Social Work

Social work is a profession grounded in the values of human dignity, social justice, and the right of people to live self-determined lives. Social workers work with some of the most vulnerable individuals and communities in society, supporting children at risk of harm, adults experiencing mental illness or disability, families in crisis, older people needing care, and communities facing systemic disadvantage. The work requires a combination of deep professional knowledge, strong interpersonal skills, and the ethical clarity to make difficult decisions in complex and contested situations.

At York you will study this four-year full-time Master in Social Work programme, which leads to qualification and eligibility to register with Social Work England as a social worker. York is one of the UK's leading social policy and social work universities, and the programme combines rigorous academic study with substantial practice placement experience across children and families, adult, and other social work settings. You will study law, social policy, human development, social work theory, and research methods alongside the values, communication skills, and reflective practice that professional social work demands.

Practice placements develop your professional competence and ensure that your academic learning is grounded in the realities of working with real people in complex situations.

Qualified social workers from York are in high demand across local authorities, NHS trusts, voluntary organisations, and independent social work providers. Career paths include children's social work in child protection, looked-after children, and early intervention teams; adult social work in mental health, learning disability, and older adults services; and specialist roles in forensic social work, substance misuse, and community development. Many social workers go on to develop specialist qualifications, such as Approved Mental Health Professional status, or to take on practice education, management, and consultancy roles.

York's social work qualification is well regarded by employers and postgraduate study opportunities in social work and social policy are strong.