Highlights
- Develop expertise in casework, assessment and intervention, practice frameworks, policy, and ethical and legal contexts of practice.
- Complete in 2 years full time or 4 years part time.
- Graduate eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
- Gain experience in extensive field placements supervised by a professional social worker.
Highlights
- Develop expertise in casework, assessment and intervention, practice frameworks, policy, and ethical and legal contexts of practice.
- Complete in 2 years full-time with a flexible mix of online learning, block attendance, and external delivery.
- Graduate eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
- Gain experience in extensive field placements supervised by a professional social worker.
Explore this course
The Master of Social Work provides graduates with an internationally recognised qualification in social work and is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers.
During the course students will develop knowledge and expertise in:
- casework and case management practice
- assessment and intervention
- political economy and policy making
- ethical and legal contexts of practice
- theoretical and practice framework that incorporate child wellbeing and mental health contexts
Students also complete 1,000 hours of supervised field placements.
Students are required to attend compulsory on-campus sessions each semester. This includes a requirement to attend sessions during Orientation Week. All commencing students will need to ensure they are available to attend.
Course requirements
There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. You will need to identify these requirements and ensure you allow sufficient time to meet them. Some of these requirements have associated costs.
Find out more about additional course requirements and costs.
Blue card
You will need a valid blue card to complete practical placements in this course.
Careers and 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.
This innovative course 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.
Professional recognition
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
The Master of Social Work - Qualifying consists of 12 units and can be studied full time (two years) or part time (four years).
The course includes a minimum 1,000 hours of field placements supervised by a professional social worker. These placements are undertaken over two professional practice units, each worth 36 credit points (SWN021 and SWN022).
The Master of Social Work - Qualifying consists of 12 units and can be studied full time (two years) or part time (four years).
The course includes a minimum 1,000 hours of field placements supervised by a professional social worker. These placements are undertaken over two professional practice units, each worth 36 credit points (SWN021 and SWN022).
- Selection rank
- 95.00
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2021.
Don't have a selection rank?
- Course code
- SW81
- QTAC code
- 425051
- CRICOS code
- 093236K
-
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 2 years full-time
- 4 years part-time
- 2 years full-time
- February
- February
Academic entry requirements
You must have a completed recognised bachelor degree and have passed one year (8 units) of full-time studies in social sciences such as:
• studies in society
• human development
• education
• human services
• law
• media and communication
• psychology
• sociology
• urban and regional planning.
This course is not designed for students who already have a bachelor degree in social work.
Selection ranks
You will be considered solely on the basis of selection ranks from your prior degree studies plus any postgraduate studies you may have undertaken. Other qualifications and experiences may be allocated selection ranks for entry to other QUT courses, but will not be considered for this course.
International qualifications
We recognise that not all overseas social work qualifications will meet the professional requirements to gain membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). We will consider applications from overseas qualified applicants for this course.
If you are a qualified social worker in your country of residence, you should also contact the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) to determine any study you may need to undertake to be eligible for membership in Australia. This assessment may indicate that you won't need to complete the full two years of study and you may be eligible for some credit for prior learning (advanced standing) towards your study.
Deferment
You can't defer your offer in this course. You must start in the semester you apply for.
Minimum academic requirements
Academic entry requirements
You must have a completed recognised bachelor degree with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 4 (on QUT's 7 point scale) that includes the equivalent of at least one year of full-time studies in social sciences, for example:
• studies in society
• human development
• education
• human services
• law
• media and communication
• psychology
• sociology
• urban and regional planning.
Note
This course is not designed for students who already have the equivalent of a Bachelor in Social Work. However, QUT recognises that not all overseas social work qualifications will meet the professional requirements to gain membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and will consider applications from overseas qualified applicants for this course.
Applicants who are qualified Social Workers in their country of residence should also contact the AASW to determine the study they may need to undertake to be eligible for membership in Australia. This assessment may indicate that it will not be necessary for you to complete the full two years of study and you may be eligible for some advanced standing towards your study.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests.
English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IELTS Academic
Test must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement date. |
7 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
Cambridge English Score
Test must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement. You must provide your Candidate ID and Candidate Secret Number, these are printed on your Cambridge English Confirmation of Entry. |
185 | 176 | 176 | 176 | 176 |
Pearson PTE (Academic)
Test must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement date. |
65 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 58 |
TOEFL iBT
Test must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement date. |
98 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 20 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Haven't completed an English language test? We can help!
If you have not completed an English language test, you can sit the IELTS test at our IELTS test centre
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2022 fees
2022: TBA
Additional costs
There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs.
Find out more about additional course requirements and costs.
2022 fees
2022: TBA
Additional costs
There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs.
Find out more about additional course requirements and costs.
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
Find out more about postgraduate course fees
FEE-HELP: loans to help you pay your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a FEE-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
Become a changemaker
Four of our students from all walks of life share the benefit of the Masters of Social Work degree. This innovative course incorporates campus and online learning, intensive block teaching and supervised integrated field placements.
Extend your knowledge
‘The Master of Social Work allowed me to formalise my affiliation with social work and provided me with the skills and knowledge to extend and specialise my capabilities in this field. In my role at Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, I support clinicians to more actively engage with research. I can greater foster practice-based research that facilitates change and improves mental healthcare services and clinical practice.’
Real student
'Working with the professionals who deliver the lectures and intense workshops is a real eye-opener. They have so much experience and are happy to share their expertise and their understanding of the professional with us.'
Master of Social Work
Our Master of Social Work provides an internationally recognised qualification. This innovative course incorporates campus and online learning, intensive block teaching and supervised work-integrated field placements. Students work alongside academics to develop a personal learning plan which fits with other commitments and meets the requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Become a changemaker
Four of our students from all walks of life share the benefit of the Masters of Social Work degree. This innovative course incorporates campus and online learning, intensive block teaching and supervised integrated field placements.
Extend your knowledge
‘The Master of Social Work allowed me to formalise my affiliation with social work and provided me with the skills and knowledge to extend and specialise my capabilities in this field. In my role at Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, I support clinicians to more actively engage with research. I can greater foster practice-based research that facilitates change and improves mental healthcare services and clinical practice.’
Real student
'Working with the professionals who deliver the lectures and intense workshops is a real eye-opener. They have so much experience and are happy to share their expertise and their understanding of the professional with us.'
Master of Social Work
Our Master of Social Work provides an internationally recognised qualification. This innovative course incorporates campus and online learning, intensive block teaching and supervised work-integrated field placements. Students work alongside academics to develop a personal learning plan which fits with other commitments and meets the requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers.







