Social workers are experts who assist adults, children, families, and communities to enrich their lives. They protect and support human rights and well-being. Masters in Social Work in UK is a full-time degree that may take 1.5 to 2 years to complete. The Social Work course with top universities in the UK is available as Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), or Master of Research (MRes) variant degree type.

With masters in social work in the UK, students can work as licensed social workers either as a freelancer or with charitable and corporate agencies. They have to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England. According to prospects.ac.uk, the average annual salary of a newly appointed social worker is 24,000 GBP, while with experience it can go up to 40,000 GBP.

Masters in Social Work in UK: Highlights

Degree Type MS, MA, MRes
Course Type Full-time
Course Duration 2 years
Eligibility Criteria Bachelor’s with 60%
English Proficiency Requirements IELTS (7.0)/TOEFL iBT/PTE
Average Salary 37,825 GBP (36 lakhs INR)

Top Universities for Masters in Social Work in UK

Mentioned below are the top universities for Masters in Social Work in UK.

University Course Deadline Tuition Fees (GBP)
University of Edinburgh Master of Social Work 25 January 2023 27,100
The University of Manchester M.A Social Work 26 January 2023 23,500
University of Bristol M.S Social Work 31 July 2023 22,000
University of Birmingham M.A Social Work 25 January 2023 21,150
University of Nottingham M.A Social Work 30 June 2023 21,500
University of York M.A Social Work 25 January 2023 22,250
University of Bath MRes Social Work 30 June 2023 21,400
University of Sussex M.A Social Work 25 January 2023 18,975
Royal Holloway University of London M.S Social Work 1 June 2023 18,200
Canterbury Christ Church University M.A Social Work Not finalised by university Not finalised by university

Table of Content

  1. What is Masters in Social Work in UK
  2. Why Study Masters in Social Work in UK in UK?
  3. Masters in Social Work in UK in UK: Admissions
    3.1 Eligibility
    3.2 Additional Requirements
  4. Masters in Social Work in UK in UK: Cost of Studying
    4.1 Tuition Fees
    4.2 Cost of Living
  5. Masters in Social Work in UK in UK: Scholarships
  6. Masters in Social Work in UK in UK: Job Opportunities
  7. Masters in Social Work in UK in UK: University Comparison
  8. FAQs

What is Masters in Social Work in UK?

Masters in Social Work in UK is a postgraduate program that will imbibe a positive attitude toward the society in students’ minds. It puts more emphasis on human life and focuses on topics such as social justice, equality and diversity, human rights, and advocating rights for those in need. International students who want to study MSW in UK universities can also pursue this course. At the end of this course, students have the knowledge and skills to

  1. Apply social work theories and law in their professional practice.
  2. Work with different people and understand their needs
  3. Contribute to social research for social work theories and practice.
  4. Value and practice ethically based on social justice.
  5. Understand the significance of cultural diversity and anti-discriminatory practice while working with organizations.

Why Study Masters in Social Work in UK?

Social Work is a respectable field in UK and the course enables students to work in a variety of settings and meet the needs of service users, families, and carers.

  • It makes the students capable to meet the requirements of the Professional Capabilities Framework (OCF) of the British Association of Social Work and the Knowledge and Skills Statements for Social Work.
  • The universities offering this course are among the top 100 universities in the world.
University QS World Ranking 2023
The University of Edinburgh 15
The University of Manchester 28
University of Bristol 61
University of Birmingham 96
  • During this course students get placements and practice social work for up to 170 days in at least two different settings working with people of different categories such as children, the elderly, and people with mental health needs.
  • After the completion of the course there is a range of opportunities in different fields. Students can work with local authorities, and private or voluntary organizations, in research or policy development.

Admissions to Masters in Social Work in UK

Applying to universities in UK requires students to complete their admission application online. Most universities and colleges in the UK use UCAS as a secure online application system that allows you to apply for Masters in Social Work.

Eligibility Criteria for MSW in UK

The minimum requirement to get admission to MSW in UK is to have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline while meeting the English language requirements.

University Academic Requirements English Language Proficiency
University of Edinburgh 60% OR 8.0 GPA on a scale of 10 in Bachelor’s degree IELTS - 7.0 TOELF iBT - 100 PTE - 62
The University of Manchester Upper Second class honors degree in any subject area IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 100
University of Bristol 60% in Bachelor’s degree in any discipline IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 95 PTE - 67
University of Birmingham 55-60% in Bachelor’s degree IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 95 PTE - 67
University of Nottingham 60% OR 6.0 GPA on a scale of 10 in Bachelor’s degree IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 100 PTE - 76
University of York 60% in Bachelor’s degree in any discipline IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 96
University of Bath 60% in Bachelor’s degree in any social sciences relevant subject IELTS - 6.5 TOEFL iBT - 90 PTE - 62
University of Sussex Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 50-65% IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 95 PTE - 67
Royal Holloway University of London Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 50-65% or CGPA 0f 5.5 to 6 out of 10 IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 97 PTE - 69
Canterbury Christ Church University Bachelors degree in honors with 60% IELTS - 6.5

Additional Requirements for MSW in UK

The extra requirements for completing the application procedure are listed below

  1. GCSE English and Maths Grade C/4 (General Certificate of Secondary Education)
  2. Official transcripts from previous institutions
  3. Personal Statements (SOP)
  4. Work Experience
  5. Letter of recommendation
  6. CV/Resume
  7. Clearing the Interview

Cost of Studying Masters in Social Work in UK

The cost of study for Indian students pursuing Masters in Social Work from some of the top-teir universities in UK is mentioned in this section.

