MRes Social Work

Qualifications and durations

• Full-time MRes (90 credits - 1 year)
• Full-time Postgraduate Diploma Research (60 credits - 9 months)
• Full-time Postgraduate Certificate Research (30 credits - 4 months)
• Part-time MRes (90 credits - 2+ years)
• Part-time Postgraduate Diploma Research (60 credits - 21 months)
• Part-time Postgraduate Certificate Research (30 credits - 16 months)

Overview

The MRes Social Work programme is designed for;

• research training (it is not a qualifying programme for those seeking to become social work practitioners),
• those developing careers as applied researchers and evaluators in social care,
• prospective PhD students in Social Work.

The programme systematically reviews and critically evaluates a range of theories, methodologies and paradigms of research that are relevant to social work, and the application of these to specific areas of social enquiry in which students are specialising.

Within an active research community, students are supported in identifying, investigating and realising their own research. Students are equipped with the skills to contribute to social work research projects using any of the main methodologies of the social sciences.

The excellence of the research undertaken within the Department of Social & Policy Sciences has been recognised most recently by the award of the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2011. We were also ranked 2nd in the country in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.

South West Doctoral Training Centre

This MRes is accredited by the Economics & Social Research Council (ESRC), specifically, as part of the larger South West Doctoral Training Centre (SWDTC). It forms part of the Social Work Discipline-specific Pathway.

The MRes can be taken as a course in its own right, or as part of the 1 + 3 (MRes + PhD) pathway, where successful graduates could proceed onto an MPhil or PhD in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences.

If applying for an MRes + PhD (the 1 + 3 programme) you should indicate on the Application Form, your preferred PhD route.

Progression from the MRes to the MPhil or PhD stage is dependent on achieving an acceptable level of achievement (typically an overall average of 60% on at least the taught component of the MRes).

Programme structure

Core Units

• Short research apprenticeship project (MRes)
• Quantitative methods 1: introduction to quantitative methods
• Ethical issues in research, policy and practice
• Long research apprenticeship project
• Research for social work: values, methods and contexts
• Qualitative methods 1
• Principles & skills of social research
• MRes Dissertation

Optional units

• Quantitative methods 2
• Qualitative methods 2

View Programme & Unit Catalogue for further information.

Please note:

• The programme catalogue and units listed above are applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only and should be treated as an example of the programme content. Students beginning or continuing their studies in 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that later years of a programme will be in the format displayed here.
• Programmes and Units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
• Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.

Learning and teaching

Our programmes are modular, consisting of self-contained units, taught and assessed on a semester basis. As you progress through each semester and successfully pass the examinations, you will receive credit for the units, thus providing you with a clear indication of your academic progress.

Teaching takes the form of lectures, classes and seminars. Lectures are quite formal, whereas classes and seminars involve interaction between the lecturer and a small number of students for study skills and discussion.

Methods of assessment

Assessment consists of a combination of coursework essays, class exercises, projects, oral presentations and examinations.

We also place strong emphasis on developing presentation and discussion/communication skills, which in many units is part of the assessed work.

Careers

The Social & Policy Sciences department is committed to ensuring that postgraduate students acquire a range of subject-specific and generic skills during their training.

Our graduates generally go on to work in a wide variety of organisations, such as:

• Social research in universities and research institutes, government, business, voluntary organisations and international organisations.
• Public policy analysis at local, national and international levels.
• Public information and campaigning within organisations concerned with wellbeing, sustainability and social justice.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• First or 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject, from a recognised university. or
• an equivalent degree in another subject, together with substantial relevant work experience.

The minimum non-graduate qualifications acceptable for admission to this course are:

1. A relevant postgraduate diploma or Higher National Diploma passed at the appropriate level.
2. A relevant professional qualification together with papers passed at an appropriate standard if required by the appropriate Head of Group.
3. Extended and responsible experience in a relevant field together with authorship of papers of an acceptable academic standard.

English Language requirements

Certificates must be dated to within two years of the start of the programme of study.

• IELTS 7.0 (with not less than 6.5 in each of the four components)
• TOEFL 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test) with a score of not less than 4 in TWE or 100 (internet-based test) with not less than 24 in each of the components.

If you wish to improve your English proficiency before commencing your studies, pre-sessional language training can be arranged through the English Language Centre.

References

• Two references are required. At least one of these must be an academic reference.

Read details for how to apply to study.

Financial information

Costs

• Tuition fees

Potential sources of funding

• ESRC funding will not be available for 2013/14 - details for 2014/15 will follow.
• Studentships and Scholarships

Deadlines

We suggest you apply before the following dates if you wish to study this programme:

• 30 June 2013 for International Students (who need to apply for a UK Visa).
• 31 August 2013 for Home/EU students.
• Funding deadlines for Studentships and Scholarships

Contact

Email: sps-pgt-admissions@bath.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 38 6634

Related links

• Department of Social & Policy Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Graduate School