow you to demonstrate your skill at independent research and apply your insights from the taught modules to explore and analyse issues in social work. You'll have an individual dissertation supervisor who will provide you with regular guidance.
Your dissertation will require the design, collection and analysis of research data. It may be a self contained project, or you may plan for a subsequent research degree.
Previous dissertations have explored a number of areas of social work, including:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll attend lectures and workshops, supported by seminars where you can discuss lectures and readings in small groups. Our modules are designed exclusively for postgraduate students, allowing you to study key issues at a more advanced level.
Our academics have extensive experience in professional social work and are active researchers.
You'll also be able to attend Department events, including our Making Research Count seminar series.
You will be based in the Department of Social Policy and Social Work which is based on Campus West. The majority of your teaching will take place in Alcuin and Derwent Colleges on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will be continuously assessed, mainly through essays and reports. You will receive written feedback on all assessed work.
You'll complete a 15,000 - 20,000 word dissertation as part of your own specialist research project. You'll also have the opportunity to present your research as it progresses to a wider audience as part of our dissertation workshops.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £8,440 | £18,700 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£4,220 | £9,350 |
Students on a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 Visa) are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. Fees for subsequent years are subject to increase (no more than 2% each year).
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
There are no mandatory additional fees but we do recommend that you set aside some money for photocopying. Course books will be available to you from the Library either in print or online format but you may wish to buy your own copies - book prices vary, with new ones usually costing between £20 and £60. All other teaching resources will be available online.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2021/22 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
This course is a fantastic basis for further study, such as a PhD in Social Work. You will also gain relevant and highly sought-after skills that will qualify you for a research career in academic institutions, local and central government or related organisations.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:1 or equivalent |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
You will usually have the equivalent of one year's full-time experience working in social care, health care or related voluntary work.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, minimum 169 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
| Duolingo | 110, minimum 100 in all other components |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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