Advocate for people

'As a social worker, I am determined to be a trailblazer and advocate for people to ensure they can experience things in life that may be very easily accessible and familiar for others. QUT’s social work degree understands that if you want to work with vulnerable individuals or communities that you must have a good understanding of yourself. It has a focus on self-development through unpacking your own beliefs and biases. I do not believe that I am there to “help others” rather that I am there to walk alongside a person until they have the confidence to navigate things on their own.'

Karyna Doolan

Read Karyna's story

Help shape a just future

'I have always been passionate about social justice, helping others and hearing their stories. Social work is about responding to social injustices and facilitating change. I've benefited from the unit: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities. I learnt more about their life experiences and could dismantle my own assumptions, it really gave me a new perspective.'

Mea Robles

Watch video

Real student experiences

Social work student Beth Willett shares her experience of studying social work at QUT.


Watch video

Gain real experience

'The social work course is driven by real-world experience. I completed my first placement in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg, and was involved in an Indigenous internship program with the opportunity to work with Qantas in Sydney. I also travelled to Indonesia with other QUT health students for some international experience.'

Kevin Yow Yeh
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Advocate for people

'As a social worker, I am determined to be a trailblazer and advocate for people to ensure they can experience things in life that may be very easily accessible and familiar for others. QUT’s social work degree understands that if you want to work with vulnerable individuals or communities that you must have a good understanding of yourself. It has a focus on self-development through unpacking your own beliefs and biases. I do not believe that I am there to “help others” rather that I am there to walk alongside a person until they have the confidence to navigate things on their own.'

Karyna Doolan

Read Karyna's story

Help shape a just future

'I have always been passionate about social justice, helping others and hearing their stories. Social work is about responding to social injustices and facilitating change. I've benefited from the unit: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities. I learnt more about their life experiences and could dismantle my own assumptions, it really gave me a new perspective.'

Mea Robles

Watch video

Real student experiences

Social work student Beth Willett shares her experience of studying social work at QUT.


Watch video

Gain real experience

'The social work course is driven by real-world experience. I completed my first placement in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg, and was involved in an Indigenous internship program with the opportunity to work with Qantas in Sydney. I also travelled to Indonesia with other QUT health students for some international experience.'

Kevin Yow Yeh

Advocate for people

'As a social worker, I am determined to be a trailblazer and advocate for people to ensure they can experience things in life that may be very easily accessible and familiar for others. QUT’s social work degree understands that if you want to work with vulnerable individuals or communities that you must have a good understanding of yourself. It has a focus on self-development through unpacking your own beliefs and biases. I do not believe that I am there to “help others” rather that I am there to walk alongside a person until they have the confidence to navigate things on their own.'

Karyna Doolan

Read Karyna's story

Help shape a just future

'I have always been passionate about social justice, helping others and hearing their stories. Social work is about responding to social injustices and facilitating change. I've benefited from the unit: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities. I learnt more about their life experiences and could dismantle my own assumptions, it really gave me a new perspective.'

Mea Robles

Watch video

Gain real experience

'The social work course is driven by real-world experience. I completed my first placement in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg, and was involved in an Indigenous internship program with the opportunity to work with Qantas in Sydney. I also travelled to Indonesia with other QUT health students for some international experience.'

Kevin Yow Yeh

Highlights

  • Work towards a just society. Implement positive, effective change using culturally safe practices 
  • With the exception of placements, all units are able to be studied fully online with the option to shift between part-time and full-time mode
  • Option to complete practical placements at a time that suits you
  • Complete core units in trauma and addictions, health (including mental health), mediation, gender and diversity, community development, Indigenous rights and perspectives, child protection, youth and family practice, and disabilities, social policy, and action on climate change in social work practice
  • Gain practical experience through a total of 1000 hours of supervised professional placement
  • Graduates receive international recognition as social workers and are eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers and become a mental health accredited social worker
  • For graduates of a bachelor degree that includes the equivalent of at least one year of full-time studies in social sciences, consider the 2-year Master of Social Work - Qualifying.

