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Key details

Start date(s)
September 2025
Study Mode
Full-time (2 years)
Location
Main Campus (Horsforth)
School
Children, Young People and Families

The social care sector is diverse and dynamic. Rapidly changing individual and population social care needs, alongside more personalised approaches, offers challenges and opportunities for social work in Local Government, the NHS, and in voluntary and independent organisations to develop flexible and new ways of delivering holistic integrated and inter-professional services. 

Our exciting and transformational pre-registration social work programme is mapped against the Social Work England professional standards and is designed to enable you to develop into a competent and confident practitioner.

As well as gaining an MA qualification, successful completion of this degree programme will allow you to apply for entry onto the Social Work England register in your chosen field of social work.

This course is subject to approval by Social Work England.

The Student Contract

About this course

The MA Social Work will enable you to develop the necessary knowledge and skills needed to work with children and adults, recognising and working towards protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm and helping to improve their wellbeing and quality of life, as well as supporting their carers and families across the lifespan.  

On this course, you’ll develop specialised knowledge, skills and the resilience you need to develop and influence future social work practice through confident proactive leadership, practice development aided by digital technology, an international, national and local perspective, and a research-informed focus.  

Two professional placements will enhance your understanding of Social Work theory and practice. 

Your practice placements will be in two disparate settings, in areas such as children and families social work and social work with vulnerable adults. At least one of your placements will be in a setting that provides statutory learning opportunities and another may be with a charitable and private organisation, such as Catholic Care or other local voluntary agencies.

You'll also complete a total of 30 skills days (20 in the first year of study, 10 in the final year).

This programme provides an accredited Social Work qualification alongside the knowledge and skills required to be an effective Social Work practitioner. 

Why study with us

  • Study on a course with a flexible curriculum and assessment methods which meet industry needs.
  • Learn from guest speakers, including social work practitioners and people with lived experience.
  • Work and make connections with experienced social work researchers.
Three postgraduate students listening in a seminar.

Course modules

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Year 1

During your first year, you'll study five core modules and complete the required 20 skills days.

Preparation for Social Work Practice Law and Social Policy for Social Work Practice Social Work with Children and Families Social Work with Adults at Risk: Interventions in Practice Placement 1 - 80 days full time

Year 2

During your second year, you'll study two core modules and complete the required 10 skills days.

Research in Social Work Practice Placement 2 - 90 days full time

Course structure tables

September - Full-time
Year Term Module Credits Contact hours
1 Term 1

Preparation for Social Work Practice 15 20 hours
Law and Policy for Social Work Practice 15 20 hours
Social Work with Children and Families 15 20 hours
Social Work with Adults at Risk: Interventions in Practice 15 20 hours
Term 2 Placement 1 30 80 days full time
2 Term 1 Research in Social Work Practice 60 40 hours
Term 2 Placement 2 30 90 days full time

Learning and teaching

You will be assessed by a variety of methods, which could include: 

  • Coursework 
  • Practical work 
  • Observed presentations 
  • Assessed placements 

Learning and teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

  • high quality teaching
  • an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
  • a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

  • Student Involvement and Engagement
  • Inclusion
  • Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
  • Digital Literacy and Skills
  • Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

  • Personalised support
  • Expert lecturers
  • Strong connections with employers
  • An international outlook
  • Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Entry requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

Academic: 

  • First undergraduate degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant discipline e.g.,Health and Social Care, Pastoral Support, Working with Children, Young People and Families. It is desirable for applicants to have some relevant work or lived experience which has allowed applicants to gain a good understanding of social work, as demonstrated through a personal statement, will be considered and discussed during the interview process.
  • If an applicant holds a degree in a different discipline, substantial relevant work or lived experience which has allowed applicants to gain a good understanding of social work, as demonstrated through a personal statement, will be considered and discussed during the interview process.  
  • Applicants with a 2:2 degree will be considered on an individual basis if they have substantial relevant work or lived experience which has allowed applicants to gain a good understanding of social work, as demonstrated through a personal statement, will be considered and discussed during the interview process.  
  • GCSE English Language at grade C/4 or above or accepted equivalent. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy are accepted in place of GCSEs.   
  • Minimum English Language entry requirements: non-UK applicants should achieve a minimum score of 7.0 overall in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment. 
  • Applicants must be able to evidence that they have the capability to use information and communication technology (ICT) methods and techniques to achieve course outcomes. 

For information on meeting academic requirements by country, visit our International Applicants page. 

Non-academic: 

  • Satisfactory enhanced DBS (adult and child workforce). International applicants and those who have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more in the last 10 years will need to apply for a DBS prior to starting the programme and provide satisfactory 'certificate of good character' or similar from the relevant authorities in the country/countries they have lived.
  • Satisfactory occupational health check. 
  • Write a values-based personal statement. 
  • Attend a values-based interview. 
  • Two satisfactory references. 

Please contact us for personalised advice on 0113 283 7123 or at [email protected]

Fees and finance

Funding

UK Home Students:

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your tuition fees.

International Students, including EU Students:

Visit our web page for international students.

Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount

Some Leeds Trinity graduates are eligible for a tuition fee discount on postgraduate courses of up to 50%, excluding PGCE Delivery Partner Model and Lead Partner Model, and Masters by Research courses. You will need to achieve a 2:2 or above in a Leeds Trinity undergraduate course to qualify.

POSTGRADUATE COURSE DISCOUNT
MA/MSc programmes and LLM Law 50% for graduates with a 1st class honours degree
MA/MSc programmes and LLM Law 35% for graduates with a 2:1 honours degree
MA/MSc programmes and LLM Law 20% for graduates with a 2:2 honours degree

MA Childhood and Education/MA Education/MA Family Support

MA Mental Health in Children and Young People

20% for PGCE graduates if none of the above apply

Social Work Bursary

Students may be eligible for a Social Work Bursary to help towards tuition fees and living costs, including placement travel expenses. For more information visit Social Work Bursaries | NHSBSA

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