MSc Social Work Research
- MSc
Overview
This programme creates links between social work research and practice in a range of settings. You will be taught the necessary skills to undertake research into social work and social care as a practice-based professional, a postgraduate research student or a policy-focused professional.
This degree will help you acquire vital tools to maximise your work in addressing genuine issues of concern with policymakers, managers, practitioners and service users in social work and social care.
The programme provides core research training in philosophy and research design in the social sciences, along with introductions to, and further approaches in, quantitative and qualitative methods in the social sciences. It has a particular emphasis on co-produced research involving communities that are often marginalised or excluded from the process.
While the programme primarily focuses on 'research methods', it also has a clear focus on social justice and how research can improve policy and the lives of those it impacts. You can choose an optional unit from a range of policy areas such as child and family welfare, gender and violence, health and social care, poverty and social exclusion, and policy-oriented evaluation. The programme also provides the opportunity to further investigate policy areas of interest through the assignments and dissertation.
We recognise that many of our students will have relevant experience as researchers, service managers/planners or policy advisers, and there will be space for you to reflect on and share your expertise in these fields; providing an opportunity to learn from your peers.
Some units are taught in collaboration with other postgraduate programmes, providing a co-learning environment where you can interact and share insights with students working towards research degrees in public policy and policy research.
Please note: This programme does not include practical training or lead to a professional qualification in social work. If you want to study for a qualification in social work practice, please see the MSc in Social Work.
Programme structure
The programme is delivered through a combination of intensive block teaching and weekly delivery, to ensure it is accessible to both postgraduate students as well as busy policy professionals and practitioners. You can accumulate credits flexibly and organise your patterns of attendance to suit your needs and circumstances.
The MSc consists of five core units and one optional unit, along with a dissertation.
Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure of our MSc in Social Work Research.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in a Social Science discipline such as:
- Business Administration
- Communication
- Media and Journalism studies
- Development Studies
- Economics
- Gender Studies
- Health
- History
- Law
- Management
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
- Social Administration
- Social Care
- Social Work
- Social Policy
- Social Welfare
- Sociology.
Please note, other academic backgrounds may be considered.
If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.
We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.
If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of either your:
- evidence of significant, relevant work experience (including paid and unpaid work, full-time or part-time and internships). This must be a minimum of one year, in one of the following sectors/areas: mid- to high-level policy work for local or national government or third sector/voluntary/community-based organisation (Manager, Director, Policy Officer, Researcher, Analyst, Policy Maker, Political/Civil Office);
- relevant postgraduate qualification.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
Go to admissions statementIf English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level E.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £13,400 per year
- Home: part-time (two years)
- £6,700 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £26,000 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
This programme places strong emphasis on the development of social work/care research methods and analysis, as well as building substantive knowledge. Graduates from our MSc Social Work Research can go on to careers as social work and care researchers or analysts, or research commissioners/managers in public or private agencies, both in the UK and internationally.
Potential employers include local or central government departments; voluntary or charitable organisations; national or international non-governmental organisations; and global institutions such as the United Nations.
Alternatively, the programme provides students with the core training to further their career in academic research with a PhD in Social Work.
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- [email protected]