Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) comprises 12 units including six coursework units, four intensive units and two field education placements.

Coursework units:

• Social Work in Global, Regional and Local Contexts
• Working with Diverse Communities
• Psychological Health across the Lifecycle
• Ethical and Legal Contexts of Social Work Practice
• Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice
• Policy Development, Leadership and Organisational Practice

Intensive units:

• Theoretical Approaches to Social Work Practice
• Trauma Informed Social Work Practice
• Working with Families, Children and Young People
• Groupwork Practice in Social Work

Field education placement units:

• Field Education Placement 1
• Field Education Placement 2

To be eligible for the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), applicants must have:

• An Australian Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, or higher-level qualification in a related field from a recognised tertiary institution OR
• Completed at least one year of full-time study, or equivalent, at a minimum of AQF Level 7 in social sciences and human behaviour

Examples of related areas of study include:

• Psychology, research, and policy studies
• Allied health, including midwifery, occupational therapy, nursing, audiology, health promotion, physiotherapy, and pharmacy
• Counselling and therapeutic studies including play therapy, rehabilitation, drug and alcohol work, counselling, art therapy, music therapy, and disability and inclusion
• Clinical areas such as child development, medicine, emergency services, and working with older people
• Education and teaching
• Indigenous studies, culture and human diversity, media, gender studies, social theory and population studies
• Human resource management and marketing studies, including diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, leadership and coaching, managing people and change management, negotiation, regulations and ethics
• Community services, human services, social welfare and youth work

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Applicants who have completed a three-year Bachelor of Social Welfare or Bachelor of Community Services and have a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience may be eligible to receive credit for up to 25% of the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), which is the equivalent of four units. Recognition of Prior Learning applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the course convener.

UC’s online Master of Social Work (Qualifying) will prepare you for a fulfilling career in social work. Whether you’re pursuing a career in healthcare, aged care, community services, research, or policy and planning, the MSWQ will provide you with the skills to work across a diverse range of community settings. The career outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• Social worker
• Case manager
• Family support worker
• Community worker
• Engagement officer
• Policy advisor
• Youth worker

2024 academic year student fees shown are subject to change.

You may also be required to pay student amenities fees. Contact the university directly to confirm. The fees shown are per unit. The number of units are listed below fees. Together they indicate the total fees for the course.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.