Social Work

Advertisement

Social Work courses at Oxford Brookes University have been consistently ranked highly in league tables (Guardian and The Sunday Times University Guides).

We are offering two fast-track social work qualifications for applicants who hold a relevant degree and experience of paid or voluntary work with vulnerable people within the UK. These evidence-informed courses are delivered via mixed mode (classroom, distance and work-based learning). The MA is a two-year full-time course (maximum 5 years on a part-time basis) while the PGDip can typically be gained in 18 months.

Both awards require two 100-day placements, which will include attendance throughout the summer months. In addition, MA applicants will be required to undertake a dissertation.

Course length
Full-time: 2 years (inclusive of summer months)
Part-time: up to 5 years

The core modules include:

* The Policy and Law Context of Social Care
* Social Work Theory, Assessment and Evidence-Informed Intervention with Children and Families
* Social Work Theory, Assessment and Evidence-Informed Intervention with Adults
* Advanced Research Design.

You can apply for either the MA in Social Work or the PGDip in Social Work. Both courses lead to fully qualified Social Work status with the General Social Care Council. The admissions criteria for these two courses are the same.You must: * have a good honours degree or higher, or a professional qualification equivalent to an undergraduate degree, normally in a cognate area * have GCSE Maths and English or equivalent at least to grade C or above, and basic IT skills with reliable access to the internet, preferably through a broadband connection.You should have experience of paid or voluntary work with vulnerable people. This experience should be sufficient to enable you to clearly demonstrate your commitment and motivation, and your understanding of the knowledge, skills and values of social work. This would typically be the equivalent of one years full-time experience of social care or health care-related practice in either the statutory or the voluntary sector. Caring in a personal capacity may in some instances be acceptable as relevant experience.Successful applicants must submit, where possible, a recent practice reference from a social care employer in the UK who can verify that they have met the DoH requirement:Ensure that all students undergo assessed preparation for direct practice to ensure their safety to undertake practice learning in a service delivery setting. This preparation must include the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of the experience of service users and the opportunity to shadow [for at least one full day] an experienced registered Social Worker.(Department of Health 2002)Additionally, all applicants must be screened for fitness to practise and undertake an enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check check.We welcome applications from individuals as well as those sponsored or supported by their employer.All applicants must undertake an admissions exercise which includes a written test, observed group exercise and an individual interview. Finally, you must also undertake and pass an assessed interview of a Voices of Experience User/Carer (and written reflective summary) to provide evidence of suitability and fitness for practice.If you did not complete GCSE English Language within the UK, you will be asked to obtain one of the following: * IELTS: a score of 7.0 overall and with no category scoring below 6.5 * TOEFL score of 90-91 for the internet based test * Cambridge Certificate in Proficiency in English: grade C or above. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 75 (Grade B) TOEFL iBT® test: 90 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.