Professional Development (Social Work) - MSc/Postgraduate Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate

Content

This programme is very flexible, and you will liaise with the programme leader and the relevant people within your organisation to develop a learning plan that supports your personal and professional goals.

Your learning is supported by a wide range of online learning materials and tutorials. The only compulsory module is the Work Based Learning Project, which will reflect your individual route.

Work-Based Learning Project

This requires evidence of work, research or volunteering. You will have an appointed supervisor to plan and guide your work to evidence how you have developed your social work practice. The extent of work involved in this module depends on the award route you take.

You also select from a range of modules relating to social work and professional practice, and can choose taught modules from a wide range of UWE courses as well as bringing credits obtained from other Higher Education Institutions that we will assess and, if appropriate, accredit to your award.

In particular, you may want to consider modules offered by the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences.

You can provide evidence of your learning from other in house courses and study materials by undertaking Independent Study or Evidencing Work Based Learning modules. You may wish to use the Accreditation of Experiential Learning process to evidence your learning and gain additional credits.

The table below shows the credits that you need to achieve a particular award and the number of credits you will need from the Work-based Learning Project module.

AwardCredit TotalCompulsory UWE Work-Based Learning Project ModuleDegree with honours360At least one 40+ credits in size at level 3 or aboveGraduate Certificate60At least one 15+ credits in size at level 3Graduate Diploma120At least one 15+ credits in size at leave 3Postgraduate Certificate60At least one 15+ credits in size at level MPostgraduate Diploma120At least one 15+ credits in size at level MMasters Degree180At least 40+ credits out of a total of 60 UWE credits

You may also want to explore other options for learning by UWE such as the activities offered through 'Making Research Count'.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods depend on the modules you choose to study. As well as presentations and lectures from UWE Bristol lecturers, we also work with practitioners, researchers and managers with expertise in specific areas of social work. There are many opportunities for small group work and discussion to facilitate peer learning.

We work closely with social work agencies to design and deliver the course. Practitioners and managers are involved in teaching, assessing and quality assurance of the programme to ensure it reflects current developments and best practice in social work. Members of the social work service user and carer hub group contribute to the programme in a variety of ways.

For more detail see our glossary of teaching and learning terms.

Study time

You negotiate your study time with your employer. Taught modules are usually delivered one day a week or a couple of days a month.

Assessment

Assessment for the work-based learning elements of the programme is through coursework, which typically comprises reflective essays and work-based projects. Assessment techniques reflect the practical and applied nature of the programme.

For more detail see our full glossary of assessment terms.