Social Work (European)

European Master in Social Work

The European Master in Social Work is a 2 years study programme in 6 countries in Europe to graduate you as a Master in Social Work. In this study programme courses are being offered from a European perspective on social inclusion and combating poverty. There are modules offered on various welfare systems and different approaches of Social Work in different parts of Europe.

After the meeting week you will study during three months on line to complete the first part of the core semester.

Is the European Master in Social Work interesting for you?

It is specially designed for those who want to improve skills in various fields, such as:

• Intercultural Competence
• Community Development
• Ageing in Europe
• Labour and Social Inclusion
• Social Rehabilitation
• Social Policy in Europe

In our curriculum you can find a lot of interesting modules that combine studying, social work practice and intercultural experience in different countries.

A unique joint programme

The consortium exist of six partners: three academic universities and three universities of applied sciences. This mixture of universities will guarantee as well scientific experiences as professional experiences in the domain of social work. This consortium consists of:

• The Netherlands: Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen
• Lithuania: Vilniaus Universitetas
• Germany: Katholische Hochschule Freiburg
• Denmark: Professionshøjskolen Lillebaelt, Odense
• Denmark: Syddansk Universitet, Odense
• Spain: Universidad de Málaga

Elective programme

If you are not interested in the whole master course, but only in one elective you can apply for that. You will receive a certificate from the organizing University. The costs of participating in one single elective is € 1000,-.

Programme structure

In terms of content, the EMSW study programme has three main components:

Political and ethical developments in Social Policy and Social Work in Europe

Methods in Social Work

Applied research in Social Work, running through the entire programme (longitudinal approach).

The EMSW curriculum consists of four semesters: the core semester, two semesters of electives and the thesis semester. Students have to follow the core semester, four electives within the two semesters, write a thesis, and have to study at at least two partner universities. The study load is 90 ECTS in total; one ECTS representing 28 hours of study load for the student.

The semesters are divided in two parts (blocks). Each block starts with an intensive week of study at the partner university offering the core or elective programme. This also offers students the opportunity to extensively discuss and share their (working) experiences and approaches, which they continue 'at home' via the blended learning environment. After that week, students work on their assignments in the context of their own work environment, tutored by the teaching staff by distance learning techniques (blended learning).

The programme of the European Master in Social Work

First semester

The core semester is divided in 2 blocks.

Block 1: 8 - 12 September 2014 in Groningen (the Netherlands)

Block 1

• Introduction
• English Communication: writing skills for social work
• Scientific competences
• C2A: Scientific Competences - Therories of Social Work
• C2B: Scientific Competences - Research Methods
• Distance learning
• Project management

Block 2: November 2014 in Odense (Denmark)

Block 2

• Comparative social policy

Second and third semester

During the second and third semester, students can choose 4 of the electives from the table below. During each block, you have a choice out of three or four electives.

Elective Programme

Block 3: February 2015

Intercultural social work

• E2A: Impact of Migration on Social work
• E2B: Cross Culture
• E2C: Applied Ethics

Community intervention in social work

• E9A: Social Policy and Social Welfare Organization in Spain
• E9B: Psycho-Educational Intervention for Improvement School Life
• E9C: Techno-Social Innovation for Health and Social Intervention

Block 4: April 2015

• Gerontology

Social law and social protection in Europe

• E10A: Social Law and Protection
• E10B: A Social Rights Approach from a European Administrative Law Basis
• E10C: Applied Ethics

Block 5: September 2015

• Social work and human rights
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation
• Children and Youth at Risk
• EU and social policy reform

Block 6: November 2015

• Knowledge development in social work
• Globalization, Europeanization and social policy
• Labour participation and social inclusion

Students will compare their experiences with experiences of their peer students abroad.

Fourth semester

The research-based thesis work concluding the programme is tutored and assessed by teaching staff of two partner universities. Again: the research will be related to the personal work environment of the students.

Block 7 + 8: January 2016

• Final master thesis

This Master course is meant for professionals in Social Work, which means that people who have practical experience (as a professional or as volunteer) can apply for this Master. Your practical experience and your needs for improving your practice will be used during your study.This will enhance good quality and the possibilities for 'student centered learning' in your own practical field. You will share knowledge with peer students and social institutions from many countries in Europe, which is helpful to deepen and broaden your insights in Social Work in your own country. In order to ensure the quality of the programme there are entry requirements for students. These entry requirements are:A Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a related Bachelor's in the Social Agogic domain.A minimum of two years of work experience in the Social Agogic domain, including policy advisor in Social Work.A current job in the Social Agogic domain, including policy advisors in Social Work, for at least 20 hours a week. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 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 paper-based test score : 575 TOEFL iBT® test: 90

Scholarships

Students who apply for admission to the Master course can also apply for a scholarship. They can do so if their financial positions do not allow them to pay the whole fee by themselves, from their own resources and no other funding can be found. The employer is required to submit a statement indicating what the organisation will contribute to the study costs of the employee-student.

Only students from countries of the consortium partners (Bulgaria, Lithuania, Spain, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands) can apply for a scholarship. The maximum number is 3 from each country. Each year € 50,000 will be reserved for scholarships.

Students who apply for a scholarship will be asked to present an official document, such as a recent pay slip stamped by the employer. This document is part of the application for admission.

The admission board shall establish a ranking of students who are more or less able to pay the tuition fee. The highest priority will be given to students with the weakest income position.

The first three students on this list will receive a reduction of 75% of the tuition fee.

Students in the 4, 5, and 6th places of the list will receive a reduction of 50% of the tuition fee.

Students in the 7th to 11th places will receive a reduction of 25% of the tuition fee.

When any of the chosen scholarship students do actually nor participate in the Master programme, the next student on the list will take that place.

Accreditation

The European Master in Social Work has been officially accredited by the Dutch and Flemish Accrediation Organisation (NVAO).