Key information
Duration: 2 years full time
Institution code: R72
Campus: Central London
UK fees*: £10,100
International/EU fees**: £21,500
The course
Social Work (MSc)
We will accept applications via the UCAS Undergraduate Portal with course code L508 or via "Apply Now" above to our direct portal.
*(please note, the tuition fees and entry requirements for 2026 may differ from the information shown on this page)
Society needs skilled and empathetic social workers – and they’re made at Royal Holloway. Take this professional course to register with Social Work England and start making a difference.
With soaring inequality and rising poverty there are diverse contexts where people face extreme hardships. With two practice placements, you’ll learn what it takes to advocate for people’s basic rights and needs.
To design course content, we consult an advisory group of people with lived experience. Alongside our teaching team of academics and qualified professionals, they’ll contribute in the classroom too.
Surrounded by social work experts
- Benefit from excellent partnerships with local authorities, NHS Trusts, and voluntary sector services across London and beyond
- In the classroom, engage in and develop applied research skills and knowledge with the support of experienced social work researchers
- Be taught by qualified social workers with extensive experience, including NHS team managers and specialist child and family social workers
Insight into current issues
Royal Holloway graduates work in local authorities, voluntary and third sector organisations nationally and internationally. Many students are employed through their second placement.
You’ll stand out with your knowledge of theory, social justice, ethics and applied research-informed skills. Hearing about our latest research will also give you insight into crucial areas like equalities, collaborative practice and sustainability in social care.
We sometimes make changes to our courses to improve your experience. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Course structure
Core Modules
Year 1
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This module supports learning and demonstration of key knowledge and skills for social work practice. It initially prepares students for entering practice settings through the Readiness for Direct Practice content. An understanding of the practical application of core themes integral to social work practice will be developed, including professionalism, service user & carer perspectives, ethics and social work values, communication skills and reflective practice. The centrality of people with lived experience is emphasised alongside the development of a professional identity in line with the Professional Capability Framework (PCF), SWE Standards of Education and Training, and Knowledge and Skills Statements for both adults and child and families’ practice.
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On this module you will learn how to use social work theory and methods when practising critically and ethically with service users and carers from diverse backgrounds in a variety of settings. This module supports your learning and demonstration of key knowledge and skills for social work practice and you will develop understanding of the practical application of core themes integral to social work practice including: professionalism, service user & carer perspectives, ethics and social work values, communication skills and reflective practice. Core skills teaching include developing communication, group work and critical reflection skills, as well as a grounding in social work values, anti-oppressive practice, safeguarding, assessment and use of supervision.
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This module aims to equip you with critical perspectives on human growth and development across the life course. You will be introduced to a range of theories which enable you to critically explore human development and life experiences taking into account the impact of the environment, contextual and structural factors. You will be introduced to an adapted version of the Tavistock model of child observation, providing opportunities for observational learning through undertaking child observations and seminar groups. You will be encouraged to develop your reflective and analytic skills to evaluate and apply theories and observational skills to social work practice across the lifespan.
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This module aims to introduce students to key law and policy that social work students will need to know and be able to use in their practice. Specifically, the module will prepare students to be able to apply key legislation and policy in relation to social work practice with children and families, adults with care and support needs and people with mental health problems. Students will gain an awareness of the court systems, both civil and criminal, and the legal basis for the provision of social care services. The module will support students in developing an understanding of the role of social policy and how it influences social work practice, as well as helping students understand how inequalities impact welfare arrangements and the role social workers should have in addressing disadvantages within our society.
Year 2
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This module aims to develop students’ understanding of critical social work and the social and structural contexts of social work practice. Drawing on lectures on power, rights and voice, you will assess how you can take account of these issues in social work practice, before considering intersectionality across characteristics including poverty, gender, race, sexuality, disability and others. Critical reflection seminars will help to consider how placement experiences can be understood using the lens of critical social work and as a result there is an applied focus in this module.
