MA in social work

alsshazza

Hi
I am hoping somebody may help me... I have recently completed a criminology/psychology BA Hons degree and gained a 2:1. I have the necessary mark to apply for a postgraduate social work degree course, (which is what I would love to do in September 2012) however, I am worried about the financial costs. I am married with two young boys, my husband works full-time, and I work part-time, however our annual income is only about £20,000 between us. My dilemma is if I applied and was successful I would be unable to continue working, would I be entitled to any financial help towards the cost of the degree and living costs. The university fee is £8,250 per year, the course is full-time for two years..

Sorry it's a bit long-winded, but I would appreciate any advice forthcoming. Thanks in advance:T

shegirl

Just done a quick google search on my phone and there are bursaries available for some courses so that would be worth checking out.Have you asked your uni if your course is eligible for a bursary? Have a look on https://www.gscc.org.uk and google a bit,postgrad social work degree bursaries are nhs funded apparently so you may get some help.if not,could you do it part time?

shegirl

Here's the link to bursary info https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/841.aspx

mummytofour

If you are looking at studying sw I would think very long and hard about the benefits of a sw masters. Have a look at the jobs avalible in your area, how many of them want 2 yr post qualifying experience? How easy will it really be to get a job as a sw? What area of practice do you want to go into?

Being a recent sw grad I can assure that many many ppl who qualify in sw are not getting jobs as sw. often jobs are in similer roles but without the title sw. Many such jobs you could be applying for with your current degree. Also the sw degree and masters is very very hard work. Working full-time and studying full-time with few actual sw jobs at the end of it, I would not recommend sw as a masters choice, especially with your current qualification.

You have a very good degree which could lead you in a lot of different directions.

Oldernotwiser

mummytofour wrote: »

If you are looking at studying sw I would think very long and hard about the benefits of a sw masters. Have a look at the jobs avalible in your area, how many of them want 2 yr post qualifying experience? How easy will it really be to get a job as a sw? What area of practice do you want to go into?

Being a recent sw grad I can assure that many many ppl who qualify in sw are not getting jobs as sw. often jobs are in similer roles but without the title sw. Many such jobs you could be applying for with your current degree. Also the sw degree and masters is very very hard work. Working full-time and studying full-time with few actual sw jobs at the end of it, I would not recommend sw as a masters choice, especially with your current qualification.

You have a very good degree which could lead you in a lot of different directions.

I have to disagree with quite a lot of this, although you may well be right that about the availability of jobs, depending on area.

I don't understand what you mean about working full time whilst doing the MA full time, I doubt that many people would be daft enough to try to do this.

In my experience a Criminology degree on its own is very little use and most people would've been much better to have done a SW degree. The fact that people with SW degrees are going into related fields doesn't surprise me and actually shows that it isn't a narrow vocational degree but has applications in many areas.

mummytofour

Sw work students are required to undertake 100 days of placement working. This is on top of the academic work which is equivalent to, if not more than many other courses. Hence my comment regarding full-time working combined with full-time study.

I did however miss the part about the degree undertaken via op having a criminology component not just psychology however I still stand by what I have said and would consider that there are many sw related areas the op could work in without undertaking a masters in sw. I do not wish to undermine the sw masters, I learnt a lot from my under grad course but I did want to highlight that obtaining a masters in sw may not be the only way for the op to access her chosen vocation.

Plus many sw employers want two years post qualifying experience.

froglet_2

A forensic social work route could be a good option with your degree or maybe youth offending. Psychology is a big basis for most social work so those skills would be very useful. I have a feeling fees are paid for MA... but not sure. I would ring Student Finance to find out about that side of funding. Also, many unis offer bursaries for progression or being a mature student. Maybe some places are still offering the employment based route too, where they pay for you to do the course.

kittycatface

I'm on a social work MA in Sheffield now. Fees were £4,200 for this year and the NHSBA pays them up to a value of £3,732. Check with the prospective uni if you can pay any remainder in instalments to spread costs.
My situation is different from yours in that I am single with no children, but I got a full bursary of £3362.50 basic grant and £2608 maintenance. This is added together and paid to you in 3 instalments - first comes a couple of weeks after you enrol, the 2nd in January and the 3rd in April.
You should also be eligible for the NHSBA childcare allowance.
The Tories are thinking (as usual) about "rationalising" this system (probably means cutting!). Any planned changes shouldn't affect the 2012 entrants, but any issues just email the NHSBA who are quite efficient and helpful. The Department of Health delaying the publication of bursary amounts and forms on the NHSBA website made applying difficult last year, but applications are normally open from May - basically once you know you have a place.
Other funding:
Each university will have an access to learning fund:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Typesoffinance/DG_171615. Contact them direct for the sort of things they pay out for. Each uni is different but one woman on my course gets her petrol and parking paid thanks to the fund.
Try Family Action Trust Grants Search too:
http://www.family-action.org.uk/section.aspx?id=1403

The 100 day placement is full time so you will be doing 'normal' working weeks and expected to do a continuing portfolio of written work alongside it. Its Feb-July each year. However if you are organised it is possible to work part time the rest of the year and holidays. My uni is 2 full days of lectures a week so it helps those who have to juggle childcare and work responsibilities.

I understand what both previous posters say about job prospects, but bear in mind that you will qualify in 2014 and the 'market' for social workers may be a different one. It's your life, your finances and your goals - wishing you all the best with them!

studentcd7

Hi,

I will be graduating next year from a BA Politics degree with a strong 2:1, I have trained as a Personal Assistant, Safeguarding training etc, and I have just started to volunteer with children through Barnardos, for which I have undergone lots of training, CRB etc. Also I intend to work as a home carer immediately after I finish lessons in May.

I am desperate to get into Social Work and want to do an MA in 2013, other options appear to be a diploma, Msc, or the step up to social work scheme,

what do you think are my chances of getting into these courses given my minimal experience, (I have some life experience also), and are there any routes I have ignored?

Any advice at all would be massively appreciated!

Thanks

welsh_mum_of_three

Am almost finished on my LLB law degree and hoping for a 2:1 high if all goes well. (don't want to jinks myself lol).
Was thinking of going to do the MA masters in social work have experiance of support work with vunrable adults but now think I want to go in to be a social worker with children. My dream job would be CAFCAS.
Hope there are jobs out there when qualified. As I am in Wales was hoping the fact I am fluent in welsh will help when it comes to getting a job.

cheekychick81_2

I am just coming to the end of my Social Work MA at York Uni.

The truth is there are very very few jobs and the ones that are available want one/two years post qualifying experience.

The course has been hard work, I have no children but have been paying mortgage and bills on a 3 bed house on my own so working 15 hours on top of my placement.

I have been on placement 40 hours a week 13 out of the last 14 months, its hard work. On top of that in the last 17 months I have written 10 3500 word essays and now have a 16,000 word dissertation to write and another essay on top of that. Ive also had to keep a reflective journal and write 3 reports per placement that have totalled over 50,000 words for each placement.... and then theres the reading... policies etc... journal articles... it goes on!

Have I enjoyed it? Ive not had chance stop to take a breath but ive just accepted a job that will pay nearly £10,000 less that a social work job and less than my part time job before uni, after 6 years at university!

So I would advise that you think very carefully

i hope that helps......