Overview
Our Masters in Applied Professional Studies is for those already qualified in social work or an allied health profession looking to develop their career. It allows you to draw on your own experience and develop knowledge, specific to your role. The course is part-time so you can fit studying in around your personal and professional commitments.
Choose a degree pathway suited to your career goals
On this Applied Professional Studies course, you can choose to work towards the core Masters degree or specialise in one of our pathways. The pathways let you build your expertise in your field.
Whether you choose to follow the core degree or a pathway, you can work towards a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters qualification. The pathways are:
Child Welfare and Protection
Aimed at experienced professionals already working in child protection related fields who want to enhance their career and practice. It's suitable for social workers, health workers, police officers and teachers.
Management and Leadership in Social Services
Recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) it’s an appropriate qualification for registered managers. It’s suitable for those working in health, social work, education, occupational therapy or housing.
Adult Services, Support and Protection
This pathway is suitable for anyone who works within adult social care services or public protection. It develops your theoretical, ethical and practical understanding of support and protection practice and wider service delivery.
Expand your professional network
The Applied Professional Studies Masters offers a unique opportunity to build and strengthen your professional network. Throughout the course you’ll connect with a wide range of organisations across Scotland.
We collaborate with most of the local authorities in Scotland, several NHS health boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships. We also work with other third sector and public sector partners, giving you direct access to a diverse professional community.
Learn from leading experts
You’ll study under the guidance of an established and trusted teaching team. Our academic staff are distinguished authorities in their respective fields. They bring a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to the highest standards of teaching and research.
Many are qualified practitioners with extensive professional backgrounds. Wherever you aspire to take your career, they will provide the guidance and support to help you achieve your goals.
Top reasons to study with us
Professional accreditation
Our pathway for Management and Leadership in Social Services is recognised and accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council.
Flexible learning
Our flexible degree structure means you can study the following modules from the MSc Applied Professional Studies individually as stand-alone continuing professional development (CPD) short courses:
You can undertake another full pathway in second year or create your own portfolio of studies by selecting faculty modules on substance use, criminal justice and dementia. Additionally, staff deliver a critical inquiry module that supports you to deepen your knowledge of an aspect of your work and consider how to improve practice and service delivery.
You can opt to take time out and return to complete your Postgraduate Diploma and Masters award as long as you return within five years. You can also initially undertake just one module and receive university credit as opposed to undertaking a full certificate.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
When you study Applied Professional Studies at the University of Stirling, you’ll be introduced to pioneering empirical and theoretical research in a vibrant, multi-disciplinary environment.
Underpinning the expertise of our staff, the University of Stirling scored highly in the most recent Research Excellence Framework 2021 – a UK-wide assessment of universities’ research output. In the Social Work and Social Policy unit of assessment, we ranked 3rd in Scotland and top 25 in the UK – with 100% of our research environment and 88% of our research deemed world leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A Bachelor or Honours degree is required. Applicants without a first degree will be considered providing they can demonstrate an ability to study at degree level. Relevant work experience is required for all pathways. The social work practice education pathway additionally requires a social work qualification.
If you’re an international student and applying with a Tier 4 student visa, we unfortunately can’t accept your application for this course as it falls into the category of being part-time, delivered online or a distance learning course.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
Enhance your expertise in the areas of health and social services that matter most to you with our flexible MSc Applied Professional Studies. Study the core Masters degree or choose one of these pathways.
Child Welfare and Protection
This pathway supports experienced professionals in child protection such as social workers, health workers, police, and teachers, to advance their careers and practice. Employers need individuals with specialist knowledge and skills in child protection to be leaders in this key area.
You’ll build professional knowledge and competence through:
- consideration of key frameworks such as attachment theory and resilience,
- critical reflection on multi-professional judgement and decision-making,
- examination of the latest research and practice developments in care planning and intervention.
You can work towards the Postgraduate Certificate in Child Welfare and Protection which has been a benchmark qualification for over 25 years. It’s an important qualification for practitioners to have when applying for posts in safeguarding and wellbeing.
The Postgraduate Diploma lets you take your studies further and develop areas of professional expertise. The award is a recognition of advanced skills and knowledge in specialised areas of practice such as practice teaching, risk analysis, supervision and direct practice.
