Skip to Content
MSc | Postgraduate Taught

Advanced Social Work Children, Young People & Families

Entry year
Academic Year 2025/26
Entry requirements
2.2
Attendance
3 years (Part-time)
Places available
25 (Part Time)

The overarching aim of this new programme is to enable child and family social work practitioners working in a range of social care settings in both the statutory and voluntary sectors, to develop advanced knowledge and skills to enhance their practice within their current work setting. The programme will develop students’ understanding of the contemporary children’s social care environment, current themes and practice debates, including: evidence-based assessment and intervention; core and advanced systemic practice skills; effective engagement with service users (children, parents, carers and wider family members); and ethical tensions and challenges. It will emphasise the translation of learning into effective practice through a clear focus on values, critical thinking, reflective practice and skills development linked to the student’s practice context that will be incorporated within both teaching and assessment methods. Students will be equipped with the intellectual and practical skills to engage in research inquiry at an advanced level, developing their capacity to incorporate practice research into their everyday practice and to answer complex research questions aimed at improving practice and service delivery for vulnerable children and their families.

Closing date for applications Friday 27th June 2025 at 4pm

Advanced Social Work Children, Young People & Families highlights

Course Structure

All modules will be taught face to face, unless Health and Safety conditions preclude it. All modules (bar the final MSc dissertation module) will be worth 20 CAT points with 3 modules running per year, each lasting six days. Four modules will run over a 6-week period (1 day every week) with the exception of the two systemic practice module which will run across the 2 semesters with 2-day teaching blocks over 12 weeks. This is to give students time to reflect on the teaching and apply this to their practice. Students will have the option of exiting with a PG Cert, PG Dip or MSc.

People teaching you

Programme Director

SSESW
l.bunting@qub.ac.uk

Teaching Times

Weekly lectures and workshops running from 09:00 - 17:00

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:

Consolidation of Learning

Students have regular small group workshops/sessions led by a facilitator to consolidate and apply course learning.

Assessment

Assessments associated with this programme are outlined below:

  • Assessment is written assignment and oral presentation, including reflective practice learning portfolio and annotated case-based presentation.

Facilities

The School is situated across a suite of three buildings in Belfast's Queen's Quarter. We provide student and staff common rooms, computer suites and designated study spaces.

Explore the teaching and social spaces in our School through our 360 Virtual Tour:
https://youtu.be/vB0jafwkgd0

PREV
Overview

NEXT
Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

Entrance requirements

Applicants should normally hold a second-class honours degree or higher. Where this academic requirement is not met, they must satisfy the programme lead that their experience and qualifications equip them to undertake postgraduate study through a written assignment.

Applicants must also possess a social work qualification recognised by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and be registered with the Council.

Applicants should have completed their assessed year in employment (AYE).

All applicants must be currently engaged for at least 12 hours per week in a children’s social care setting in a capacity in which core social work values underpin their practice with service users or carers.

Applicants must be enrolled on the PiP Consolidation or Specialist Award on the NISCC portal.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

PREV
Modules

NEXT
Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

This programme provides knowledge and skills which are highly valued in both child and adult services across health and social care.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

PREV
Careers

NEXT
Apply

How to Apply

Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Download a prospectus