Bachelor of Social Work
Overview
Be in demand to play a key role in developing a society based on social justice, and in alleviating disadvantage.
As a qualified social worker, you'll have a commitment to the well-being of society and be highly skilled to intervene with and support individuals, families, groups and communities to achieve equitable access to opportunities and resources.
You'll have the skills to stimulate action to change the social circumstances of individuals and groups who are socially excluded. You'll also work to reduce personal pain and distress and provide direction for individual development and control over life situations.
UQ lets you forge your own path in social work, undergoing foundation and advanced practice in the areas of health and ageing, children, youth and families, and mental health. Your focused learning, research and placement opportunities will be combined with core knowledge and skills in social work, social policy and research. You'll learn from award-winning educators about the law, human development, professional ethics and the principles and ideas that guide social workers.
You'll also undertake 1,000 hours of supervised placement in a range of clinical settings, including hospitals and various public and private agencies. Plus, you may apply to complete a rural, interstate or international placement.
Program highlights
- Build on common social work education foundations and develop your understanding and skills as you progress through the program, undertaking increasingly complex social work tasks.
- Acquire valuable research skills to inform policy and practice decisions.
- Work with families and communities to address social issues and problems through interpersonal, community and policy solutions.
- Benefit from innovative learning methods that simulate real client encounters and learn appropriate responses to any situation.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Online study
- Fieldwork
Placements and work experience
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Human Development and Social Work
- Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
- Moral and Ethical Foundations of Social Work
- Social Work and the Legal Context
Career possibilities
Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Youth counsellor
- Child welfare worker
- Family therapist
- Community worker
- Social worker
- Social and welfare services planner
- Disability advocate
- Disability support worker
Graduate salary
Social work (undergraduate)
compared.edu.au
Program accreditation
The Bachelor of Social Work is accredited by:
- Australian Association Of Social Workers
I would definitely recommend studying social work at UQ as it offers a diverse and stimulating learning program. The social work teaching staff are so friendly, approachable and helpful.
I would definitely recommend studying social work at UQ as it offers a diverse and stimulating learning program. The social work teaching staff are so friendly, approachable and helpful.
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Stories
See all storiesUni life
What's it really like to study social work at UQ?
7-minute read
UQ people
How are our social and physical worlds shaping us?
3-minute read
Entry requirements
Prerequisites
- General English subject (Units 3 & 4, C).
Prerequisites
- General English subject (Units 3 & 4, C).
English language requirements
IELTS overall 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.
PTE Academic - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 5 plus a minimum grade of A in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 185, All sub bands minimum 185.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Inherent requirements
To complete this degree, you have to meet its inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes. Read the inherent requirements before you apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Bachelor of Social Work are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$9,869
2025
$9,869
2025
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $43,200
2025
AUD $43,200
2025
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Bachelor of Social Work are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
If your senior schooling is from outside Australia, you can submit your application to UQ. Or, if you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Bachelor of Social Work is 2540.
Find out more about applying for undergraduate study
If your senior schooling is from Australia
Submit your application to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre if you're an international student who is currently studying:
- Australian Year 12 (in Australia or another country), or
- the International Baccalaureate in Australia.
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Social Work is 734001.
Applying through QTAC
All domestic applications should be submitted to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Social Work is 734001.
Important dates
If you’re studying Year 12 in Australia, go to the QTAC website to check the closing date for this program.
If you’re applying to UQ, the closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
To check the closing date for this program, go to the QTAC website.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Admissions schemes
Applying to university can be both exciting and daunting, which is why we’ve tried to make the process as simple as we can.
We have several schemes in place to improve your chances of getting a place at UQ.
Pathway options
A rank or score doesn’t determine your potential.
If you're not offered a place in your first-choice program – or if you don't meet the entry requirements – you still have a number of options.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
Explore other programs
Express yourself. And your interest.
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