Social Work - 2012 entry

Course content

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.

Faculty

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Social Work and Public Health

Course length

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

Teaching location

Headington Campus, Marston Road site

Start date

September 2012

UKPASS code

P044867

Entry requirements

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 year’s 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.

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.

Scholarships and funding

A limited number of scholarships are offered by Oxford Brookes University. Applicants who have been offered a full-time place on this master’s course are eligible to apply for the following scholarships:

John Henry Brookes Scholarship

The John Henry Brookes Scholarship is awarded to home/EU and international applicants for academic excellence. Each scholarship will be paid towards the tuition fee for a taught master's degree. The awards do not include a maintenance grant.

Social Work Bursary

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) offers bursaries to social work students. Entitlement to a bursary depends on individual circumstances - please visit their website for further details.

The Department of Health have confirmed that no changes will be made to the social work bursary for the 2012 academic year. Existing students, including those starting in the 2012 academic year will continue to receive the bursary.

Funding

International applicants will be asked to pay a deposit of £1,000 to secure a place on the course.

General sources of information about finance and financial support for international applicants can be found at: www.brookes.ac.uk/international/finance

All applicants (UK, EU and international) will be required to provide details of their funding arrangements prior to enrolment on the course.

For general sources of financial support, see:

• funding for students from the UK and EU
• funding for students from outside the EU

Why Oxford is a great place to study Social Work

As a student in Oxford you'll be at the heart of the UK's most successful economic region and in a centre for leading industries which provides you with a host of learning opportunities.

Because Oxford is one of the world's great academic cities, it is a key centre of debate, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place across education, science, the arts and many other subjects.

In addition to our own excellent libraries and resource centres, our postgraduate students have access to the world-renowned Bodleian Library, the Bodleian Law Library and the Radcliffe Science Library.

Support for students studying Social Work

All our courses adopt a student-centred approach to teaching and learning and are strongly focused on encouraging you to attain your full potential as lifelong learners.

There is a range of support mechanisms for students, such as academic advisers, who will facilitate your academic development, and student support co-ordinators, who provide a drop-in service for queries about any aspect of student life, covering both academic and personal welfare.

The university’s support services include Upgrade, which provides advice on study skills such as planning and writing essays, assignments and dissertations, research, or preparing for an exam. They also give advice on statistics and maths. There is a dedicated Student Disability and Dyslexia Service, which provides support for students with disabilities including sensory and mobility impairments, dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties, mental health problems and medical conditions. Here, staff offer advice and support on a range of issues, including physical access, funding, alternative assessment arrangements and liaison with teaching staff to ensure that they are aware of your requirements.

EU/International students

As a new EU or international student you will join the Academic and Cultural Orientation Programme, which has been set up to enable you to make a smooth transition into study at the university. Within the sessions, you will explore the culture of the university, which will assist you in developing the appropriate academic skills required for your programme of study. The university also provides a comprehensive range of support networks and services to EU/international students. For more information, go to www.brookes.ac.uk/international/support

How Brookes supports postgraduate students

Supporting your learning

From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.

Personal support services

We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.

Research excellence

We have a number of both promising and senior, experienced researchers working in established areas including cancer care, children and families, drugs and alcohol, physical rehabilitation and enablement and interprofessional education & collaborative practice. Over the past few years, these researchers have won external research and consultancy contracts including grants, fellowships and studentships for NHS staff. Our research staff collaborate with researchers from across Oxford Brookes University, with researchers from the Institute of Health Sciences at Oxford University, and with research teams from many other UK and international centres.

Our academic staff have extensive experience of NHS and general management at both senior and director level. They also have a significant record of research and publications on the topics of management and leadership. The currency of the course is also assured by the lecturers' close involvement in the health and social care sector and their movement between that sector and education.

We are very pleased with the results received in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 70% of our research in Allied Health Professions and Studies was rated as being of international significance in the assessment of research, and of this, 10% was rated as world-leading. The university has been careful to nurture emerging research strengths, and the international standing achieved by subjects Allied to Health demonstrates significant progress since 2001.

For more details about our research portfolio, go to our website