University of Queensland

Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

Delivery: Face to Face
Study Level: Postgraduate
Duration: 24 months
Course Type: Master's

Prepare for a career in social work through 1,000 hours of supervised placements and practical training in mental health, family support and community services, developing skills to advocate for people experiencing disadvantage.

Course overview

The University of Queensland's Master of Social Work (Qualifying) is designed for graduates from relevant disciplines seeking to enter the social work profession. The program develops the knowledge and practical skills needed to support individuals, families and communities, with a focus on social justice, inclusion and addressing disadvantage.

You'll explore social work theories, human development, cultural diversity, disability and ethical professional practice. You'll also develop skills in direct practice and learn how social workers respond to challenges involving mental health, health and ageing, and child, youth and family wellbeing. Courses in social policy, legislation and research methods will strengthen your understanding of the systems that shape social work practice.

Delivered at UQ's St Lucia campus, the program can be completed in two years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. You'll undertake 1,000 hours of supervised field placements in settings such as hospitals, community services and not-for-profit organisations, applying your learning to real social work situations. Placements require full-time attendance, including for part-time students. Accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers, the program prepares graduates for professional social work roles across health, community and human services.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery

Face to Face

Course Type

Master's

Duration

24 months (Full time)

Campus

St Lucia

Intake

22nd February, 2027

Units

Fees

HECS, CSP

What you will study

At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.

To earn the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), you must successfully complete 32 units, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.

Core courses

You must complete 32 units, comprising the following courses:

Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Families and Communities
Lifespan, Culture and Disability
Direct Practice 1
Introduction to Key Elements of Social Work
Direct Practice 2
Professional Practice in Health and Ageing
Professional Practice in Child, Youth and Family
Professional Practice in Mental Health
The Legal and Policy Context for Social Work Practice
Research Methods

Field placements

You must also complete the following compulsory placement requirements:

Field Placement 1 (six units) or Field Placement 1: Extended Practice (six units)
Field Placement 2 (six units)

Field Placement 1: Extended Practice is undertaken over more than one semester.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

A bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline, including at least one year of full-time equivalent study in social and behavioural sciences.
A minimum GPA of 4.0 on UQ's 7-point scale.

Relevant disciplines include anthropology, community development, counselling, criminology, human services, Indigenous studies, international relations, political science, psychological sciences, psychology and sociology.

Entry is competitive, and places are limited. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants who meet the minimum entry requirements will be offered a place, subject to providing evidence of their status upon admission.

Applicants must also meet the program's inherent and placement requirements.

English language requirements

Applicants who are required to demonstrate English language proficiency must meet the following requirements:

IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.0, with a minimum of 7.0 in listening, reading, writing and speaking.
TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 100, with a minimum of 25 in listening, 25 in reading, 27 in writing and 23 in speaking.
PTE Academic: Overall score of 72, with a minimum of 72 in each communicative skill.
Cambridge English Scale (CES): Overall score of 185, with a minimum of 185 in each component.

Bridging English (BE) and the Occupational English Test (OET) are not accepted.

Other ways of meeting English language requirements may be available. Contact the university for further information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Graduates may pursue career opportunities in roles such as:

Social Worker (Child Protection)
Social Worker (Community Development)
Social Worker (Correctional Services)
Social Worker (Disability Services)
Social Worker (Drug and Alcohol Services)
Social Worker (Health Services)
Social Worker (Migrant and Refugee Services)
Social Worker (Private Practice)
Social Worker (Youth Work and Youth Justice)

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $9,540 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

The number of units studied.
Choice of units.
Credit from previous study or work experience.
Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
Reviewed and adjusted each year.