Social work is about changing lives for the better.  Designed as a route into professional practice for graduates, the Kent MA is taught by qualified social workers. 

You have access to placements across a range of settings, allowing you to develop your practice and research skills and apply knowledge to practice. Our graduates become confident, competent practitioners. Home/EU students may be eligible to apply for a Department of Health bursary for both years of study.

The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR)

Social Work at Kent is part of the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, operating across Canterbury and Medway campuses.

The School supports a large and thriving postgraduate community. We have close links with employers such as Kent County Council, Medway Council and Avante Care, who not only provide student practice learning opportunities but are also engaged in joint research projects with us.

Our learning community also includes service users and carers who work with us to ensure that this programme and our research work represents a wide range of perspectives, including those of people who receive services.

The Social Work MA is based at the University's Medway campus and benefits from the excellent new facilities on site. Students also benefit from the insights and experience of a wide range of practitioners from different settings, through their teaching and evaluation of practice learning portfolios.

Funding

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is responsible for the administration of social work bursaries. Please refer to the NHSBSA website for the latest available information including the eligibility criteria.

We do not receive confirmation of the number of MA bursaries we will receive until the summer prior to the programme starting. There are generally fewer bursaries than students registered. We are obliged to provide the NHS Business Services Authority with a ranked list of students. Students are ranked according to their scores during the selection process for the written test and the interview. We inform students where they are ranked as soon as we know the number of bursaries we will receive. Social Work MA students who receive a bursary in stage 1 of their programme, will also receive it in stage 2.

Students who do not receive a bursary, but meet the eligibility criteria, are currently able to apply to the NHSBSA for a Travel Allowance to help with placement-related travel costs.

Students who do not receive a bursary may also apply for the Postgraduate Loan from Student Finance England.

In addition, Kent offers generous financial support schemes to support eligible postgraduate students during their studies. Find out more on our fees and funding page.

Think Kent video series

Over a third of the UK’s 6.5 million carers are aged 65 years and over. Older carers have a distinctive profile. They disproportionately provide intensive levels of care and tend to care for longer hours over many years. Reluctance to identify as ‘a carer’ and ask for help from services also means older carers care unaided.

In this talk, Dr Alisoun Milne explores why older carers are at significant risk of poor physical and mental health, reduced quality of life and poverty, and cannot be assumed un-problematically to protect their own health and well-being. These are matters of social justice.