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You will undertake a mandatory 100-day placement and taught content will be delivered through workshops and problem-based learning seminars. The taught content will provide you with an understanding of social work with different groups of people and across different settings. This will involve looking at core skills such as assessment, decision-making, working with risk and multi-disciplinary work and how these are applied differently when working with different groups and in different settings. There will be a focus on professionalism and leadership through problem-based learning seminars and a focus on employability.
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The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the debates underpinning the process of conducting research and the generation of knowledge in social work. You will discover a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and the module will enable you to plan our Dissertation and develop critical and analytical reading and writing skills.
Teaching & assessment
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including essays, case studies, examinations, presentations and a dissertation.
30 days on social work skills are integrated across the two-year programme at which attendance is mandatory.
Students are required to successfully complete one 70-day and one 100-day practice-learning placement. Practice learning is assessed by experienced practice educators and the production of a portfolio on completion of placement.
Entry requirements
2:2
UK Lower Second Class Honours degree (2:2) or overseas equivalent.
Preference will be given to applicants with a wide range of relevant experience and a grade 2:2 or above degree classification and overseas applicants must have an equivalent level of experience.
A minimum of 6 months full time or 12 months part-time relevant experience working with vulnerable adults or children is required at the point of application.
As part of the application, references supporting the application should be related the work experience, however we may ask for a professional or wokr reference if a suitable reference could not be provided.
If successful at interview, all applicants will be aksed to complete a self-declaration form (declaration of criminial convictions) before enrolling onto the course.
International & EU requirements
Bachelors Degree/ Bachelor Honours Degree: GPA 2.6
Masters degree: GPA 3.0/ 80%
Diplomë e Integruar e Nivelit të Dytë:or Diplomë e Nivelit të Parë: 7/10, or Master i Shkencave në Mjekësi të Përgjithshme / në Mjekësi Veterinarë / ne Stomatologji: 7/10
Licence, Diplôme, Diplôme d'Études Supérieures, Diplôme de Docteur en Pharmacie: 11/20
Batxelor: 5/10
Grau de Licenciado/a: 13/10
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5
Título, Grado de Licenciado/A: 6/10
Specialist Diploma, (Diplom bakalavri astichan), Bachelor degree from American University of Armenia: 70%, GPA 3.0 out of 4, or 14 out of 20
Bachelor degree (Honours) with a 2:2, or a Bachelor degree (Ordinary) with a Pass with 57% overall.
Bachelor degree or Fachhochschuldiplom/Diplom (FH): Bestanden- PASS, Befriedigend - Satisfactory, or 3 out of 5
Bachelor degree (Bakalavr) or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: 2:2, GPA 2.5
Bachelor degree: 2.6/4 or 3.2/5 or 65%
4 year Bachelor degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) with a First Class Division or a Masters Degree following a 3 or 4 year degree.
Specialist Diploma 6/10, or Bachelor Degree 8/10
Bachelor degree with grade 12 overall or the Licentiaat or Licence and other two cycle diplomas with grade 12 overall.
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: 2:2 or GPA 2.5
Diplôme d'études Approfondies/Supérieures/Master: 13 out of 20
Bachelors degree: 60%
Licenciado/Titulo de.... :60%, or Titulo de Bachiller Universitario: 70%
Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja / Diplomirani with Grade 8
Bachelors or Masters: 60%
Título de Bacharel/ Titlo de... 6.5/10
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: 2:2
Bachelor (Honours) Degree: Lower Second Class, or Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree GPA 2.5/5
Bakalavar or Diploma of Completed Higher Education with a Grade 4 out 6 overall.
Diploma d’Etudes Approfondies: 13/20
Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies: 70%
Masters degree: 60%
12/20 or GPA 2.5/4
4 year Bachelor degree with 62%, a GPA 2.5 out of 4, Grade 6 out of 12 or grade C+ overall OR 3 year Bachelor degree with 73%, a GPA of 3.1 out of 4, Grade 8 out of 12 or grade B overall, depending on the grading scheme.
Grau de Licenciado/a: 13/20
The University of the West Indies, or University of College of the Cayman Islands: 65%
Diplome d’Ingenieur (non-honours): 14/20
Diplôme d'Etat de Doctorat en Médecine, Diplome d'Etudes Approfondies 13/20
Grado de Licenciado en..., or Grado de Bachiller: 4.6/7
4 year Bachelors degree with an overall 65% to 70% or GPA of 2.8 to 3.0 out of 4.0 depending on the institution.
