Griffith University
Master of Social Work
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Acquire the essential knowledge, skills, values and ethical foundations needed for effective social work practice within modern social policy and human service environments.
Course overview
Make an impact in your community as a social work practitioner. At Griffith, we value your commitment to making a difference. This professional qualifying degree builds on your lived experiences, equipping you with the expertise, practical skills and ethical grounding to become a confident advocate for those most in need.
You'll graduate ready to make an impact, support individuals, families and groups, strengthen communities and lead meaningful change across social and human services.
Highlights of studying the Master of Social Work
- Study courses in social work practice, research, First Peoples and social justice, counselling, ethics and leadership, human rights, law, policy and group facilitation.
- Gain an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) accredited qualification, meeting Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).
- Develop as an ethical, innovative thinker, communicator and leader, ready to drive positive change in complex professional environments.
Build practical skills through social work field placements
Start making a difference while you study and apply your learning through two extensive field placements. You'll complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of practice-based learning in human service organisations, guided by qualified social work supervisors.
Across both placements, you'll progressively develop the skills, knowledge and professional mindset required for effective practice. The first 500-hour placement introduces you to the realities of the profession, while the second 500-hour placement builds on this foundation with more advanced responsibilities and deeper critical reflection. Placements are designed so you'll gain the confidence and capability to graduate as a skilled, socially responsible practitioner ready to make an impact in diverse social work settings.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
What you will study
To complete the award of Master of Social Work, you must complete 160 credit points
- Foundations of Social Work Practice (20 credit points)
- Foundations of Research Inquiry
- First Peoples and Social Justice (Advanced)
- Social Work Theory for Practice
- Applied Counselling
- Social Work Field Placement 1 (30 credit points)
- Applied Skills and Knowledge for Social Work
- Human Services: Law and Social Policy
- Interdisciplinary Professional Ethics
- Social Work Field Placement 2 (30 credit points)
- Critical Reflective Practice and Leadership
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Master of Social Work, you must have:
- a related three-year bachelor's degree (or higher) that includes at least one year of full-time studies in social sciences (studies of the individual and society) or equivalent.
Related fields include, but are not restricted to:
Behavioural Science, Child and Family, Community Development, Counselling, Criminology, Human Services, Indigenous Studies, Mental Health and Well-being, Political Science, Psychological Science, Psychology, Social Policy, Social Welfare, Sociology with a Human Services focus.
Language requirements
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are:
- A minimum overall band score of 7.0 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 7.0.
- An overall score of 65 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 65.
- A minimum score of 580 on the TOEFL.
- An internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 92 (no score less than 22).
- No score less than 4 in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only).
- A minimum overall score of 185 (no score less than 176) on C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English).
The ISLPR test will only be accepted if it has been administered by ISLPR Language Services, 9 Gowrie Street, Mt Gravatt, Queensland.
We will accept English language test scores from one test sitting OR a maximum of two test sittings in six months, only if the following criteria are met:
- IELTS (Academic): A minimum overall score of 7.0 is achieved in each sitting and the applicant achieves a minimum of 7.0 in each component across the two sittings and no score in any element of the test is below 6.5
English test results must be no more than two years old.
The Direct Entry Program (DEP) pathway is not accepted for this program.
The above requirements are HIGHER than those stipulated in the University policy. Applicants should refer to the Admission Procedure and English Language Proficiency Schedule for further information:
Enrolled students and graduates of this program will be eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), subject to meeting any additional requirements that the AASW may stipulate. As these requirements may change occasionally, students should contact the AASW to confirm registration requirements. For more details, please take a look at the AASW website: Australian Association of Social Workers.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Gaining credit and recognition of prior learning may reduce the time it will take to complete your degree. Find out more about the types of learning you may gain credit for, how to apply for credit transfer and examples of credit decisions by either contacting the university or booking a call with our Education Consultant.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
There are career opportunities for social workers in government, non-government and private sector agencies with jobs in hospital and community health settings, youth work, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, child and family welfare, child protection, youth and adult offending, employment and income support, aged care, community development, family support, disability services, services for women, multicultural services and many other social welfare organisations.
Fees and CSP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $10,600 (Commonwealth supported place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of eight credit points (normally eight units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)
The Australian Government allocates certain numbers of Commonwealth Supported Places to universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
