Master of Social Work

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

Griffith University grants credit and recognition of prior learning, which may relate to prior formal or informal and non-formal learning. For more information, please visit the following website:

• Credit transfer

Griffith's innovative Credit Precedent Database allows you to find out what credit decisions have been made in the past. These precedents will give you an idea of what you can expect.

• View credit precedents for this program.

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

Indicative annual fee in 2025: $10,500 (Commonwealth supported)

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.