Licenciado en, Licenciado en, or Diploma de: 3.5/5
Licenciado, Bachiller: 7.5/10
Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées, Diplôme d'études approfondies, Diplôme d'Etat de docteur en Pharmacie: 13/20
3 out of 5 overall in the Baccalaureus Prvostupnik or Visoko Obrazovanja/Level VII/1 (second level degree obtained on completion of 4-6 year course).
Titulo de Licenciado/ Arquitecto / Inginiero / Doctor: 3.5/5
Overall 6.5 out of 10 or a GPA of 2.5 out of 4 in a Bachelor degree from a public university, Ptychion (from University of Cyprus) or Bachelor degree awarded by a private institution (the programme must be accredited by the Ministry of Education and Culture).
Bakalar with dobre (good), score of 2 or Grade C overall.
Diplome d’Etudes Speciales, Diplome d'Etudes Approfondies, Maistrise/Diplome d'Ingenieur/Diplome d'etudes superieures:
7 from 13 points grading system or 4 from 7 points grading system in a Bachelor degree, Candidatus Philosophiae or Professionbachelor.
Diplome d'Ingenieur Bien, or Maitrise/ Master: 14
The University of the West Indies: Lower Second Class Honours, or BSc in Nursing from Dominica State College
Licenciado/Titulo: 75%
Titulo de Licenciado/a from Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e
Titulo de Licenciado/ Titulo: 7/10 OR 70%
University bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.4 overall or 65% overall
Licenciado/ Titulo de: 6.5/10
Masters Degree: 2.6/4
71-80%, 3 or C overall in a Bakalaurusekraad/Diploma, Magister or Magistrikraad
2.5 out of 4
Bachelor Degree: 2.5 or overall grade Satisfactory
GPA of 1.4 where marks are in 1 - 3 system or GPA of 2.5 where marks are in 1 - 5 system in a Kandidaattii/Kandidat or Maisteri/Magister
Licence awarded from 2009 with grade 10-11.99 or Maitrise (pre-Bologna) with grade 11
Diplome D'Ingenieur, or Maitrise: Bien
Master's degree: 60%/ GPA 2.7/4.3
Bakalarvis Khariskhi: 71%
Grade 3 overall in a Bachelor, Fachhochschuldiplom or Magister Artium
Bachelor degree with a Second Class Lower Division overall.
6 out of 10 overall in a Diploma from the Faculties of Engineering and Agriculture or a Ptychion (Bachelor degree) awarded by an AEI.
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5
Licenciado/ Titulo: Pass mark of 51% University: 60% or Pass mark of 61% Universities: 70%
Diplôme d'Etat de docteur en médecine, or Diplome d’Etudes Superieures/Maitrise/Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies : 14/20
65%, or 3.0 out of 4
Titulo de Licenciado/a/Grado Academico de Licenciatura: 70%
Bachelors degree degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division.
Egyetemi Oklevel /Foiskola Oklevel/ Alapfokozat with 3 out of 5 overall.
Baccalaurreatus with grade 6.5 out of 10 overall or Kandidatsprof / Cadidatus Mag with 6 out of 10 overall.
Bachelor degree with 55% to 60% overall or a CGPA of 5.5 to 6 out of 10 overall depending on the NIRF 1-100 institution ranking
Bachelor degree or Diploma IV with overall GPA of 2.8.
Bachelor Degree/Professional Doctorate with 12 out of 20 overall.
Bachelor’s degree (four years) with 70% overall.
Bachelors degree with at least 65% overall depending on the mark scheme.
Diploma di Laurea or Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti with 80 out of 110 overall.
Bachelor degree (when accredited by the University Council of Jamaica, or when awarded by the Council of Community Colleges of Jaimaica): Second Class Lower Division
Bachelor degree (Gakushi) with a B overall, dependent on the mark scheme.
