Master of Social Work (MSW)
Why choose this course?
The Masters of Social Work is a postgraduate intensive qualification that will enable you to train to become a social worker in two years.
The MSW is accredited by Social Work England (SWE), the professional UK regulator. Once you graduate, you must apply to register with Social Work England to work as a qualified social worker.
You will be taught by social work academics, researchers, expert practitioners and people with lived experience, spanning the range of specialist social work fields. This prepares students to become social workers in their chosen areas of specialist social work practice, equipped with a broad range of theory and evidence.
The course provides transformative learning experiences in a supportive, inclusive environment. It is underpinned by a psycho-social and life-course approach, encouraging critical thinking and anti-discriminatory practice in response to the needs of people and communities.
We have a state-of-the-art innovative skills lab to help you to learn and develop practice skills, preparing you for field learning in your two practice placements.
| UCAS code | Mode | Duration | Attendance | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L508 | Full time | 2 years | 3 days a week (University days), 5 days a week (placements) | September 2025 |
| Part time | 3 years | 1.5 days a week (University days), 5 days a week (placements) | September 2025 |
| Main Location | Kingston Hill |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- The MSW is recognised and approved by Social Work England, the professional regulator for social work. Once you graduate, you need to register with Social Work England to start work as a qualified social worker.
- Our Developing Together teaching partnership with local authorities and voluntary agencies creates a leading social work education community shaped by academic research and frontline practice.
- The MSW is an internationally recognised Social Work qualification, with our graduates successfully transferring their qualification across the globe. Our alumni are currently working in countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia.
What you will study
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.
Modules (Year one)
Modules (Year two)
Core modules
Readiness for Direct Practice
30 credits
This module runs throughout the first year and focuses on readiness for direct practice. It is an interactive module which includes skills workshops and a high level of involvement from service users, carers and practice educators from partner agencies. You will learn about the role and tasks of social workers and develop professional skills in verbal and written communication. You will have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on written work and on your communication skills. People with lived experience and carers provide simulated interviews in the Practice Learning Suite.
Assessment and Intervention
30 credits
The focus of this module is to enable you to develop theoretical foundational knowledge of social work assessment and intervention methods, informed by psychological and sociological theories, and research. You will develop core skills to analyse and explain situations, draw hypotheses about potential outcomes, and select intervention methods to achieve desired outcomes. You will also develop skills in communication and knowledge in building, maintaining and sustaining relationships as well as critical reflection and analysis in order to evaluate interventions' effectiveness. Learning will involve applying concepts from theory and research in lectures, interactive workshops, and role plays in the skills lab, investigatory experiences and through formative and summative assignments.
Human Development and the Social Environment
30 credits
This module will enable you to gain an understanding of human development that is underpinned by the value of difference and diversity. A life course perspective will inform the content of the module, incorporating key theoretical frameworks and research findings. There will be a critical focus on the interaction of social, political, cultural, economic and environmental influences on people's lives. Ideas of normative development, including key milestones in childhood and adolescence, will therefore be underpinned by a critical understanding of structural inequalities, which may affect individual development and perpetuate the difficulties experienced by some groups and communities. Relevance to social work will be highlighted through case studies, targeted reading, and facilitated discussions. Experiential and reflective learning will be promoted through a structured child observation task and reflective seminars.
Applied Social Work Practice
30 credits
This module will enable you to build on your core skills and deepen your knowledge of diverse practice contexts by developing a critical understanding of the factors that impact on provision of social work services. In this module, you will develop an understanding of key contemporary issues in social work and gain awareness of how these developments underpin the provision of social work services, and the implications when applying social work theory. Learning will involve applying concepts from theory and research in lectures, interactive workshops, investigatory experiences and through formative and summative assignments.
Legal, Ethical and Policy Frameworks for Social Work Practice
30 credits
This module provides an introduction to law, ethics and policy for social work. You will gain a critical and applied understanding of frameworks that central to the decision making in social work practice. You will be introduced to specialist law, relevant to social work with children and families, youth justice, mental health, equality and adult safeguarding.
You will develop research skills to inform critical analysis and appraisal of law, ethics and policy considering tensions and possible implications for practice, such as systemic issues, power imbalances and discrimination.
Your learning opportunities are mapped to meet the requirements of legal literacy contained within the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), and the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS).
First Placement
30 credits
This module is a practice placement of seventy days, undertaken in an agency within the statutory or voluntary sector. We organise this placement for you, with the help of our Developing Together Social Work Teaching Partnership. You will be working alongside qualified social workers and social care staff, and provided with learning opportunities. You will be supported and supervised by practice learning staff in your placement setting. You will be expected to evidence your developing practice throughout your placement, which will be assessed against the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).
Core modules
Specialist Practice Interest
30 credits
You will undertake an in-depth organisational study in a chosen area of special interest that has relevance to social work. Potential areas of study are specialist therapeutic interventions, rights, justice, promoting the wellbeing of service users, service user engagement; social work in allied health settings, social work and supra national organisations, management and quality assurance of services. These studies can be taken in a national or international context which will enable you to draw comparisons between different modes of service delivery and evaluate these.
