Social work & social policyOur courses

Department of Social Work & Social Policy 

The Department of Social Work & Social Policy, offer a rich portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that combine critical academic inquiry with professional relevance, preparing students to engage with complex social issues and make a meaningful impact in practice and policy.

From professionally accredited social work degrees to advanced specialist master’s and internationally focused social policy pathways, our courses prepare graduates for ethical, effective and professionally recognised practice across policy, practice and communities.

 

 

Our programmes

Browse our portfolio of postgraduate programmes in the Department of Social Work and Social Policy 

BA (Hons) Social Work

The BA (Hons) Social Work degree is a professionally recognised programme validated by the Scottish Social Services Council that prepares students for social work practice and offers opportunities to study or work abroad.

BA Education & Social Services

The BA Education & Social Services is a collaborative degree between the University of Strathclyde and partner colleges, designed to promote integrated working across education and social services to better support children, young people, and adults.

BA Social Policy

Examine Scotland’s social and economic landscape in a global context. Explore how to adapt policies for fairness across generations and communities.

Master in Social Work (MSW)

The MSW in Social Work is a two-year, full-time, professionally validated postgraduate degree that combines academic study, placements, and a dissertation to prepare graduates for recognised social work practice in the UK and beyond.

MSc Advanced Residential Childcare

The MSc in Advanced Residential Child Care is a unique UK Masters programme developed with CELCIS to build advanced practice, leadership, and research skills in residential child care in Scotland and beyond.

MSc Child & Youth Care Studies by Distance Learning

The MSc Child & Youth Care Studies (distance learning) offers an engaging curriculum focused on global childhoods, policy, children’s rights, and research, supporting the development of professional identity in child and youth care practice.

MSc Social Policy & MSc Social Policy (Research Methods)

Explore the factors shaping social needs and how societies respond. Build expertise and research skills to advance your career or studied and tackle real-world social challenges through an independent research project.

MSc International Social Welfare

This unique International Social Welfare Masters programme is aimed at students with an interest in international social work and global social policy. The course will provide advanced knowledge about the theory and practice of social work and social policy in an international context.

MSc Criminology & Social Policy

Explore the factors shaping crime and justice in a global context. Gain advanced research skills and tackle contemporary debates through an independent project

MSc Health & Social Policy

Examine how health and social policies shape wellbeing across societies. Develop advanced research skills and tackle real-world challenges through placements and projects

MSc Public Health & Social Innovation

Develop advanced public health knowledge alongside social innovation skills to respond to complex health challenges and improve population health outcomes.

Social Work

We're one of the largest providers of social work education in Scotland, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Our BA (Honours) in Social Work and the Postgraduate Diploma/Master in Social Work (MSW), are both validated by the Scottish Social Services Council.

Three post-qualifying programmes allow students to specialise in different areas of practice. These are:

  • MSc in Advanced Residential Childcare
  • MSc in Child & Youth Care Studies by Distance Learning
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health Officer Social Work (MHO) Award

We also offer the BA Education & Social Services.

Social Policy

Social policy is a discipline which looks at the welfare of societies and individuals. It provides an exciting opportunity for students to critically analyse contemporary social issues such as inequalities, disadvantage, diversity, globalisation and crime.

The courses we offer take an international and comparative perspective, ensuring that issues discussed are considered in their global context.

Our undergraduate BA programme and the Postgraduate programmes use a variety of engaging approaches to teaching and learning, where students have opportunities to actively engage.