Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
Program code
1416
Available at
Nathan
Gold Coast
Mount Gravatt
Logan
South Bank
Online
Offshore
Other
Duration
4 years full-time
Credit points
320
Indicative fee
$34,500.00* per year (more)
* 2025 indicative annual fee
About this program
Make an impact and give back to your community
Want to help people and drive change at a local, national or global level? Feel passionate about social justice and human rights? Study our Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and be the change that helps those when they need it most.
In this degree, you'll develop the skills to work with individuals, families, groups and communities in a broad range of roles including counselling and advocacy. You'll develop your critical thinking skills and explore the values and ethics of the profession, including promoting social justice, diversity, equity, and a commitment to the rights and needs of the people with whom you work.
You'll study human service structures and processes, human behaviour and development, equity and diversity, social work theories, different fields of social work practice, counselling, group and community work, ethics, program evaluation, advanced research and leadership. Graduates of this degree will be highly proficient in all core areas of social work practice and research and feel job-ready to undertake diverse careers in areas such as community development, mental health support, First Nations services, policy development, aged care and youth work.
Practical experience
During your degree, you'll gain first-hand experience of social work practice by completing two field placements.
You'll be supervised by a qualified social worker for the duration of the field placement, which is a valuable opportunity to strengthen your professional helping skills, apply your academic knowledge, and experience social work practice in the real world. You will gain unique industry experience with placements in major government and non-government organisations including in hospitals, child protection, domestic violence, community and mental health fields.
In some situations, it may be possible to negotiate a workplace-based field placement, and it may be possible to apply for recognition of prior learning for a placement if you are already working in the field.
Honours
This Honours degree gives you the flexibility to choose between coursework or a dissertation.
If you choose to continue on the professional path (coursework), you'll advance your skills in policy and legislation, practice and leadership, evaluation and outcomes.
If you choose to undertake a dissertation, and meet eligibility requirements, you will have the opportunity to develop critical research skills, paving the way for further study of graduate research degrees. Research skills are highly valued in the social work field, and graduates with these skills can engage in research and evaluation in many employment contexts.
Whether you choose the dissertation or professional practice option, you will stand out as a competitive social worker with advanced clinical and research skills ready for the future workforce. Your employment prospects will be strengthened by completing an Honours degree.
Attendance information
The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) is offered full-time on-campus.
The Online offering of the Bachelor of Social Work is not available to International students.
Some of the courses in this program may be run in an intensive block format. It is important to check course profiles and your timetable carefully to ensure that all course requirements are fully understood.
All social work students are required to attend at least 20 days on campus throughout their full period of study. This is a non-negotiable requirement of all AASW accredited social work programs in Australia.
Trimester 3 Compulsory Study
This program includes compulsory study in Trimester 3 of Year 3. You must enrol in a minimum of one in-person, on-campus course in Trimester 3 of Year 3.
Placements
workplace placements are to be completed within a full-time study load. Students will need to be available full-time to attend 1000 hours of professional practice education placements in Years 3 and 4 as follows:
- 3012HSV Social Work Field Placement 1 (30 credit points)
- 4012HSV Social Work Field Placement 2 (30 credit points)
The field placements must be completed over two calendar years in accordance with Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (AWSEAS). The two compulsory field placements are completed in full-time mode and students must complete a minimum of 1000 hours of placement through the entirety of the program. In the case of extenuating circumstances only, placement days per week may be negotiated but must still fit within Australian Association of Social Workers¿(AASW) accreditation guidelines. This will not change the number of hours in total that are required to be completed overall - therefore, placement may end after the scheduled University trimester end date.
If you are an International student on a student visa, you must ensure that you enrol in a way that will allow you to complete your enrolment within the expected program duration as stated on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Managing Study Interruptions
Leave of AbsenceTaking a leave of absence from this program is permitted, subject to conditions outlined in the [[ENRPRO_URL]].
Work-integrated learning
In this degree you will spend time in the work environment undertaking placements at various locations. Placements may be outside of the Brisbane metropolitan/Gold Coast area including northern New South Wales and (by negotiation) interstate or overseas.
