MA
Understanding Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse
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Why study this Masters at Goldsmiths?
Examine the impact of being abusive or being abused. You will look at theoretical perspectives considering abusiveness and its impact in different international, cultural and social contexts.
- This MA Understanding Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse is unique and represents the first psychologically informed programme of its kind.
- It is particularly suitable for people wanting to increase their grasp of the interplay between mental distress, domestic violence and sexual abuse.
- Your learning will be underpinned by a unique synthesising of psychodynamic, systemic, cognitive behavioural and social theories to examine the impact of being abusive or of being abused. The programme focuses on looking at practice and research from these theoretical perspectives and will consider abusiveness and its impact in different cultural and social contexts from childhood to older age.
- The learning will be provided by a cross-disciplinary team that covers approaches from the social work, community and youth work, cross-sectoral arts, and therapeutic approaches including art and dance psychotherapy, psychodynamic, counselling and cognitive behavioural approaches.
- The programme will offer a blended learning approach with a mixture of online and face-to-face contact. The online components will be largely focused on the acquisition of theoretical knowledge through computer-mediated activities via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
- The classroom-based content of the programme will have an emphasis on experiential and reflective learning, which will help you understand the process of identifying, assessing and managing both perpetrators and victims. This aspect of the programme will be delivered in blocks (including some Saturdays) to make the study more accessible to working adults.
- You may take individual modules separately (see below) or exit with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma.
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Other ways to study
This programme is available via Distance Learning or by studying individual modules as part of a Continuing Professional Development plan.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Doireann Larkin.
Length
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) a degree of at least second class standard in a relevant subject, and be able to demonstrate significant experience. You might also be considered if you aren't a graduate but have experience and can show you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
Fees
Home - full-time: £11250
Home - part-time: £5625
International - full-time: £24350
Department
What you'll study
Students are required to take 180 credits at Masters level. The programme can be taken over one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Theories, Policy and Interventions: working with adults in the context of domestic & sexual abuse | 30 credits |
| Multidisciplinary Research Methods | 15 credits |
| Group Work: Power, Identity & Conflict | 30 credits |
| Working with Children, Adolescents and their parents | 30 credits |
| The Impact of Trauma – Distress, Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth | 15 credits |
| Dissertation | 60 credits |
Assessments
Assessment is through a combination of extended essays, journals, reports, assignments and a dissertation.
Assessments build on lectures and seminars so students are expected to attend all taught sessions to build knowledge and their own understanding of their chosen discipline.
All assessed work is accompanied by some form of feedback to ensure that students’ work is on the right track. It may come in a variety of forms, ranging from written comments on a marked essay to oral and written feedback on developing projects.
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a relevant/related subject. You must also be able to demonstrate significant experience in either health and social care, psychological therapies, or experience from the third sector in a specialist abuse service.
You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
How to apply
Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your academic qualifications
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
- Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.
If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline.
Selection process
Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.
Find out more about applying.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £11250
- Home - part-time: £5625
- International - full-time: £24350
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
Explore the Goldsmiths scholarships finder to find out what funding you may be eligible for.
Paying your fees
Find out about paying your tuition fees.
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.
Meanwhile our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Careers
Where this degree can take you
It is expected that a number of professionals will use either the course credit or the degree to supplement their CPD portfolios, which are a requirement for the majority of these professionals.
For workers with extensive experience this programme (or its constituent courses) will provide a sound basis in theoretical knowledge and current research, which will help them develop their current work and increase their potential for further advancement in the field.
The UK has developed recognised forms of intervention in this field that have an international application and relevance. Issues regarding domestic violence and sexual abuse have an international public health and human rights dimension, which makes the programme internationally relevant.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.
Skills you'll gain
The MA will develop skills including:
- A knowledge various theoretical perspectives
- An understanding of cross-disciplinary work within the field
- An understanding of the different international, cultural and social contexts from childhood to older age within the field
