Queensland University of Technology
Master of Social Work - Qualifying
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Develop expertise in casework, assessment and intervention, and graduate with an internationally recognised qualification in social work.
Course overview
The Master of Social Work – Qualifying at Queensland University of Technology is designed to equip students with the knowledge and practical skills required for professional social work practice. Throughout the course, you will develop expertise in casework, assessment and intervention, alongside a strong understanding of practice frameworks, policy, and the ethical and legal contexts that shape the profession. The program can be completed in two years full-time or four years part-time, offering flexibility for working professionals. Graduates are eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers, meeting the requirements for entry into the profession. A key feature of the course is its extensive field education component, with approximately 1,000 hours of supervised placements that provide hands-on experience in real-world settings under the guidance of qualified social workers.
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 earn the Master of Social Work - Qualifying, students must complete 12 units or 192 credit points. Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth 12 credit points.
Core units
- Introduction to Social Work Practice and Contexts
- Communication and Engagement in Professional Contexts
- Health, Wellbeing and the Human Condition
- Theories and Frameworks for Social Work Practice
- Critical and Ethical Practice in Organisations
- Community and Policy Practice
- Research for Social Change
- Social Work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities
- Child, Youth and Family Practice
- Practice Research Project
- Professional Practice 1 (36 credit points)
- Professional Practice 2 (36 credit points)
Entry requirements
You must have a completed recognised bachelor's degree and have passed one year (eight units) of full-time studies in social sciences, such as:
- Studies in society
- Human development
- Education
- Human services
- Law
- Media and communication
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Urban and regional planning
This course is not designed for students who already have a bachelor's degree in social work.
English language requirements
The university requires students to demonstrate they can speak, write, read and comprehend academic English to a specified standard.
The English proficiency requirements for this course are:
- IELTS (Academic): 7.0 or better overall with no subscore below 7.0.
- PTE: 65 or better overall with no subscore below 65.
- TOEFL (IBT): 98 or better overall with listening and reading subscores of 24 or better, a writing subscore of 27 or better and a speaking subscore of 23 or better.
- Cambridge English Score: 185 or better overall with no subscore below 185.
The test must have been completed within two years prior to the proposed course start month.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be able to have your past studies or work experience count as credit towards your QUT course. QUT call this 'advanced standing'. That means you might not have to complete all the units in your course structure. You may be able to graduate sooner. Exemptions are assessed individually talk to QUT's course consultant for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
This course is designed for graduates from other disciplines seeking a qualification in social work. It is not suitable for qualified social workers seeking additional postgraduate study. It is designed to deliver graduates who can work in a variety of government, non-government and not-for-profit sectors, either in direct support or outreach services, community development or policy and social advocacy positions.
Fees and CSP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $9,500 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 96 credit points (normally eight units) per year.
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of courses studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the 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 the course you're enrolled in.
- Dependent 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.