Highlights

  • Work towards a just society. Implement positive, effective change using culturally safe practices 
  • Complete core units in trauma and addictions, health (including mental health), mediation, gender and diversity, community development, Indigenous rights and perspectives, child protection, youth and family practice, and disabilities, social policy, and action on climate change in social work practice
  • Gain practical experience through a total of 1000 hours of supervised professional placement
  • Graduates receive international recognition as social workers and are eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers and become a mental health accredited social worker
  • For graduates of a bachelor degree that includes the equivalent of at least one year of full-time studies in social sciences, consider the 2-year Master of Social Work - Qualifying.

Why choose this course?

Social workers engage with individuals, families, groups, and wider communities to promote social justice and facilitate progressive change. They understand how social, political, economic, environmental and cultural factors can impact experiences of disadvantage and wellbeing. They engage in a wide range of practices to respond to social issues including counselling, case management, group work, mediation, advocacy, education, community development and social action.

Social work is incredibly diverse and social workers may be employed in a broad variety of fields including health and mental health, family violence, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, substance use, grief and loss, disability and eco-social work.

Learn from the best

You will be taught by passionate social workers and human services professionals who are committed educators with extensive professional experience in clinical work, political activism, counselling, community development and advocacy, education and social research.

Explore this course

What to expect

Social work at QUT is committed to creating a community of engaged learners and practitioners with real-world capacities to promote social change for a more socially just, democratic and sustainable future.

Graduates are prepared with an understanding of the ways in which personal experiences are shaped by broader societal structures and therefore are committed to working in partnership with people (using a range of practice methods to support them), while simultaneously pursuing social transformation to redress societal injustices.

Our course champions a critical approach to social issues and this is thoroughly integrated with students’ experiences of field education to help integrate theory and practice. This means we examine and challenges the social causes of justice, rather than blaming the victim. It is a broad degree equipping graduates with a multitude of professional employment opportunities, yet many units are designed to enable students to explore a particular personal interest or passion, which means they can choose to develop a specialist knowledge base in particular fields of practice.

Flexible delivery

You can commence this course in February or July, giving you the ability to start studying as soon as possible. If you are unable to commit to full time study we also offer a flexible learning option to complete the course within 8 years.

Flexible learning option allows you to enrol in 24 credit points per semester (part time), increasing to 36 credit points (full time) in the placement semesters. The two placement units in the Bachelor of Social Work are each worth 36 credit points.

All units, except the placements, have the option to be studied in a fully online mode. You will be supported with resources including recorded lectures and the option to participate in tutorials and assessments externally if needed. Some lectures and tutorials may have evening sessions.

Placements can be undertaken at a time that suits you. The Australian Association of Social Workers requires all social work students to undertake 20 days of face-to-face learning, but at QUT, how you achieve this requirement across your degree, is up to you.

Double degrees

Combine two bachelor degrees into a single course of study. A double degree allows you to specialise in two fields and pursue different interest areas, gaining a broader range of skills and knowledge, and giving you a competitive advantage and greater career flexibility.

Consider a double degree with the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) if you would like to work in community services, counselling and family-centred intervention, mental health services, drug and alcohol intervention, or disability services.

Work Integrated Learning

During this course you will be required to complete 1000 hours of professional work experience.

 

Financial support 

The Australian federal government has announced a Commonwealth Prac Payment to support social work students doing mandatory work placements. Read how you can be supported.

 

TAFE-Qld Brisbane/QUT Dual Award Pathway

If you’re worried you won’t have the ATAR or selection rank to get into the course, consider the TAFE-Queensland - Brisbane/QUT dual award, Diploma of Community Services/ Bachelor of Social Work. On successful completion of the diploma you will gain automatic entry to the bachelor degree at QUT.  This option is not available to international students.

 

Graduate Pathway

If you have already completed a bachelor degree which includes the equivalent of one year (8 units) of full-time studies in social science, the Master of Social Work - Qualifying offers an shorter pathway to becoming a registered social worker.

Work Integrated Learning

During this course you will be required to complete 1000 hours of supervised professional work experience.

 

Graduate Pathway

If you have already completed a bachelor degree which includes the equivalent of one year (8 units) of full-time studies in social science, the Master of Social Work - Qualifying offers an shorter pathway to becoming a registered social worker.

Careers and outcomes

Honours pathway

At the end of the second year of study in this course you will have the option to apply for the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours). This allows you to complete an honours research project that extends your knowledge of the professional field, develops your research skills, and offers a competitive advantage in your career and a pathway to postgraduate studies.

