Master's Degree Programme in
Welfare, Society and Social Work
Enrolment from 2025/2026

Summary
Academic year 2025/2026

Level of qualification

Master's Degree Programme

Ministerial degree code

LM-87 R (Social Services and Policies)

Language

Italian

Attendance

Open

Where

Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, Malcanton Marcorà, Dorsoduro 3484/D, 30123 Venice (Italy).
For further information please contact the Humanities Campus campus.umanistico@unive.it.

Head of studies

prof. Francesca Campomori (Teaching Committee coordinator, francesca.campomori@unive.it)

Access to the programme

Open admission subject to assessment of minimum requirements.
Quota reserved to non-EU students residing outside Italy: 10 seats.

Admission requirements

Admission onto the Master’s Degree programme in Work, Social Citizenship, Interculturality requires:

  • specific curricula requirements, matured with the obtainment of a definite number of credits in certain disciplinary fields
  • an adequate personal preparation;
  • understanding of English language at level B1.

Details about the assessment procedures are available in the webpage dedicated to admission and enrolment.

Admission with international qualification

Applicants with international qualification must have obtained a bachelor’s degree that is the result of at least 3 years of study. The preliminary evaluation of the qualification is mandatory. Procedures and deadlines are available on the online platform Apply.
International qualification will be evaluated by the designated teaching committee after the pre-evaluation procedure carried out on the online platform.
Further details in the webpage dedicated to admission and enrolment with an international qualification.

Course overview

The course prepares social work specialists and experts in welfare policies and social research from an Italian and European perspective.
During the course, students develop an advanced ability to analyse and interpret contemporary social phenomena, with particular regard to social and health inequalities, economic and employment inequalities, social marginality and exclusion processes, migration and intercultural relations, gender and generational issues and the environmental sustainability of welfare systems. Graduates in Welfare, Society and Social Work also acquire skills in analysing the evolution of social and citizenship rights and in understanding the transformations of welfare systems in Europe.

The 250-hour (10 ECTS) internship, which is an integral part of the training, can be carried out in social services, third sector organisations, research institutes or within the university. The internship can also take place abroad. 

Curricula / percorsi

  • Social work
  • Welfare policies and social research

Examination assessment and graduation

The educational activities include classroom teaching, workshops and internships, in order to acquire wide-ranging skills that can be readily transferable into the world of work.
During the whole university career, the various skills and knowledge acquired by students will be assessed through written and oral examinations.

The final test involves writing a thesis that is the product of thorough, original and relevant research on topics studied during the course. The work must demonstrate that the student has not only solid theoretical and methodological knowledge, but also the ability to apply it critically and personally to the chosen topic. The thesis may consist of a study based on secondary literature in which the student clearly highlights an original research question, or an empirical research project, which must contain specific and clear illustration of the theoretical framework that guides the research, as well as the methodology used.
The thesis work is guided by one or more supervisors and discussed before a board of teachers from the course, who will assess the scientific relevance.

Access to further studies

Professional Master's Programmes (1st and 2nd level) and PhD programmes.

Occupational profiles

Graduates can be employed as specialist social workers (after passing the state exam) in public and private bodies, authorities and organisations that provide social services, including third sector organisations or as a self-employed professional.
Graduates can be employed as social intervention officers in third sector organisations that design and perform personal services and social interventions on behalf of public bodies and non-governmental organisations that work in the field of international cooperation.
Graduates can be employed as an experts in social policies for:

  • public and private research centres, after completing further studies in Master’s or PhD courses
    universities, as a researcher, after completing further studies in Master’s or PhD courses
  • European or international public agencies (such as agencies within the EU or UN) that study and analyse social policies and welfare systems