Are you passionate about social justice and helping others? Choosing where to study social work is a big decision that shapes not only your education, but also your ability to make a positive difference in society.
With UQ’s Bachelor of Social Work, you’ll become a skilled professional helping people through life crises and a compassionate advocate for change in your local community and beyond.
Sure, we may be a bit biased, but we genuinely believe that UQ is the best place to study social work and prepare for a fulfilling career in this field. We’re not the only ones, either. We’re ranked #1 in Queensland and #2 in Australia for sociology, according to THE World University Rankings 2024 by Subject and 2023 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of studying social work at UQ to uncover what you could gain by choosing us for your university education.
Exciting placements
At UQ, you'll complete 1,000 hours of supervised placements (work experience), putting classroom learning into practice and building essential professional skills for your future career.
You’ll have the opportunity to gain diverse experience across a variety of settings, including social work agencies, hospitals, major health providers, non-profit organisations, schools, community centres and government agencies. This also includes exciting opportunities in regional, rural and remote areas through our partnership with Southern Queensland Rural Health. You can even do placements in places like Norway, where you'll contribute to community projects.
As a UQ social work student, you’ll have access to the Commonwealth Prac Payment to help with costs associated with undertaking a placement during your studies.
Social work student Savanna Detlefson completed a 500-hour placement at The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) in her third year of studies. The experience helped her put her knowledge into practice and learn new skills.
From short crisis interventions in emergency to long-term therapeutic approaches in cancer care, I gained invaluable experience.
“The supportive environment allowed me to enhance my skills in patient visits, interventions, assessments, and team communication,” she says.
“This placement also led to a role as a social work assistant, further fuelling my passion for social work in health care."
Unique learning experiences
What makes UQ one of the best universities to study social work at is arguably the breadth of unique learning experiences we offer our students. These include:
- Simulations with actors will allow you to practise client interactions in realistic and supportive scenarios and enhance your confidence.
- Working on interactive, scenario-based case studies will assist with your problem-solving skills.
- Immersive field visits to community organisations and social service agencies will provide you with valuable insights into various work environments.
- Participating in interdisciplinary workshops that bring together students from different health and human service fields including nursing, occupational therapy and psychology will help foster collaboration and teamwork skills.
- Taking part in group discussions and written reflections will help you constructively evaluate your own performance and improve as a professional.
This variety of learning methods will ensure you’re continually applying the theory you learn in practical situations and prepare you for real-life practice.
Current student Hatsuho Schenning says learning critical reflection has helped her tailor the support she provides to clients and better understand her own approaches to the profession.
“We encounter clients every day, each bringing their unique stories and challenges, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to meeting their needs and providing support for individuals,” she says.
Critical reflection allows me to understand my assumptions, values, limitations, and strengths. It helps me question why I do things the way I do and prepares me to be an effective and holistic social worker.
A well-rounded, comprehensive curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to provide you with a well-rounded education in social work, integrating cutting-edge techniques with current research.
You’ll begin with a solid foundation in core social work principles and then advance through specialised areas such as health and ageing, children, youth and families, and mental health. Your learning will be enriched with focused research and placement opportunities, combining essential knowledge and skills in social work, social policy, and research.
The comprehensive nature of UQ’s social work program equips you to tackle a broad range of social issues and prepares you to make a significant impact across various professional settings.
Georgia Snell has big plans to take the knowledge and skills she has learnt in social work for children, youth and families, and use them to make a difference in women’s lives locally and globally.
When I graduate this year, I am hoping to secure a social work position in a paediatric, infants or maternity ward.
“I’m also hoping to have the opportunity to travel to Tanzania as a part of an internship program that works with Maasai women, advocating for more equal access to health and education, and to end female mutilation practices,” she says.
Opportunities to pursue interest areas
When it comes to how to study social work at UQ, you have options. In your fourth year, you can choose to commence an honours project. This will provide you with a unique chance to deepen your expertise in a specific area of social work through independent research, supervised by an experienced academic mentor. You'll balance advanced coursework with dedicated time to research your focused interest area.
As an honours student, you’ll not only hone your expertise on a topic you’re passionate about, but you’ll also develop specialist research skills. This experience can serve as a valuable pathway into postgraduate research and even help you build a solid foundation for a PhD.
Read about Karina's journey from a Bachelor of Social Work to a fulfilling career working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in family support, and now onto a PhD.
Award-winning teachers
UQ is Australia’s most-awarded university for teaching excellence. Our teachers are leaders and experts in social work, bringing years of industry experience directly to the classroom to enrich your learning with real-life, practical knowledge. When they're not teaching, they're actively shaping the future of social work through groundbreaking research, addressing critical issues like intergenerational trauma and fair treatment in child protection and justice systems.
Learning directly from these educators will help you stay on top of the latest research and methodologies in social work, so you’re always ahead of the curve.
Many UQ teachers are passionate about mentoring the next generation of social workers. They use humour and authenticity to inspire and motivate students and have vast practice experience.
Successful graduates
UQ social work graduates are highly sought after by employers for their practical experience, specialised knowledge, critical thinking skills and ability to adapt confidently to different professional settings.
Dr John Drayton is the Program Lead for the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and has seen many UQ students go on to enjoy careers in a variety of areas.
"Our graduates are excelling in diverse roles, ranging from family therapists and hospital social workers to child welfare and protection specialists, and youth counsellors,” he says.
“Many are helping people navigate through complex life stages and are handling critical situations, sometimes involving life-and-death scenarios.”
John explains that there are plenty of opportunities for growth in social work, making it an enticing long-term career choice.
“We also have graduates who have advanced to senior positions such as directors of family support programs and research directors in social work and policy.”
At UQ, we’re dedicated to enhancing your employability and preparing you for a fulfilling social work career. Our extensive career development programs and resources will help you find the right career path and bring you closer to your dream job.
Find out more about the types of jobs you can pursue with a Bachelor of Social Work.
Commitment to diversity and inclusion
At UQ, we celebrate diversity and inclusion to create a supportive learning environment for everyone. These values are at the heart of our social work programs, teaching students how to respect, understand and help people from different backgrounds and diverse communities. By the end of your degree, you’ll feel prepared to support people of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and ages.
Study social work with us and you'll learn how to tackle inequalities and make a positive impact on people's lives.
Explore UQ’s Bachelor of Social Work to discover more reasons it should be your first QTAC preference.
