Master of Social Work (MRMA) continuing education programme
The Master of Advanced Studies in Social Work as a Human Rights Profession (MRMA) qualifies you to implement human rights issues in practice, teaching and research. In this cooperative Master's programme offered by ASH, SFIVET and KHSB, you will acquire the skills you need to deal with the transnationalisation of social problems and contribute to the anchoring of human rights in practice.
Study social work as a human rights profession
If you would like to study the Master of Social Work - Social Work as a Human Rights Profession in Berlin, you have come to the right place: on the cooperative Master's degree programme offered by ASH, EHB and KHSB, you will benefit from a perfect mix of theory and practice. You will acquire the latest scientific findings in social work and related sciences. In exchange with fellow students who already have professional experience, you will gain valuable insights into practical professional experience from other areas of social work during your studies.
You will learn to adopt a research-based attitude. This will enable you to critically reflect on and further develop both the profession and the academic discipline of social work. As a graduate of the Master of Social Work programme, you will make an important contribution to society in terms of solidarity. At the same time, the degree offers you a wide range of career prospects in areas with a high demand for specialists. The Master of Social Work is a degree programme in which you set your own specialist focus. On the way to graduation, you will sharpen your personal professional profile.
Here you can get an overview of the content of the Master's degree programme in Social Work as a Human Rights Profession over the course of the semester and the areas of study. We show you the areas of study that are covered in the course of the modularised study programme. Detailed information on the specific teaching and learning content of each semester can be found in the module handbook, which you can find under "Organisational matters" below.
3.-4th semester
Methodical action / project phase
- Selected concepts of action in social work
- Scientific theory, quantitative/qualitative research methods
- Social problem areas, human rights-based fields of practice
- (Inter)national project work, reflection on social-professional action
- Economics, management, organisational development
Special features
The Master of Social Work - Social Work as a Human Rights Profession is a cooperative study programme of the three Berlin universities for social work (Alice-Salomon-Hochschule Berlin, Evangelische Hochschule Berlin, Katholische Hochschule für Sozialwesen Berlin). As a student of the Master of Social Work - Social Work as a Human Rights Profession, you can take part in courses of the English-language Master of Social Work as a Human Rights Profession (MA-SWHR) at ASH. There is also an academic co-operation with the German Institute for Human Rights.
Project-orientated learning and research
A core element of the programme is project-oriented learning and research. You will develop, realise, evaluate and present your own practical project. In doing so, you will not only deepen your theoretical and methodological knowledge. You will also strengthen your critical understanding of the interconnectedness of the institutional, social and economic framework conditions of social work. At the same time, the project study programme will help you find a topic for your successful Master's thesis. Further information on the
Compatibility of studies, career and family
This degree programme is designed as a part-time course. Teaching usually takes place once a month in blocks on the premises of the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Berlin, the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin, the German Institute for Human Rights or the Berlin Science Centre.
We support your self-study with e-learning elements and well-structured teaching materials. This gives you enough flexibility to combine your studies, career and family. The degree programme is eligible for educational leave in Berlin and Brandenburg. We will be happy to advise and support you in successfully organising your personal study path.
Scope of study
The degree programme is modularised and is divided into 8 modules with a total of 17 courses, which are usually offered as four-day block courses every month in the first year and three-day block courses every month in the second year.
The programme begins with a 14-day spring university, the 2nd year ends with a one-week project presentation series.
The Master's thesis, which is completed in the fifth semester, can be designed as the basis for a subsequent dissertation.
Upon successful completion of the programme, the participating universities award the academic degree Master of Social Work (MSW). The programme comprises a total of 90 credit points.
The course content is taught in face-to-face units as well as in project counselling and coaching (face-to-face and online).
Due to the part-time nature of the programme, it is not necessary to relocate to Berlin.
Admission requirements
Professionally qualifying university degree as well as subsequent qualified practical professional experience of generally no less than one year.
Admission criteria (decisive if there are more applicants than places available):
- Desirable: two years of professional experience in social work
- Good knowledge of English and basic knowledge of research methods
Application
Application procedure
The degree programme starts every two years. The next application deadline is 1 December 2025.
Please complete our application form online. In the form, please upload your application documents as a merged PDF document.
If you are admitted to the degree programme, please send us a certified copy of your certificate documents by post upon request. The semester will then begin in March 2026.
Application documents
- Letter of application outlining your motivation and personal educational goals for this degree programme; CV in tabular form; A short written paper (approx. 3-5 pages) dealing with a current topic from practice, management, research, teaching or the planning of a project in the field of social work, alternatively excerpts (approx. 3-5 pages) of your last academic (final) thesis or other relevant written work samples; certified copy of your first university degree (certificate and transcript of your bachelor's, diploma, master's or state examination)
After completing the Master's degree programme in Social Work as a Human Rights Profession, you will be equipped with comprehensive social-professional skills and well-equipped to work successfully in your professional field.
Specifically, the programme will enable you to
- to reflect on the philosophy, ethics, theory and practice of social work in connection with the idea, history and practice of human rights,
- to develop a scientifically and ethically based autonomy of professional judgement and action,
- the professional handling of criticism, conflict situations or institutional resistance,
- to deal with human rights with special consideration of social rights with regard to Poverty/unemployment and wealth, age, illness/disability and self-determination, racism and migration, gender relations,
- to recognise topics relevant to human rights in social policy, theory, problem areas and fields of action in social work and thus in their (own) practice and organisation,
- to implement the programme content in research projects and innovative practice development.
Career prospects
Costs
9.600 for the entire degree programme.
The amount is payable in 30 monthly instalments of €320 each. This includes tuition, coaching vouchers, all examinations and the provision of study materials. The university's semester fees are also included.
Tax deductibility (information without guarantee)
You may be able to claim expenses for further education against tax. Further training costs that are related to your profession, in which knowledge is expanded or your professional position and income are secured, are tax-deductible as income-related expenses.
Employers and the self-employed may be able to deduct the costs as business expenses.
Further qualification
The academic degree Master of Social Work paves the way for further qualification: The degree Master of Social Work - Social Work as a Human Rights Profession is formally equivalent to Master's degrees from universities and generally entitles you to a doctorate. Further details can be found in the doctoral degree regulations of the respective universities. The degree also gives you access to the higher civil service.
If you have not completed an undergraduate degree in social work/social pedagogy (Diplom or Bachelor) in your first degree programme, you cannot receive state recognition as a social worker with a Master's degree in social work in accordance with the provisions of the Social Professions Recognition Act (SozBAG). You can find information on this on the homepage of the Berlin