Bachelor degree: GPA 2.8 out of 4, Good, C, 68%
Bakalavr or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5, 75% or 2.67 out of 4.33, or 2.67 out of 4 overall.
Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours (lower division) overall.
Bacelor/Bachelor Degree: C - Good
Bachelor degree with B or a GPA of 2.6 overall.
Specialist Diploma, Bachelor Degree, Masters Degree: 3.0 out of 4 or 4.0 out of 5
Masters degree: C or GPA 2.0
Bakalaura Diploms or Professional Bakalaura Diploms with Grade 6 overal.
Bachelor Degree/ Licence: 70%
Masters Degree: 65%
Master's degree: 70% or GPA 2.4 out of 4.0
Bachelor Degree of Medicine/Surgery/Architecture/Engineering: 65% or 2.6/4
Dipl Ing (FH) or Dipl Arch (FH) from Liechtenstein Technical College with a Grade 4.4/6 overall.
7 out of 10 overall in a Bakalauras or Specialist Diploma.
Bachelor or Diplome d'ingenieur industriel: 14/20
Licenciatura: Lower Second Class Honours or GPA 2.5
Diplome d'Ingenieur: 13/20
Masters Degree: 60%
Bachelor degree with Class 2 Division ii, B or 2.6 out of 4.0 overall.
Bachelor degree (Maldives National University): GPA 2.5
Diplôme d'Etat de docteur en Pharmacie: GPA 15 out of 20
Honours degree with a Second Class (Lower Division) overall.
Maitrise: 13/20
Bachelor Degree: Class II division II
Titulo de Licenciado/Titulo: GPA 7 out of 10 or 70%
Diplomă de Licenţă: 7/10
Bachelor degree (awarded after 2012): 80 out of 100
Masters Degree: 70%
Diploma o završenim osnovnim akademskim studijama: Grade C
Licence/Licence d'Etudes Fondamentales/Licence Profesionnelle: GPA 111 out of 20
Grau de Mestre: 12/20
Master's degree: 60%
Bachelor Honours / Professional Bachelor degree: 60%
Bachelor degree (4 years) or Master's degree (following a 3-year Bachelor degree): 65%
Bachelor degree or Doctoraal with Grade 6.0 out of 10 overall.
Bachelor degree Honours or Ordinary with an overall Grade C+ or Grade 3 out of 9 points grading system.
Licenciado/Titulo: 80%
Diplôme d'études Approfondies or Diplôme d'études Supérieures Spécialisées: 15 out of 20
Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division or overall GPA of 2.4 out of 5.
Visoko Obrazovanja with 7 out of 10 overall.
Bachelor degree GPA 2.6 to 2.8 depending on your institution.
Bachelor degree, Candidatus Magisterii, Sivilingeni-r (siv. ing.) (Engineering degree ) or Sivil?konom (siv. ?k.) (Economics degree) Grade D or 3.25 where 1 is the highest.
Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 2.6/4
4 year Bachelor degree or combined bachelors degree and Master degree for the duration of 4 years with 58% - 65% or a CGPA of 2.8 - 3.2 overall depending on your institution.
Bachelor degree: GPA 3.0 out of 4.0, 80%, B
Licenciado/ Titulo: 70%
Bachelor Honours Degree: Class II, Division B
Titulo de Licenciado/ TItulo: 3.5/5
Grado Academico de Bachiller: 13/20
Bachelor degree (awarded from 2022): 2.5/4, or Masters degree: 2.5/5
Licencjat, Inzynier or Bachelor with grade 4 out of 5
Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializadoswith grade 14 overall or Licenciado with grade 13 overall.
Bachelor degree: 70/100 or GPA 2.0 out of 4.0
Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 2.8 overall.
Maitrise: 13/20
Diploma de Licenta, Diploma Inginer or Diploma de Arhitect with 7.0 out of 10 overall.
Bakalavr Bachelor degree or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.
Bachelor Honours Degree: 13/20
Bachelor degree when studied at University of South Pacific, Samoa: GPA 2.5
Licenciatura: 13/20
Bachelor degree with 65%, 3.25 out of 5.0 or 2.5 out of 4.0 overall.
Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja (second-level degree obtained on completion of a four to six-year course) with 7 out of 10 overall.
Bachelor Degree: Lower Second Class
Bachelors Degree (Honours): Lower Second Class
Bachelor degree (from a public university) with a Class II (lower) overall.
Bakalar or Magister / Inzinier with vel'mi dobre (very good) or Grade 2 overall.
Diplomirani / Diplomirani Inzenir from Visoko izobrazevanje, University Diploma or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) with 7 out of 10 (8 for Visoko Obrazovanja) overall.
Bachelor degree when studied at University of South Pacific, Vanuatu: GPA 2.5
Bachelor (Honours), Bachelor or Professional Bachelor degree with 60% or Second Class Lower Division.
Bachelor (Haksa) degree with 3.0 out of 4.5, 2.9 out of 4.3 or 2.8 out of 4.0.
Bachelor Honours degree: 2.5/4.0 Division Two Lower
Licenciado, Titulo de Ingeniero or Titulo de Arquitecto with 6 out of 10.
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5 Second Class Honours, Lower Division
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5 Second Class Honours, Lower Division
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5 Second Class Honours, Lower Division
Bachelor Honours Degree: 60%
Bachelor degreee, Masters Degree, MO-B Akte Diploma: Met Genoegen (Good)
Bachelor degree: 70%
Bachelor degree from National University or Private University with 68% to 73% or GPA 2.8 to 3.0 depending on your institution.
Specialist Diploma: 3.5/5
Bachelor degree with a 2nd Class Honours (Lower) overall.
Bachelor degree GPA 2.4 to 2.6 depending on your institution.
Diplôme d'études supérieures, Diplôme d'études approfondies: 13/20
Bachelor or Masters degree from the University of the South Pacific: 70%/ B+
Bachelor degree (when accredited by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT)): Lower Second Class Honours
12 out of 20 (Assez Bien)
Bachelor degree GPA 2.6 to 2.8 depending on your institution.
Ýokary bilim hakynda şahadatnama: 3.5/5
Bachelor degree (accredited by the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica)
Bachelor degree: Class II Lower/ Honours Lower/ 3.0-3.9/ B
Bachelor degree (post 2007) or Specialist Diploma (after 1991) with a Grade 3, 9 out of 12 or 3.5 out of 5 overall.
Bachelor degree with 80%, a GPA of 2.8 out of 4, C+ or Good overall.
Bachelor degree with a GPA of 2.6 overall.
Bachelor Honours Degree: GPA 2.5 or Second Class Honours, Lower Division
Titulo de Licenciado/Titulo: GPA 7/12
Diplomi: 70%
Kandidatexamen with at least a Pass (godkand) overall.
Bachelor degree when studied at University of South Pacific, Vanuatu: GPA 2.5
Titulo de Licenciado/Titulo: 70% or 11 from high ranking institution
Bachelor degree or Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with 6.5 out of 10.
Masters Degree: 63%
Masters Degree: 55%
60%-64%, Second Class Honours, Lower Division
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 overall with 6 in Writing and minimum of 5.5 in each subscore
- Pearson Test of English: 67 with 61 in writing (no other subscore lower than 54)
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE IV.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL iBT: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 19
- Duolingo: 120 overall, 115 in Literacy, 115 in Production and no sub-score below 100..
Your future career
We will prepare you for a career in a range of social work settings. Once you are qualified as a social worker, you will be able to apply for registration with Social Work England You will also have the option of continuing your academic development through a range of taught post-qualifying programmes and research opportunities within the department. The MSc course also equips you with the subject knowledge and a solid foundation for continued PhD studies.
MSc Social Work graduates from Royal Holloway are actively sought after and recruited by our partner agencies and a wide range of social work employers in diverse and challenging settings.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £10,100
EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £21,500
Other essential costs***: You will need to travel to and from placements and may wish to apply for an NHS bursary to help cover transport costs.
How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.
* and ** These tuition fees apply to students starting their course on a full-time basis in the academic year 2026/27. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.
Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually. For further information, see fees and funding.
** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
The fee information above is for indicative purposes only.