Workplace placements are to be completed within a full-time study load
You will need to be available full-time to attend 1000 hours of professional practice education placements in Years 3 and 4 as follows:
- 3012HSV Social Work Field Placement 1 (30 credit points)
- 4012HSV Social Work Field Placement 2 (30 credit points)
The field placements must be completed over two calendar years in accordance with Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (AWSEAS)*. The two compulsory field placements are completed in full-time mode and students must complete a minimum of 1000 hours of placement through the entirety of the program. In the case of extenuating circumstances only, placement days per week may be negotiated but must still fit within AASW accreditation guidelines. This will not change the number of hours in total that are required to be completed overall - therefore, placement may end after the scheduled University trimester end date.
You will be supervised by a qualified social worker for the duration of your field placements.
In some situations, it may be possible to negotiate a workplace-based field placement.
Placements will be sourced in your area of choice where possible.
Students living in remote or rural areas may have limited choices depending on the availability of organisations within their local area and may have to travel.
Total work placements (hours): 1000.
* In accordance with Section 4 of the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS) 2020 "Placements will be undertaken over at least two years of the professional social work program of study".
My career opportunities
Social workers make an impact on the lives of others through professional practice, working with individuals, families, groups and communities.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) are ethical and innovative thinkers, effective communicators, problem solvers, change facilitators and leaders. This degree has a strong focus on critical reflection and ethical practice, which will enhance your employment opportunities.
You'll be prepared for a wide range of social work roles including community work; advocacy, research, planning and policy development, management and administration.
Fields of practice include child and family welfare including child protection, health and mental health, counselling, youth and adolescents including school social work, youth and adult offending, hospital and community health settings, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from diverse cultures including migrants and refugees, LGBTIQA+ individuals and communities, disability and neurodiversity, alcohol and other drugs, housing and homelessness, aged care, palliative care and end-of-life, employment and income support.
Other career options may include community development, family support, foster care services, disability services, environmental and disaster work, international social work and humanitarian work, multicultural services, services for women and many other social welfare organisations. Many social workers are employed in policy roles within government, and can engage with political processes, including work in rural, regional and remote areas.
If you complete an Honours disseration, you¿ll have the opportunity to develop critical research skills, paving the way for further study of graduate research degrees.
Program accreditation
The Bachelor of Social Work is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Professional recognition
Graduates of this program will be eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) subject to meeting any additional requirements that may be stipulated by the AASW. As these requirements may change from time to time, students should contact the AASW to confirm registration requirements.
Professional Practice requirements
There are placements associated with this program and before undertaking professional experience placements, all students in this program are required to have completed the following by the end of their first trimester of study:
- Vaccinations and Health Tests
- Licenses and Certificates
- Online Training
- Health Placement Requirements
Students should refer to the checklist of professional practice requirements for their Health discipline on the Health Placement Support Hub for full details of the requirements regarding professional placement to ensure that they meet eligibility for placement.
International students
An International student is one who is not:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen or
- a Pacific Engagement visa holder or
- a person who has Australian permanent resident status.
Indicative annual tuition fee
The indicative annual tuition fee is calculated based on a standard full-time study load which is usually 80 credit points (two full-time trimesters).
The indicative annual tuition fee is based on current conditions and available data and should only be used as a guide. These fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.
Tuition fees
- An International student pays tuition fees.
- Students are liable for tuition fees for the courses they are enrolled in as at the census date.
- The tuition fee is charged according to the approved program fee for the trimester in which the student is enrolled.
Program fees for the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) (1416)
If the fee rate for your program is not displayed above, please contact Student Connect for assistance.
Changing programs
If an International student changes to a different program they will be subject to the approved program fee for the trimester in which they are enrolled.
Permanent resident status
If an undergraduate student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will be provided with a domestic fee-paying place.
The student may then apply for a Commonwealth supported place at the next admission period provided that the student satisfies the conditions for transfer from a domestic fee-paying place to a Commonwealth supported place as set out in the Fees and Charges Procedure.
If a postgraduate student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will automatically be considered for a Commonwealth supported place (subject to availability) or a domestic fee-paying place as applicable for the program.
If a research student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will automatically be considered for a Commonwealth Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset or a domestic fee-paying place as applicable for the program.
Further information
- Fees and Charges Procedure
- 3.6 - Fees for International Students
- 3.9 - Administrative and Miscellaneous Charges
- Cost of studying in Australia