What to expect from my social work program

I wanted to see if there was anyone who is currently on or has done the Masters degree in social work at Oxford brookes university, who could provide some insight into what I can expect in regards to the work load/contact hours, support etc

Thanks!

Reply 1

OxfordBrookesDan

Official Rep

Original post

by Geepearce5

Hi,

I hope you’re well! I didn’t study Social Work myself, but I did complete a master’s degree at Oxford Brookes, and I’m happy to share what I know about the MA Social Work course based on the course page and my experience of doing a master’s at Brookes.

The MA in Social Work at Oxford Brookes is a full-time, two-year course, including study during some summer months. The course includes seven core modules, along with a research methods module and a dissertation, which allows you to explore a particular area of interest in more depth. For the dissertation, you will have a supervisor and have regular contact with them, typically weekly. It’s likely to be an 8,000 - 10,000 word limit, as specified here.

In terms of teaching and contact hours, most sessions are scheduled Monday to Friday, typically between 9 am and 4 pm. The Social Work course is delivered using a blended learning approach, which combines in-person lectures, seminars, group work, role-play, and input from guest speakers and service users, along with some online content. Occasionally, you might have sessions outside of the usual hours, but this doesn’t happen too often. My master’s had a similar approach: I had 3-hour block lectures per module, with one a week per module alongside workshops, practicals, etc. Whilst Social Work may not have the 3-hour block lectures, you can expect at least 3-4 hours of contact time per week per module.

A major part of the course involves professional placements. In the first year, there is a 70-day practice placement, and in the second year, you’ll undertake a longer, 100-day placement. Both placements are fully supervised and are designed to help you develop key skills in line with the Professional Capabilities Framework. These experiences are central to preparing for qualified social work practice and are a valued part of the course.

Assessment of the MA Social Work programme is varied. It includes written assignments, class tests, interviews, portfolios, presentations (sometimes referred to as vivas), and the final dissertation. This range of assessment methods is designed to reflect the practical and academic demands of the profession. At Oxford Brookes, the Schools / Departments have postgraduate events that are designed to provide degree-relevant skills like being interviewed, using reference managers or preparing for presentations, so you’ll have the opportunity to experience each assignment style via a workshop.

On a more general level, student support at Brookes is really strong. The university has Faculty Student Support Coordinators who provide academic and personal support on a one-to-one basis. There’s also a wider Student Welfare and Support team, offering help with things like mental health, wellbeing, financial concerns, and practical advice throughout your time at university.

The course is approved by Social Work England and is aligned with the standards set by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). It also has a very strong track record of employability, as almost all graduates secure qualified social work positions either before they finish the course or shortly afterwards. This is helped by Oxford Brookes' close partnerships with local authorities and voluntary sector organisations.

I hope this gives you a helpful overview of what to expect. The official course page has even more details if you’d like to explore further. Feel free to ask me any questions - I’d be happy to help!