Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
Advance your skills and knowledge for a fairer world. As societies tackle modern challenges, social workers address structural inequalities and ensure people do not experience marginalisation. This professionally accredited, post-qualifying degree enables you to effect meaningful change.
In this program you will:
- Develop your skills as a critically reflective and analytical social work practitioner
- Build the advanced innovative knowledge and skills required to undertake social action, community development, policy analysis and development, advocacy and research
- Integrate classroom learning with practical workplace experience in a huge range of fields, including health and mental health, child protection, disability, substance abuse, family violence, homelessness, working with young people, families, the elderly, refugees and Indigenous communities
Location
CRICOS code
Duration
Full-time or equivalent part-time Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.Indicative fees
Indicative 2025 fees (A$)
CSP / Fee-paying Annual fee / Estimated total feeStart
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
Semester 2 commencement is available as part-time only and is not available to international students on a Student Visa.
- Start
-
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Delivery mode
-
- Blended Learning
- Total courses
- 12
- Total units
- 192
- Duration
- 2 years 2 years
- CRICOS code
- 073869J
- UniSC program code
- AR707
Required courses (12) 192 units
SWK700 Science Research Methods(36 units)
SWK701 Earth's Surface Processes(36 units)
SWK703 Introduction to Environmental Management
SWK704 Plant Diversity and Ecology
SWK705 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology
SWK706 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
SWK708 Environmental Impact Assessment
SWK710 Communicating Sustainability
SWK777 Integrated Environmental Management
SWK785 Measuring Sustainability
SCS725 Indigenous Peoples and the Environment
SCS730 Planning and Environmental Law
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
To be eligible for admission:
Applicants must hold a relevant 3-year Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) that contains at least one year, or the equivalent, of full-time studies in social and behavioural sciences. This is the minimum entry requirement as set out by the ASWEAS guidelines (2019).
If an applicant's prior degree has not specifically addressed the above, they may be required to undertake additional foundational study as determined by the School of Social Science (usually the Program Coordinator of Master of Social Work (Qualifying)).
To be accepted into the program, international students who have not completed a Year 12 or equivalent secondary school level qualification or higher qualification in the English language consistent with the requirements for admission to AQF Level 9 degree course in Australia must have a minimum score of 7.0 or higher in each component (listening, reading, writing and speaking) of the Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test upon application.
Applicants must complete a Personal Statement Form (up to 500 words) detailing the following:
- What is your motivation to choose a career pathway into Social Work and what are the qualities you bring
- How do your previous studies and experience align with the degree
Applicants may also be required to attend an interview.
English language requirements
Post admission requirements
A student’s enrolment in field education will be conditional upon the following:
• the student’s eligibility for a Blue Card at the time of the first enrolment in the program
• maintenance of that eligibility throughout the entire program
• acquisition of a Blue Card prior to commencement of field education cable
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 192 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Requirements for field education
To complete this program you must successfully complete field education (ie SWK700 Environmental and Resource Economics and SWK701 K'gari-Fraser Island Field Studies) for which you are required to obtain a Blue Card.
Your enrolment in field education will be conditional upon the following:
- your eligibility for a Blue Card at the time of the first enrolment in the program
- maintenance of that eligibility throughout the entire of the program
- acquisition of a Blue Card prior to commencement of field education.
In the event that you become ineligible for a Blue Card, at any time between the date of first enrolment and the date of completion of the program, you will not be able to complete the program.
Please note, while all effort will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester.
Field education includes professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake these placements away from the campus at their own expense.
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Prior to entry into the program applicants will be required to submit their current Blue Card.
- Refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
- CSP estimate
- A$8,842
- Fee-paying estimate
- A$22,011
- Annual tuition fee (A$, 2025)
- A$26,400
- Estimated total tuition fee (A$, 2025)
- A$52,800