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Professional Social Work Practice MSc

  • Intro
  • Entry
    criteria
  • Course
    content
  • Careers
  • Fees
    and costs
  • Location and
    student life
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Intro

The Professional Social Work Practice MSc enables practitioners to bring together 180 academic credits they have accrued from continuing professional development (CPD) modules and for these to be formally recognised as having met the threshold of a masters degree. 

While it is expected that the majority of credits will have been gained from modules attended at the 91¶¶Òõ, it is also recognised that some applicants may have undertaken credit-bearing work elsewhere. In view of this, up to 90 academic credits may be transferred in from work completed at other institutions, providing this meets with the 91¶¶Òõ’s assessment and examinations regulations and the necessary course specifications.  

As a CPD award, the Professional Social Work Practice MSc is not accredited by Social Work England or other professional, statutory or regulatory body. However, anyone wishing to apply must still hold current registration with Social Work England.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location 91¶¶Òõ: Moulsecoomb

Part-time 1–2 years

Thinking of applying?

Get in touch with the course team by email at HSS-office@brighton.ac.uk.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

To be eligible to apply for this award, applicants must normally have:

  • a first degree
  • a recognised social work qualification
  • successfully completed the social work CPD dissertation module (60 credits) provided by the 91¶¶Òõ
  • accrued a total of 180 academic credits within the last six years (with no more than 90 credits attained from other institutions)
  • registration with Social Work England
  • a minimum of 15 hours per week dedicated to professional social work practice in a leadership role, including the facilitation of supervision.

Course content

Course structure

A variety of modules may contribute to the make up of this award. Prospective candidates should see our social work CPD subject page for an indication of course content.

Visit the social work CPD subject page.

 

Modules

Modules

Core modules

  • Research in Advanced Professional Practice

    This module offers qualified social work practitioners the opportunity to carry out an in-depth inquiry into an area of advanced practice. You will develop the understanding and skills to plan and carry out a small-scale qualitative research project. This will involve synthesising and integrating knowledge relating to practice; research theory and principles; and the competent design, planning and execution of a viable, ethical and realistic research project.

Options*

  • Decision Making and Partnership Working in Health, Social Work and Social Care

    In this module you will focus on issues in practice (collaboration and interprofessional practice; safeguarding vulnerable adults), a particular area of practice (learning disabilities; sensory impairment) or a specific method of intervention. You will analyse and critically reflect upon dilemmas within your own work-based context, addressing current law, policy, theoretical perspectives, good practice and research with a focus on own practice and agency context.

  • Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: Skills and Assessment

    During this module you will develop specialist skills and prepare for assessment as a Best Interest Assessor in the context of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Central to learning is the exploration of human rights, equality, social justice, diversity, discrimination and oppression. You will learn to apply the relevant law and codes of practice and complete the required statutory documentation and procedures.

  • Social Work in Multidisciplinary Contexts

    This module explores social work practice in private, voluntary, independent or health-based settings working with complex issues such as mental health, substance misuse and/or homelessness, either with children and young people or adults. It considers issues of professional identity, the skills and knowledge that social workers use and the applicable value bases. The module will enable you to update your knowledge regarding the legal and policy framework and implications for practice.

  • Social Work with Adults

    This module offers the opportunity to further develop your knowledge and critically reflect on social work practice with adults, including in mental health services. It supports the development of newly qualified workers (and others who want to update their knowledge) in their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment, focusing on more specialist knowledge and skills for assessment, decision-making and intervention with adults.

  • Independent Learning for Advanced Practice in Mental Health or Social Care (40 Credits)

    The aim of this module is to enable you to thoroughly examine research evidence and other knowledge and theory relevant to your particular practice setting in order to support advanced, evidenced-based practice in challenging, complex decision-making when assessing need or providing services more generally. It encourages a reflective, critical and ethical approach to practice. For assessment, you will produce a 5,000-word article, as for publication, which explores the research and knowledge base of a specific practice issue.

  • Critical Reflection on Practice

    This module supports your professional development by offering the opportunity to review your practice against the nine domains of the Professional Capabilities Framework for Experienced Social Worker as either an advanced practitioner or an educator/manager. You will focus on enhancing your knowledge and skills related to professionalism and leadership in complex/high risk practice or education management. Learning supports the growth of advanced reflective and critically analytic skills and career development.