Second Placement
30 credits
This module is a final practice placement of one hundred days, undertaken in an agency within the statutory or voluntary sector. We organise this placement for you, with the help of our Developing Together Social Work Teaching Partnership. You will be working alongside qualified social workers and social care staff, and provided with learning opportunities to develop your autonomous practice. You will be supported and supervised by practice learning staff in your placement setting. You will build on your previous placement experience and knowledge, and continue to evidence your practice to meet the requirements of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) at the final placement level.
Independent Study: A Capstone Project
30 credits
You will explore existing research and analyse an area of inquiry that has relevance for social work. Through your capstone project, you are expected to contribute to existing research and social work knowledge concerning the topic selected. Following selection of your topic, you will read widely and build up a relevant literature review of research and publication in the area. You will link your literature review to relevant implications for the social work profession.
Through attendance at taught sessions, you will be able to classify research according to its epistemological position and methodological approach, and identify the advantages and disadvantages of a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods in the social sciences by critically analysing research featured in a range of social work literature.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
You will become equipped with 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.
Who teaches this course?
Every member of the teaching staff has substantial practice experience in social work. In addition, many are actively involved in social work research, presenting regularly at conferences and publishing in books and journals. In addition, our course teams draw on the wealth of experience provided by our professional contacts, people with lived experience and carers who feed into the design of our courses and provide teaching and supervision to enrich your learning.
We have strong links with the NHS, education and healthcare providers and social services, and we also offer classic postgraduate programmes alongside research and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities.
Developing Together Teaching Partnership
We are part of the Developing Together teaching partnership with local authorities and voluntary agencies, which provides a leading social work education community shaped by academic research and frontline practice and a dynamic programme of post-qualifying learning and development for social workers.
The partnership aims to create a culture of ongoing learning, research and support to grow and retain a community of passionate and capable social work professionals that will meet with the region's future workforce demands.
Primary partner agencies
- Achieving for Children
- Croydon Adult services
- Croydon Children's services
- Kingston Adult services
- Merton Adult services
- Merton Children's services
- Richmond & Wandsworth Adult services
- Sutton Adult services
- Sutton Children's services
- Wandsworth Children's services
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
- Welcare
- Kingston University
Secondary partner agencies:
- Surrey Children's services
Fees for this course
Important: international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) are required to pay a deposit in order to receive a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from Kingston University. This applies to all full-time postgraduate taught masters courses.
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (for example, art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
Social Work Skills Lab
The skills lab is a purpose-built facility where social work students have the opportunity to learn and to practise key social work skills.
Social workers undertaking continuing professional development courses develop their assessment and intervention skills and other skills such as mentoring, teaching and providing reflective supervision.
What's available?
The skills lab is divided into several sections including:
- a seminar/case conference room for a maximum of 20 people;
- a simulated living-room and front door to assist in developing skills relating to home visits;
- five interview rooms simulating work environments;
- a control room with two-way mirror and viewing monitors; and
- all rooms have fitted cameras and microphones so that activities can be recorded.
A flexible, creative space
The skills lab has been designed to be a multi-functional space which allows flexible use. The furniture is all portable and can be changed according to the simulated activities required.
The small rooms can be used for practising communication skills and simulating supervision sessions.
The large room can be used as a teaching or seminar room and can be set up as a simulated case conference room or duty desk.
Participants have the opportunity to engage in creative skills development activities and benefit from live supervision and feedback from the recorded material.
After you graduate
On completing the course you will be eligible to apply to the Social Work England to register as a social worker. Employment opportunities are available in:
- Children's services and family support
- Community care and adult services
- Adult/youth criminal justice services
- Community, day, residential and health settings
- Mental health, disability, learning disabilities, older adults, addictions, and forensic services
- Portable social work qualification that you can use to work overseas.
- Post-qualifying programmes available
Good career development opportunities and post-qualifying training and awards are now an established part of the social work profession.
Accreditation
This course is designed to give suitable graduates a professional qualification in social work. On successful completion, you gain a Master of Social Work (MSW), and you will be able to apply for registration with Social Work England.
Extra activities for this course
There are always interesting activities taking place at Kingston and exciting opportunities to take advantage of. Here are some examples of what you could be involved with if you study this course.
Working with practitioners
Key stakeholders representing agencies, service users and carers support the Social Work MSW. This helps to ensure your studies are up to date and relevant to the current and future needs of the workplace. You will benefit from:
- teaching partnerships - links with practice teaching consultants who contribute to teaching at the university;
- the chance to shadow experienced social workers and make observation visits;
- plenty of opportunities to put your own skills into practice, thanks to two placements totalling 170 days during the two years of the MSW; and
- teaching and experiential learning with staff who are fully qualified in their area of expertise - many are also expert practitioners.
Please note that placements are arranged with our partner agencies, which are all geographically close to the University. The maximum travelling time to placements will normally not exceed two hours each way from the University.
Current research in this subject
Many of our staff are research active, often in partnership with NHS Trusts. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.
Social work research activity focuses around several key areas:
- risk and child abuse
- children's rights
- learning processes and partnership approaches in professional education
- management of child protection systems
- safeguarding adults
- mental capacity
- effectiveness of community-based responses to crime
- evaluation of practice education.
We conduct much of our social care research and consultancy either in partnership with or on behalf of the social service, voluntary sector and probation agencies.
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. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
