Hello all, im in a positive pickle and could really do with some advice from either current students or graduates.
I have luckily been offered two places on the MA in SW at Sheffield University and The University of Brighton and im completly stuck as to which option to go for. Though i recognize that Sheffield is ranked no 1 for Social Work and appeared a lovely university is it not geographically where i want to be. Although ranked much lower on the league tables the University of Brighton had a lovely vibe, teachers seemed of a very good standard and good facilities. Therefore....
My questions that i pose are -
- Does the university really matter for the MA to my long-term employment prospects? Do employers favour red brick over polytechnics for SW?
Do the quality of placements differ? Does the quality of teaching differ?
I have found very little information on any of the above topics on Google so i would really appreciate some advice. If anybody has studied for their MA at either of these universities i would also really really appreciate some feedback on the quality of teaching/placements etc. My career is important to me but so to is my quality of life and i really love Brighton as a place!! I just dont know what to do.
Thank you in advance.
I'd say follow your heart and go with brighton. It's all very well going to a brilliant uni, but if you arent truly content your work will suffer anyway.
plus no offence to sheffield, but i'd say there is definately a better standard of living down brighton way.
good luck.
Marbles78:. The only reason to choose a more 'prestigious' university for Social Work is if you plan to become a Social Work academic. Because no-one else gives a damn. Other than that go where you think you will be happy studying.
I concur with this. When you qualify and go for interviews, panels don't look at where you did the course, they look at the qualification and the registration.
Hi Charly88,
I think we met at the Sussex and Sheffield interviews? Congrats on the offers!
I was in a similar-ish pickle. I had to decide between Birmingham and Sussex. However, Sussex won based on the impression they left on me and the really concrete things (!!) like the vibe, the staff and the location. I think it really came down to where I thought I'd be the happiest.
I think it's a totally good shout to consider if the academic side of social work but I think if that is something you wish to pursue it would be after practicising for a bit and it wouldn't necessarily matter where you studied!?
Best of luck deciding!
Go with what feels right!!! You have to remember that you are going to be spending a good few years at the university and ensuring you feel happy and content with where you are living will be essential.
When carrying out my interviews for my social work degree, I knew instantly after carrying them all out that Bournemouth was for me. Not just the university, but the location, area and opportunities the local area gave to me. After three years here, I now have lots of contacts and a good knowledge of what job opportunities are available.
I dont think that what university you attend will put you in or out of favour when looking for a job. If you feel the quality of the course is good and the university fits what you feel is good, then go for it! :)
I've interviewed scores of people for both SW and CPN posts and I can't think of a single instance where the place they trained made a difference.
All courses have their pros and cons. Just because others feel that a particular course is the 'best' (whatever that means) doesn't mean it is the best for everyone. You'll get more from somewhere you want to be. So if Brighton's where its at for you, go for it!
A massive thank you to all that have taken the time to reply to my post. I have found all the information given extremely helpful, I finally think I can see the light from my positive conundrum!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am telling you, nobody is interested once you have gained your qualification about where it was obtained - the organisations are just grateful you have the social work degree. To this date no employer has every asked me where I studies and not only this, employers are also not itnerested as to what grade you achieved, somebody who gained a first in comparsion to someone with a third will not be given precedence, the grade is purely for your own satisfaction.
I went to a red brick Uni thinking it would put me ina better position but I don't know why I bothered because it makes absolutley no difference.
Go the University which you think is going to make you happy and give you what you want in teaching.
In terms of placments - all Universities struggle with placements it is purely pot luck if you obtain a good placement.
Hope this helps and good luck.
I am a curent student at University of Brighton doing an undergrad degree in Psychology and sociology and I am also from Brighton originally. I think you should definately go for the quality of the course rather than the quality of location. Although I love Brighton, my favourite part of it is the summer when I can go to the beach every day and May when we have the Brighton festival. Will you be studying at this time of the year because at other times of the year Brighon can be pretty dull as it's a small place. Ive never been to Sheffield though so I can't really compare. In terms of the actual universiy at Brighton, the facilities aren't all that great. The library is pretty small and underequipped and in terms of teaching, there's only really a couple of lecturers who I think have had a real impact on my learning. However, Brighton council have some great graduate job opportunities for NQSW's including a bursary of £3,000 in your final year if you choose to work in their children and families department when you graduate. There also seems to be social work jobs advertised constantly in Brighton so it would be a good place to be when you graduate. Brighton council also has a great reputation.
Hope this helps in your choice!
Hello!
Yes we did meet at Sussex and Sheffield, if my memory serves me right the lady in red? (Cue best singing voice)
You make a totally valid point relating to possibly entering the academic field, i surely won’t have a clue whether i wish to enter that sector until I spend in the working world. So i guess that factor is rather irrelevant.
Its been a really tough decision as they are polar opposite universities as well as locations. Im trying to get hold of a ex Sheffield student to pick their brains but to be honest im pretty swayed by the idea of living an idyllic life by the sea. Whether i have my priorities right is another matter!
Thanks for your input, im sure if i move to Brighton il see you around sometime!
Good luck with everything.
HA! I was indeed the lady in red! That dress has been the hardest working item of my wardrobe!
That's a good idea about chatting to someone at Sheffield. The academic side is something I'm open to but most of the academics I am lectured by at the moment (in the social sciences field) have tended to move around a bit and obviously academia means a PhD first though!
It's a toughie but also really, really exciting! Sheffield is a really cool city and the structure of the course seemed very much like that of a traditional masters. I know it's mega obvious but have you written down your pros and cons of both? Where were you most pleased to get an offer from? How did you feel after the interview? They both played a part in my decision.
Good luck with it all and let us know where you decide!
Hi!
I study the BA which is run jointly between Brighton Uni and Sussex Uni (redbrick over the road), and receive 50% of my teaching from Brighton, although the administrative side of the course (inc placements) is organised by Sussex. I can't comment in terms of potential employability afterwards, but can in terms of teaching pros and cons.
I think both uni's are great in terms of teaching quality. Sussex lecturers are academics - they have practiced social work of course, but many not for some years. Brighton lecturers feel more like social workers. Many of them are still in practice, or have practiced for a number of years before moving into lecturing. This comes accross in their practical, down to earth teaching, which I feel is more grounded in reality and prepares you for practice. Don't get me wrong, Sussex lecturers are great, but sometimes I feel a disconnect between their teaching and the real picture, which I don't feel at Brighton.
They are splitting the course up from next years intake, so will no longer run it jointly. If I were to advise anyone deliberating between Brighton and Sussex I would recommend Brighton. An added bonus is that the campus is small, it is mostly a social sciences campus, so some of the lectures are facilitated by academics from social policy and sociology which adds another interesting dimension, and also the library is devoted to the social sciences, and I feel that the library resources for social work in Brighon far exceed those at Sussex.
Brighton also a good location for placement opportunities and career options as is in between three councils, East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
Also, I don't agree with the previous comment that Brighton is dull in the winter! Although it's fantastic in the summer there are amazing things going on all year round and it's a vibrant and dynamic place to live, whatever the weather! Brilliant eating and nightlife, fantasic gigs and events, and a famous creative and liberal attitude - great place for fostering social work values!
Good luck with your course, whichever you choose.