RMIT University
Master of Social Work
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Empower individuals, communities and state organisations to collaborate in transforming lives and creating lasting, meaningful social change.
Course overview
RMIT has been offering social work programs for over 40 years, continually adapting to current ideas about social work and its role in a changing world. RMIT's graduates are resilient and outspoken members of society who advocate for a fairer world for everyone.
Field education is a significant part of the social work curriculum, requiring students to complete 140 days of work placements within human and community service organisations.
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 graduate, you must complete the following:
Year One of Program
Complete the following courses for 96 credit points:
- Critical Social Work
- Discourses of Care, Control and Protection
- Critical Professional Practice Skills Part A (24 credit points)
- Field Education A (36 credit points)
- Research Strategies - Social Sciences
Year Two of Program
Complete the following courses for 96 credit points:
- Rights, Recognition and Social Justice
- Influencing Policy
- Critical Professional Practice Skills Part B (24 credit points)
- Field Education B (36 credit points)
- Professional Identity and Sustainable Practice
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
You must have successfully completed an Australian bachelor's degree (or equivalent overseas qualification) that includes at least one year of full-time studies in social sciences (or equivalent).
Selection for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) is competitive. Complete applications are assessed in the order that they are received until all places are filled.
For your best chance at admission into this program, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
If you are currently completing your degree and do not yet have a final transcript, please provide an interim transcript in your application.
English language requirements
You must meet the University's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.
Credit and exemptions will be assessed in a manner consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.
Find out if you might be eligible by contacting the university.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to:
- Apply specialist social work knowledge and skills to understanding and responding to contemporary social disadvantage, oppression and marginalisation, recognising the fundamentally political nature of social suffering.
- Use appropriate research strategies to inform ethical professional social work practice and to broaden the scope of contemporary social work theory and practice.
- Critically analyse theories informing social work practice and the contemporary policy context to develop an evidence base for ethical professional practice.
- Apply advanced problem-solving skills and techniques of intervention that bring together complex information transferable across different institutional and cultural contexts of practice, incorporating innovative interventions to effectively meet the needs of individuals, families, groups and communities.
- Theorise and develop interventions that address the social structural and political levels through which poverty and inequality are generated and critically assess policies and programs developed to address disadvantage.
- Apply research knowledge and skills to develop practice research-based interventions and conduct independent research to contribute to the generation of specialist social work knowledge and skills.
- Apply sophisticated oral and written communication skills to present complex information to individuals, organisations and professional and non-professional communities in accessible and culturally appropriate ways.
- Apply critical analytical problem-solving skills to develop innovative and creative policy and practice responses to contemporary social problems and promote the fundamental social, economic and cultural rights of individuals, families, groups and communities.
- Practice as an autonomous, ethical and critical social work practitioner with a commitment to lifelong learning.
- Engage in practice that acknowledges the fundamentally multicultural nature of contemporary societies and acknowledges the unique position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, seeking to promote the rights of these groups.
Fees and CSP
Indicative fee in 2026: From $4,738 up to $17,399 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $29,760 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Additional expenses:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): $373 maximum fee for 2026.
- Other items related to your program include field trips, textbooks and equipment.
The amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load. Fees are adjusted on an annual basis. These fees should only be used as a guide.
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- 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.
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 unit 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.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.