Complete the full Masters degree and graduate with a strong foundation in theory and research. You’ll develop the high-level thinking skills employers look for in senior leaders.
Management and Leadership in Social Services
This pathway is recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as an appropriate qualification for registered managers. It’s suitable for those working in health, social work, education, occupational therapy or housing. Graduates with this award have secured promotion or moved into strategic planning or senior management posts.
We have an established reputation for supporting both new and experienced managers to develop their skills and confidence as effective leaders. Studying alongside peers from different sectors helps you deepen your understanding of integrated services and the cross-sector collaboration that’s key to contemporary practice.
Adult Services, Support and Protection
This pathway is designed to develop your theoretical, ethical and practical understanding of support and protection practice and wider service delivery. It’s suitable for anyone who works within adult social care services or public protection.
The course explores the challenges of changing laws, policies, and services. It will help you rethink how to support and protect people through insights from leading researchers and experts. You can undertake your own critical inquiry and contribute directly to knowledge through your own dissertation.
Modules
Teaching
We take a blended approach to learning and teaching. There will be contact teaching days, either online or on campus, and structured learning days when you work independently using online teaching materials. Teaching includes live and recorded lectures, interactive activities and small and large group discussions. Module staff are accessible through email and offer individual tutorials as required.
Live and recorded sessions are led by University academics and researchers who are experts in their field, and by external practice subject experts. Their contribution enhances the contemporary relevance of the teaching and brings a critical perspective to the topics covered. This exchange of practice and knowledge expertise is replicated between teaching days through structured learning tasks, online discussion boards and peer assessment.
This course encourages a high level of reflection on your own practice, as well as application of learning to your professional role.
How you'll learn online
Self-directed study is supported through each module’s online learning platform that holds an extensive range of resources.
Assessment
There are range of ways in which your learning is assessed and all of them require you to reflect on your practice. Forms of assessment include a written assignment that takes a case study or thematic approach to your work; oral presentation and peer assessment of an article review.
Classroom hours
Contact teaching days generally run from 10 am to 4pm.
Course director
Dr Ariane Critchley, Course Director
Key staff
Joanne Nairn is the course support worker. You can email her at cpdsocialwork@stir.ac.uk.
Each pathway will have a lead member of staff who will make contact with you prior to commencement of your studies and you will have the opportunity to meet them at an induction session a few weeks before the teaching begins.
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
| UK and Republic of Ireland students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Full course fee | £9,100 | £18,700 |
| 20-credit module | £1,011 | £2,078 |
| 40-credit module | £2,022 | £4,156 |
| 60-credit module | £3,033 | £6,233 |
| UK and Republic of Ireland students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Full course fee | £9,500 | £20,600 |
| 20-credit module | £1,056 | £2,289 |
| 40-credit module | £2,111 | £4,578 |
| 60-credit module | £3,166 | £6,867 |
You will be liable to pay tuition fees for every module you enrol on.
Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course. If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees.
This fee is charged as a module fee. For more information on courses invoiced on a modular fee basis, please read our tuition fees policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
There is an additional fee of around £144 for IDI (Leadership Styles feedback) on the Leadership and Management module.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Scholarships
Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
The MSc Applied Professional Studies opens the doors to a variety of career opportunities in social services and allied health professions. Graduates will have the expertise and experience in their chosen specialism that employers look for in senior leadership.
The salary for Applied Professional Studies graduates in the UK can vary widely depending on the specific field, role, and level of experience. For example, as a senior social worker, with further responsibilities and experience, you can earn in the region of £39,000 to £45,000 in local authorities. It is £43,742 to £50,056 on Band 7 in the NHS. Some senior posts such as team manager, commissioning manager and head of service can earn more than this (Prospects January 2024).
Roles that some of our Stirling graduates have include:
- Child Protection Lead Officer
- Social Work Lecturer
- Head of Service
- Social Worker
- Team Manager of a Multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH)
- Postgraduate Researcher
These are some examples of organisations that our graduates work for:
- Dundee City Council
- University of West of Scotland
- Dumfries and Galloway Council
- Fife Council
- Falkirk Council
- NHS Lothian
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