Master of Social Work Studies
Overview
Turn your passion for helping people and addressing social and community issues into a rewarding career with accredited qualifications in social work.
As a social worker, you'll play a key role in developing a society based on social justice and in alleviating disadvantage. Social workers stimulate action to change the social circumstances of individuals and groups who are socially excluded. They also work to reduce personal pain and distress and provide direction for individual development and control over life situations.
The two year full-time program is particularly suited for new graduates looking for a clearly defined career path as a social worker, or people working in human services wanting to upgrade their skills to become a qualified social worker.
In addition to completing core courses, you'll have the opportunity to complete advanced practice electives in counselling, community development, or child and family welfare. You'll undertake 1,000 hours of supervised practical placements in a variety of organisations including not-for-profit, community service organisations and private practice.
This program is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and will enable you to qualify as a social worker and become a member of the AASW.
Program highlights
- Learn from award-winning educators and leaders in teaching and research.
- Benefit from a program created in consultation with professionals in the field.
- Develop your skills and experience through supervised practical placements in organisations including not-for-profits, community service organisations and private practices.
- Launch your career in social work or upgrade your existing experience in human services to become a qualified social worker, accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Online study
- Fieldwork
Placements and work experience
Although this program is offered on a part time basis, students will be required to attend clinical placements on a full time basis.
Students may be required to undertake clinical placements outside of the Brisbane metropolitan area and students are required to fund their travel, accommodation and daily living expenses.
This program has pre-placement requirements which must be met prior to commencement of the program or a placement course. Further details can be found on the Placement Ready website.
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Lifespan, Culture and Disability
- Introduction to Key Elements of Social Work
- Direct Practice 1
- The Legal and Policy Context for Social Work Practice
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Social worker (child protection)
- Social worker (community development)
- Social worker (correctional services)
- Social worker (disability services)
- Social worker (drug and alcohol services)
- Social worker (health services)
- Social worker (migrant and refugee services)
- Social worker (private practice)
- Social worker (youth work and youth justice)
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Australian Association of Social Workers
Program accreditation
The Master of Social Work Studies is accredited by:
- Australian Association of Social Workers
“I chose to study the Master of Social Work Studies at UQ because of UQ’s international reputation. I really enjoyed the focus on the practical element of the program and the skills I developed.”
JamieGraduate, Master of Social Work Studies
“I chose to study the Master of Social Work Studies at UQ because of UQ’s international reputation. I really enjoyed the focus on the practical element of the program and the skills I developed.”
JamieGraduate, Master of Social Work Studies
Events
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18 July - 18 July
Get ready for Semester 2 – studying online
Stories
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UQ people
Dear 16-year-old me: advice from UQ’s Dr Anita Parbhakar-Fox
UQ people
Dear 16-year-old me: advice from CSIRO’s Dr Sue Keay
UQ people
Dear 16-year-old me: advice from UQ’s Dr Aideen McInerney-Leo
Stories
See all storiesUQ people
Dear 16-year-old me: advice from UQ’s Dr Anita Parbhakar-Fox
UQ people
Dear 16-year-old me: advice from CSIRO’s Dr Sue Keay
UQ people
Dear 16-year-old me: advice from UQ’s Dr Aideen McInerney-Leo
Entry requirements
Prerequisites
An approved bachelor degree with at least one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) demonstrated study in social and behavioural sciences.
The minimum GPA to be considered for admission into this program is 4.0.
Prerequisites
An approved bachelor degree with at least one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) demonstrated study in social and behavioural sciences.
The minimum GPA to be considered for admission into this program is 4.0.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.
TOEFL PB - Overall 600, listening 59, reading 59, writing 64/6.
Pearsons - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.
CES - Overall 185, All sub bands minimum 185.
BE and OET are not accepted.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Additional application information
The number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) for Semester 2 commencement are limited and selection is highly competitive. There will be no separate application process for CSPs and all eligible candidates that apply by 10 July 2020 will be automatically considered. Please be aware not all applicants will be successful. Applicants who are unsuccessful in securing a CSP offer may still be offered a place in the program as a full-fee paying student.
Selection for CSPs is managed by the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work and based purely on academic merit (e.g. past academic performance, level of qualifications).
Domestic students enrolled in the MSocWkSt may be eligible for income support and should contact Centrelink.
Before commencing placement courses, you must obtain, and thereafter hold for the duration of the program, a current Blue Card. See habs.uq.edu.au/placement-ready.
Although this program is offered on a part time basis, students will be required to attend clinical placements on a full time basis.
For applicants who need to provide evidence of English proficiency, please note that this program requires a higher level of English language proficiency than the UQ minimum.
Additional application information
Before commencing placement courses, you must obtain, and thereafter hold for the duration of the program, a current Blue Card. See habs.uq.edu.au/placement-ready.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Social Work Studies are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Fees and Scholarships
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
Indicative annual fee
AUD $27,744
Indicative annual fee 2020
This indicative annual fee is the cost of enrolling in the Master of Social Work Studies for the 2020 academic year. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units per academic year).
If you enrol in a larger or smaller study load, your fees will be calculated on a proportionate basis. All fees are reviewed annually.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Master of Social Work Studies pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Indicative annual fee
AUD $22,400
Indicative annual fee 2020
This indicative annual fee is the average cost of enrolling in the Master of Social Work Studies at 2020 fee rates. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units per academic year).
The average fee would be less for part-time study. Actual fees will vary according to your choice of courses, their unit value and the time you take to complete this program.
Fees may be higher in later years as all fees are reviewed annually.
A limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are offered for this program on the basis of academic merit. Once all CSPs have been exhausted, offers may be made on a tuition fee paying basis.
Additional costs
- Students are expected to fund travel and living expenses associated with placements, some of which may be outside the Brisbane metropolitan area.
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Social Work Studies is 5457.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Social Work Studies is 5457.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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