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Master of
Social Work

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The UOW Master of Social Work (Qualifying) will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make important contributions to the betterment of people and communities.

UOW social work graduates enter the workforce with practical experience earned through supervised professional placements. Your UOW degree will ensure you’re ready to promote social change and will help you make a difference to the lives of marginalised and disadvantaged individuals, families and communities.

This accredited course balances practical skills, concepts and theory, as well as hands-on experience in professional practice, equipping you with strong communication and community engagement skills, developing your understanding of social work methods, and honing your social research and policy development abilities.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work Pathway) is an entry pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) for those who currently do not meet the entry requirements. Start the Graduate Certificate this July.

Duration Duration: 2 years full-time, or part-time equivalent
Subjects Subjects: 14 including Professional Practice Placement
Intakes Intakes: March (or July for Graduate Certificate pathway)
Fees Fees: $18,624* total course fee
Study mode Study Mode: Flexible on campus at Wollongong and Liverpool

Get up to 75% off your fees in 2025

In 2025, the Government will pay up to 75% of the course fees for eligible Domestic students studying the UOW Master of Social Work (Qualifying). There’s never been a better time to get started on your next qualification. Speak with our course experts to find out more.

ELIGIBILITY & FEES

Why UOW?

I chose this program due to its strong reputation, practical approach, and AASW accreditation. The Master of Social Work at UOW has equipped me with a range of valuable skills, such as analysing client needs, understanding cultural differences, and advancing social justice. It has also enhanced my communication, ethical decision-making, and research abilities, while teaching me how to work effectively in teams. Abhishek Rohella Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) can be studied over two years full-time (four subjects per semester). You can also choose to study part-time and work at your own pace. Students who are working full-time often study part-time, choosing to complete one to two subjects per semester, taking four years to complete the full degree.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work pathway)

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work pathway) can be studied in 6-months full-time (four subjects per semester), or 1-year part-time.

Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) requires the successful completion of 96 credit points.

View the Course Handbook for the complete course structure and learning outcomes.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work Pathway)

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work Pathway) requires the successful completion of 24 credit points (four subjects). This course provides a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) for degree qualified students who do not have a background in the Social Sciences. 

View the Course Handbook for the complete course structure and learning outcomes.

  Session Campus Session Details
Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

2025 Autumn

2026 Autumn

Wollongong

Liverpool

 

2025 Autumn: 3 March - 27 June 2025

2026 Autumn: TBA
Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work Pathway) 2025 Spring

Online

Liverpool

Session: 28 July - 20 November 2025

 

Course

 Campus Course Fee*
Master of Social Work Wollongong, Liverpool $18,624 (2025)
Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work Pathway) Online $4,656 - $5,616 (2025)

The above tuition fees are the amount payable for a Commonwealth supported place.

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are University places where, for eligible domestic students, tuition fees are made up of two parts:

  • an Australian Government contribution (for some courses, up to three-quarters of the tuition fee is funded by the Australian Government)
  • a student contribution (which may be deferred and repaid later via a HECS-HELP loan)

To be eligible for this fee subsidy, you must meet the following criteria: Be a domestic student, i.e. an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident of Australia or a permanent Australian Humanitarian visa holder.

 *Total indicative course tuition fees shown is for a Commonwealth supported place. These fees are based on normal course length and progression and are subject to change from year to year. For up to date information on course structure and fees, refer to the UOW Course Handbook.

 

 

Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

You can choose to study the Master of Social Work on campus in Wollongong or Liverpool via flexible learning.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work Pathway)

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work Pathway) is offered 100% online or at our Liverpool Campus via flexible delivery. 

Flexible Delivery

Flexible delivery means that class times are designed to allow students to maintain work and family balance, and are taught in 4 or 5 two-day blocks (Fridays and Saturdays) per session. On campus study provides face-to-face interaction with our passionate lecturers and teachers and means that you have a greater opportunity to network with your classmates.

UOW Online

UOW integrates online learning into nearly all subjects. However, when your course is offered through UOW Online, 100% of your course will be delivered online, including all tutorials, class discussions and submission of assessments.

Studying online still means you will be able to connect with our passionate lecturers and teachers and network with your classmates.

Entry requirements

A recognised bachelor's degree in social sciences, psychology, public health, education, nursing, or a related undergraduate qualification with at least one year of Social Science content (i.e., studies of the individual and society), completed in the last 10 years.

If qualifications are older than 10 years, applicants may still be considered if they have current relevant work experience.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Social Work Pathway) provides a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) for degree qualified students who do not have a background in the Social Sciences.

Hands-on experience in professional practice

Make important contributions to the betterment of people and communities.

Explore further

I chose to study social work because i had a really keen interest in understanding how to create positive change and also looking for ways of tackling disadvantage injustice and inequality.
 
Our social work students will be great at understanding the realities of the world around them.
 
Our social work students will have a bigger picture understanding of what it means to be a social worker and to respond proactively and effectively to social and welfare needs across the community.
 
I think that it creates this really unique opportunity to engage in different challenges on a day-to-day basis but you begin to see these challenges as really amazing opportunities for change. It's about getting our social work students to understand the complexities of society and how we as social workers can assist in making those changes and making those differences a couple of the real world experiences.
 
I've had a chance to partake in have been with my two professional placements. So on my first placement I was with a multicultural organization that was
working primarily with people from refugee and refugee life backgrounds and in my second placement with a community health organization working with people experiencing domestic violence and it's through those particular placements that they also develop a interest in a particular area of social work they see themselves possibly going into.
 
Before we went on placement we were given the opportunity to participate in simulation labs which gives you a really unique opportunity to watch back your practice and then reflect on that and unpack it with your peers and it really gives you a chance to explore your practice style before going out into the field.
 
So students are put into the placements not to just observe and you know, get coffee - they're actually there to actually work in those agencies which then
provides them with those skills that they then develop and then they can take with them when they finish their social work degree
 
I think a highlight for me has been the incredible support that you have throughout the degree, whether that's from your academics, people in community organizations and especially from your peers. When you're going through such a challenging experience, you really band together and I think that's one of
the things that makes social work such an amazing thing to study and a really strong discipline.
 
The future looks bright for our social work students, they will go into a career that enables them to have job satisfaction that what they are doing is making a difference, that what they are doing will matter that will create opportunities for those that are having a tough time in society to to move beyond those circumstances.

Accreditation and Professional Recognition

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) is fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).

Find out more

Support for postgraduate students

Decision support

If you have questions about postgraduate study, book a consult with one of our postgraduate course specialists.

Fee support

In 2025, UOW will offer Commonwealth supported places (CSP) to eligible Domestic students for all postgraduate coursework degrees, which means you could save up to 75% off your course fees.

Study support

UOW understands that postgrad students may need study support. UOW offers online study support via our Student Success Specialists and Learning Skills Advisors.

Career support

UOW Careers service can help you gain professional experience, provide advice on finding new opportunities, applying for roles, resume reviews via our online appointment service.

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