Tuition Fees for MSW in UK

The tuition fees for studying MSW course in UK for Indian students is mentioned in the table below.

University Tuition Fees (GBP) Tuition Fees (INR)
University of Edinburgh 27,100 26,22,735
The University of Manchester 23,500 22,74,327
University of Bristol 22,000 21,29,158
University of Birmingham 21,150 20,46,895
University of Nottingham 21,500 20,80,768
University of York 22,250 21,53,353
University of Bath 21,400 20,71,090
University of Sussex 18,975 18,36,398
Royal Holloway University of London 18,200 17,61,394
Canterbury Christ Church University Not finalised by university NA

Cost of Living in UK

International student’s cost of living in the UK includes books & material costs, transportation costs, accommodation charges, etc. The following table suggests an average of minimum expenses required for studying in UK.

Expense Type Average Cost (GBP) Average Cost (INR)
Accommodation 670 - 1300 63,938 - 1,24,060
Food 200 19,086
Transportation 95 9,065
Internet 75 7,157
Clothing 100 9,543
Miscellaneous 50 4,771

Scholarships for Masters in Social Work in UK

Studying in UK can be a bit expensive for international students, therefore there are scholarships in UK that help them financially. The scholarships for Indian students wanting to study MSW courses in UK are mentioned below in the table.

Scholarship Eligibility Award (GBP)
Chevening Scholarship
  • Degree equivalent to UK 2:1 honoRS
  • 2 years work experience
  • Leadership and networking skills
  • Commitment to work in the home country for at least 2 years after completing masters
 100% tuition fees, plus accommodation and living costs, travel and expenses
GREAT Scholarships Hold an offer from University of Bath or University of York or University of Bristol or University of Edinburgh for a full-time postgraduate taught masters course starting in 2023 10,000
South Asia Postgraduate Excellence Award Hold an offer to start a full-time masters in University of Nottingham 2000-8000
Postgraduate 60th Anniversary Scholarship Have a conditional or unconditional offer to study at University of York 5000, 7000, or 10,000

Placements for Masters in Social Work

Students get various job opportunities in UK after completing their MSW studies. They get employed in Government and in the public, private and voluntary sectors. The average salary of a social worker in UK is 37,825 GBP (36 lakhs INR).

MSW in UK PLacements
Job Profile Average Annual Salary (GBP) Average Annual Salary (INR)
Social Worker 37,825 36,60,700
Child Protection Social Worker 61,386 59,40,931
Outreach Worker 24,020 23,24,653
Crisis Practitioner 34,147 33,04,743
Social Care Assessor 25,000 24,19,497
Mental Health Practitioner 37,268 36,06,793

University Comparison for Masters in Social Work in UK

The university comparison in this section will help you decide which university

University Degree Type Tuition Fees (GBP) ELP Requirements
University of Edinburgh Master of Social Work 27,100 IELTS - 7.0 TOELF iBT - 100 PTE - 62
University of Manchester M.A Social Work 23,500 IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 100
University of Bath MRes Social Work 21,400 IELTS - 6.5 TOEFL iBT - 90 PTE - 62
University of Bristol M.S Social Work 22,000 IELTS - 7.0 TOEFL iBT - 95 PTE - 67

If you enjoy assisting others and want to develop an essential and gratifying career, a social work degree might be the best choice for you. Depending on your interests, you might work with children, old aged people, people suffering from mental health issues, or those struggling with family, financial, or addiction concerns. If you are social-minded, kind, and want to change the world by helping others, a masters in social work in UK can lead to a challenging but really meaningful career path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques: What is the eligibility for MSW in UK?

Ans: To get admission to an MSW course in UK, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with 60% and pass the English Language requirements, IELTS - 7.0, or other tests like TOEFL iBT.

Ques: How much is Masters in Social Work in UK?

Ans: The tuition fees for Masters in Social Work in UK universities range from 18,000 GBP to 27,000 GBP (17 lakhs - 26 lakhs INR). There are other costs such as living expenses that students need to keep in mind.

Ques: Is MSW in demand in UK?

Ans: MSW is among the most in-demand professions in UK.

Ques: Can international students study social work in UK?

Ans: International students can definitely study Masters in Social Work in UK. They have to meet the eligibility criteria according to their home country and pay the tuition fees as Non-EU students.

Ques: How many years is Masters in Social Work in UK?

Ans: Masters in Social Work in UK is a 2 years course in UK offered by the top universities.