  • Enabling Social Work Through Emotionally Informed Practice

    This module enhances the knowledge and skills relevant to developing the practice of others, while promoting their emotional wellbeing and awareness. Its primary aim is to enable you to better support and develop the practice of others by using key principles of emotionally informed practice and strengths-based feedback. An emotionally informed approach provides increased focus on practitioner histories, emotional challenges and self-care.

  • Independent Learning for Advanced Practice in Mental Health or Social Care (20 Credits)

    In this module you will develop your evidence-based practice by exploring research evidence relevant to your area of practice which can support, enhance and improve practice in complex situations. Content will be guided by your specific practice area; your responsibilities and interests within it; the requirements of your professional body; and recent developments in relevant policy and practice. Themes include the promotion of a reflective, critical and ethical approach to practice. You will produce a 3,000-word article, as for publication, exploring the research and knowledge base of a practice issue.

  • Attachment Theory Informed Practice Across the Lifespan

    This module aims to equip social workers and professionals within related health and social care fields with an in-depth critical awareness of contemporary attachment theory and research. It is designed to inform your practice with vulnerable groups across the lifespan, particularly when thinking about longer term intervention work and trauma-informed approaches. This module will also consider developments within neuroscience, developmental trauma and related theories of attachment such as mentalisation.

  • Social Work Practice Education, Assessment and Supervision

    The learning in this module is aligned to the Practice Educator Professional Standards (BASW, 2019) and will enable you to complete your development as a qualified Stage 2 Practice Educator, building on Stage 1 competency attained via previous training/experience. The module covers the four areas of practice as defined in the PEPS: organisation of an effective learning environment; teaching and facilitation of professional development; assessment; and personal professional development as Practice Educator.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

More about this subject at 91¶¶Òõ

Careers

This MSc will advance you to the highest levels of the PCF and of social work practice. You will be more likely to secure a position as a strategic social work educator, principal social worker or strategic social work manager, depending on your chosen specialism.

Student working in the library

Fees and costs

Course fees

Please contact us for tuition fees for this course.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

  • Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
  • Student finance and budgeting while studying
  • About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and (pdf).

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that are included and any extras that you may be expected to pay while studying a course  in the School of Humanities and Social Science in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • For some assessments you may be required to print large format posters for presentations at a cost of £5–£10 per poster.
  • Most coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget up to £100 for printing.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies.
  • Some courses include an optional placement module for which students will need to cover the costs of travel to and from the placement and DBS checks as required.
  • For the Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling PGDip and Psychotherapeutic Psychodynamic Counselling PGDip, the following course-related costs are not included in the tuition fee:
    • Supervision fees: £1,170 for each full year. Estimated based on £45 per hour with fortnightly meetings. In some agencies, supervision will be provided at no cost. Where students have to pay, the cost will only begin when supervision begins.
    • Personal counselling/therapy: £2,000–£2,800 over the course. Estimated based on £40 per hour.
  • For a number of courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits. These are optional and are not required to pass your course but under normal circumstances we would expect a budget of approximately £150 per year will cover the costs of particular trips. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of 91¶¶Òõ seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you’ll find new Students’ Union, events venue and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our Moulsecoomb Place halls and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains so you can access all the exciting things happening in our home city.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

91¶¶Òõ: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

One of Time Out's 50 best cities in the world

“91¶¶Òõ has… all the important parts of a sprawling cosmopolitan metropolis (connections to London in under an hour, an array of properly excellent restaurants, energetic late-night spots) … with the easy-breezy beachy attitude to life that makes you feel welcome in an instant.”
Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World, 2025

About 91¶¶Òõ

The city of 91¶¶Òõ & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

91¶¶Òõ is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy – as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from 91¶¶Òõ to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from 91¶¶Òõ
91¶¶Òõ Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our 91¶¶Òõ Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at 91¶¶Òõ

Sport 91¶¶Òõ

Sport 91¶¶Òõ brings together our sport and recreation services. As a 91¶¶Òõ student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

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Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

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Take a tour of sport facilities on our Falmer campus

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Related courses 3 courses

  • Approved Mental Health Practice PGDip

    Read more

  • Social Work MSc (PGDip)

    Read more

  • Social Science MRes (PGCert)

    Read more

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