MA Social Work Funding
The MA Social Work at the University of Suffolk is a two-year, full-time postgraduate course.
There are different funding options available depending on your circumstances. It is important to understand how much funding you may receive and whether you will need to contribute towards your tuition fees and living costs.
Tuition fees
The tuition fee for the MA Social Work for students starting in 2026/27 is £9,990 for the first year of study. 2027/28 tuition fees are to be confirmed, but could differ from current fees.
Tuition fees are payable for each year of the two-year course.
Postgraduate Social Work Bursary
Eligible students may be able to receive a Postgraduate Social Work Bursary, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
The number of bursaries available is limited, so being offered a place on the MA Social Work does not guarantee that you will receive a bursary.
For 2026/27, the postgraduate Social Work Bursary for students studying outside London can include:
£4,052 towards tuition fees
A non-income assessed bursary of up to £3,362.50
An income-assessed bursary of up to £2,721, depending on your circumstances
Additional allowances may also be available depending on your individual circumstances.
How much of my tuition fee will the bursary cover?
The Social Work Bursary does not cover the full University of Suffolk tuition fee.
For 2026/27:
University of Suffolk tuition fee: £9,990
Social Work Bursary tuition fee contribution: £4,052
Remaining tuition fee to pay: £5,938
You will therefore need to consider how you will pay the remaining tuition fee alongside your living costs.
What if I do not receive the Social Work Bursary?
If you are not awarded a full Social Work Bursary, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Master's Loan from Student Finance England, subject to the usual eligibility criteria.
For students starting an eligible Master's course in the 2026/27 academic year, the maximum Postgraduate Master's Loan available is £13,206.
The Postgraduate Master's Loan is one amount for the whole Master's course, rather than a separate loan for each year.
The loan is paid directly to you and can be used towards your tuition fees and/or living costs.
As the MA Social Work is a two-year course, the loan would normally be divided equally across the two years:
Maximum Master's Loan for the whole course: £13,206
Approximate Master's Loan in Year 1: £6,603
Approximate Master's Loan in Year 2: £6,603
The loan is paid directly to you and can be used towards your tuition fees and/or living costs.
How much of my tuition fee will the Master's Loan cover?
As the Master's Loan is spread across the two-year course, it is important to consider how much of your tuition fee you may need to fund yourself each year.
Year 1 calculation (based on the 2026/27 tuition fee):
University of Suffolk Year 1 tuition fee: £9,990
Approximate Master's Loan available in Year 1: £6,603
Potential remaining Year 1 tuition fee to fund: £3,387
If the tuition fee remained at £9,990 in Year 2, the indicative calculation would be:
University of Suffolk Year 2 tuition fee: £9,990
Approximate Master's Loan available in Year 2: £6,603
Potential remaining Year 2 tuition fee to fund: £3,387
This would mean that, based on a tuition fee of £9,990 in each year:
Total indicative tuition fees over two years: £19,980
Maximum Master's Loan across the course: £13,206
Potential remaining tuition fees to fund: £6,774
Please note that the Year 2 calculation is illustrative and is based on the tuition fee remaining at £9,990. Students should check the applicable tuition fee for their second year of study.
It is also important to remember that the Master's Loan is intended as a contribution towards the overall cost of postgraduate study. If you use the full amount towards your tuition fees, you will still need to consider how you will fund your accommodation and other living costs throughout the course.
The Master's Loan is paid directly to you in instalments during each academic year; it is not paid directly to the University.
Further information about the Postgraduate Master's Loan, including eligibility, what you can receive and how payments are made, is available from Student Finance England:
Can I receive the Social Work Bursary and a Postgraduate Master's Loan?
If you receive any element of the Postgraduate Social Work Bursary, other than the Placement Travel Allowance, you will not normally be eligible for a Postgraduate Master's Loan.
If the only Social Work Bursary support you receive is the Placement Travel Allowance, you may still be eligible to apply for the Postgraduate Master's Loan.
Students should therefore check their individual eligibility carefully before deciding how they will fund their course.
Placement Travel Allowance
Students who are not awarded a full Social Work Bursary may still be eligible for a Placement Travel Allowance of £862.50, subject to the NHSBSA eligibility criteria.
Further information
You can find further information about the Social Work Bursary, including eligibility and how to apply, through the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
If you are unsure how you will fund your course, we recommend considering your funding options before starting your studies. The University of Suffolk Student Finance Officers/Money Advice Team can also provide guidance on Student Finance and other financial support that may be available.