University of Canberra
Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
- Delivery: Online
- Commitment: 15 - 20 hours/week
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 32-36 months
Develop professional social work knowledge and practice skills across areas including diversity, psychosocial health, ethics, research, policy, trauma and family practice, supported by intensive learning and 1,000 hours of supervised field education.
Course overview
The University of Canberra’s online Master of Social Work (Qualifying) prepares graduates for entry into professional social work practice. You will develop knowledge of social work theory, ethics, diversity and social justice while learning how social workers engage with individuals, families, groups, communities and organisations. The course also examines the social, cultural and structural factors that influence people’s experiences and wellbeing.
Your studies cover areas including psychosocial health across the lifespan, ethical and legal contexts of practice, research and evaluation, policy development, leadership, trauma-informed practice, working with families, children and young people and group work. The course develops skills in critical reflection, research, professional judgement and applying social work frameworks across different practice contexts.
Although much of the coursework is completed online, the course also includes four intensive units with mandatory one-week in-person components. Students also complete two supervised field education placements of 500 hours each, for a total of 1,000 placement hours, together with integrated seminars. Each field education unit extends across three consecutive study blocks and can run for up to 24 weeks.
The degree comprises 48 credit points across 12 units and is normally completed over three years part-time or 16 study blocks, with a maximum completion period of six years. UC classifies the course as Online Plus because physical attendance is required for placements and intensive components. The course currently holds provisional accreditation with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Key facts
15th March, 2027
10th May, 2027
5th July, 2027
30th August, 2027
25th October, 2027
What you will study
The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) Online comprises 12 units, including six coursework units, four intensive units and two field education placement units.
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
Entry requirements
To be eligible for the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), applicants must have:
- An Australian Bachelor’s degree or equivalent or a higher-level qualification in a related field from a recognised tertiary institution.
- 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, 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.
English language requirements
You can demonstrate your proficiency in a number of ways, including through an approved English language test or recognised past study taught and assessed in English.
The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) requires an overall IELTS Academic score (or equivalent) of 7.0, with no band score below 7.0.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Applicants who have completed a three-year Bachelor of Social Welfare or Bachelor of Community Services and have a minimum of three 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.
Career outcomes
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
Fees and FEE-HELP
Current indicative cost per unit in 2027: $3,482 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Current indicative total course cost in 2027: $55,700 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) comprises 12 units. Fees vary by unit type, with field education placement units charged at a higher rate than coursework and intensive units.
Fees are reviewed annually and may increase from the start of each calendar year.
Eligible domestic full-fee paying students may be able to use FEE-HELP to defer some or all of their tuition fees.
Who You Will Learn From
Dr Lynne Keevers
Discipline Lead Social Work
“With the professional practice skills and knowledge you’ll develop in the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at UC, doors will open to a wide variety of career opportunities. You may work in mental health, community development, child protection or social policy. You could be running groups with survivors of sexual abuse and violence, with young people, or people struggling with addiction. Or you could be working with communities to make a difference in issues such as domestic violence, youth homelessness, racism or climate change.”
Dr Amelia Wheeler
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
Dr Amelia Wheeler (she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Canberra. Amelia has been a social work educator for 12 years and is passionate about creating inclusive and socially just spaces for learning.
Her current research, primarily undertaken in partnership with organisations and practitioners, explores best practices in areas across gender-based violence, children and young people’s participation in welfare services, anti-racist social work and ethics in everyday professional life.
Before entering academia, Amelia worked in the fields of child welfare, out-of-home care, domestic and family violence and family law.
