If you are interested in applying for this programme, please contact the programme leader Kim Tran k.tran@herts.ac.uk in the first instance to discuss before you submit an application. 

Course Overview

This Master’s degree is designed for social workers who want to advance their professional practice and obtain an academic qualification. The programme is designed to enhance your current knowledge and understanding and give you opportunities to challenge and critically evaluate your professional practice. 

The Programme can be undertaken for up to 6 years. It offers fantastic flexibility in that if your circumstances were to change during your studies, you can choose to study fewer modules, gain less credits, and graduate with a diploma or postgraduate certificate.

Please note that entry to the programme can only be in semester A or B. You can study semester C modules individually. 

Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirements for the programme are:

• Applicants are registered with Social Work England 
• Candidates hold a first degree in Social Work  – those who do not have a first degree or equivalent are expected to evidence successful completion of at least 30 credits of Level 6 study.
• Applicants meet any pre-requisites identified for each module studied.
• Employed within a Social Work environment with appropriate qualifying experience.

Course Structure

The programme is offered in part-time (normally up to 6 years) mode and leads to the award of a MSc Advanced Social Work Practice. 

The award of MSc Advanced Social Work Practice requires 180 credit points, including at least 150 at level 7 and successful completion of:

30 credits from the core modules; 

90 credits from either the core or optional modules, accredited short courses from the AMS post graduate framework.

30 credits can come from other relevant HSK modules, short courses or modules from another School and 60 credits from the research modules.

Please see the download to the right hand side of this page for more details of the structure.

Where Will I Study

Most of the taught sessions take place on the College lane Campus and/online. However, some sessions may take place on other University sites.  

Teaching Methods

• Modules are facilitated by a variety of experienced lecturers from the University as well as external expert speakers.
• The mode of delivery varies and in the light of the Covid pandemic, previously taught modules may be delivered by a digitally enabled learning method in reflective and innovative ways to enhance your learning experience. 
• You will need to have access to a suitable personal computer and a good reliable Internet connection. 

Assessment Methods

• Modules are assessed by a variety of methods for example essays, presentations, reports, written and practical examinations.

Whether your passion is to improve social work practice for children or adults, or to enhance mental health provision, our part time programme invites you to study alongside work. We offer a mixture of taught sessions, workshops, and seminars, some of which are recorded so you can access the teaching whenever you want.  We’ll encourage you to analyse, explore and reflect upon your own experiences and share them with your peers. Working together, we’ll build upon your reasoning skills. We’ll teach you the knowledge and competencies you need to develop policies and manage initiatives. You’ll investigate ways to support individuals, groups and communities who are experiencing complex difficulties. Together, we’ll explore the changing face of social work.   

This programme has the following core/optional modules

7HSK2003: Best Interest Assessor

7HSK0293: Leadership Education and Developing Others

7HSK0168: Advanced Decision Making

7HSK2085: Coaching Skills for Leading

7HSK0306: Leading Service Change

7HSK2049: Preparation for Research Project

7HSK2048: Research Project

7HSK0308: Research Methods

7HSK2001: Safeguarding: Working with Risk and Opportunity

7HSK2007: Shared Decision Making

7HSK2000: Concepts and Theories on Well-being

7HSK0361: Informed Consent - NOT AVAILABLE IN 24/25

7SCZ2024: Practice Educator

7HSK2129: Negotiated Learning 1

7HSK2130: Negotiated Learning 2