Entry to the program is competitive and based on grade point average. On entry to the course you will retain all of the credit you have successfully completed in the Bachelor of Social Work and will complete a further two years of full-time study.

Careers and outcomes

Social workers are employed in hospitals and community health care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and social services, disability, child protection, youth work, criminal justice, family support and counselling, employment and legal services, refugee wellbeing, government, and policy and research.

Professional recognition

This degree has full accreditation by the Australian Association of Social Workers. It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards.

Possible careers

  • Child and family counsellor
  • Child protection officer
  • Community worker
  • Corrective services officer
  • Counsellor
  • Disability services worker
  • Educator
  • Health policy officer
  • Health services manager
  • Human services practitioner
  • Social scientist
  • Social worker
  • Youth worker

Details and units

Requirements

ATAR/selection rank threshold
70.00

These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2025.

Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?

Find out other ways you can apply

Course code
SW04
QTAC code
425042
CRICOS code
063034B
Delivery
  • Kelvin Grove
Delivery
  • Kelvin Grove
Duration
4 years full-time

Flexible delivery option exists allowing you to study most semesters part-time. More information is available under the What to Expect tab below.

Duration
4 years full-time

Flexible delivery option exists allowing you to study most semesters part-time. More information is available under the What to Expect tab below.

Entry
February and July
Entry
February and July
Deferment

You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.

Assumed knowledge

Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:

  • English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)

More about assumed knowledge

 

Year 12 early offer scheme

If you're a current Queensland Year 12 student, you may be eligible to receive an offer for this course on the last day of Queensland Year 12, before receiving your ATAR or selection rank.

Find out more about the QUT Year 12 Early Offer Scheme

Overseas qualifications

QUT will consider equivalent overseas qualifications for admissions purposes. If you have tertiary qualifications from countries where English is not the standard language of instruction, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency.

English language proficiency

We require students to demonstrate they can speak, write, read and comprehend academic English to a specified standard.

Our English proficiency requirements for this course are:

  • IELTS (Academic): 7.0 or better overall with no subscore below 7.0
  • PTE: 65 or better overall with no subscore below 65
  • TOEFL (IBT): 98 or better overall with listening and reading subscores of 24 or better, a writing subscore of 27 or better, and a speaking subscore of 23 or better
  • Cambridge English Score: 185 or better overall with no subscore below 185

The test must have been completed within 2 years prior to the proposed course start month.

Helping you to get into your course

If you don't think your ATAR or selection rank is high enough to get into this course, you can guarantee your entry with guaranteed advanced standing by upgrading through one the following programs which you can select as one of your QTAC preferences:

Dual TAFE-Qld Greater Brisbane/QUT award

If you enrol in a QTAC offer in a Diploma of Community Services dual TAFE-Qld Brisbane/QUT award you will automatically receive a QUT conditional offer in June (semester 1 QTAC offer) or October (semester 2 QTAC offer) after your enrolment at TAFE-Qld Greater Brisbane is confirmed.

Upon completion of the TAFE-Qld diploma you will be able to enrol at QUT. You will also automatically receive half a year (48 credit points) credit transfer and be able to complete the degree in 3.5 years as a full-time student (or equivalent part-time). More details will be provided in your QUT conditional offer letter.

Offer guarantee

If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

VET guarantee

If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

Advanced standing

If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.

More about advanced standing

Deferment

You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.

More about deferring your offer

Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank

Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.

Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank

Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2024

The figures listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent ATAR students. The entry thresholds box at the top of this page shows the lowest adjusted ATAR/selection rank required to receive an offer for all applicants for the most recent January QTAC offer round.

Excluding adjustments Including adjustments
Highest ATAR/selection rank
to receive an offer
Selection rank 88.00
Selection rank 94.75
Median ATAR/selection rank
to receive an offer
Selection rank 86.70
Selection rank 87.00
Lowest ATAR/selection rank
to receive an offer
Selection rank 68.55
Selection rank 70.55

You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.

Other admission options

If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

I completed secondary school in Australia

ATAR/selection rank
70.00
Offer guarantee

If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

VET guarantee

If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

Minimum English language requirements

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.

Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.

English Test
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake
Overall 7
Listening 7
Reading 7
Writing 7
Speaking 7
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website.
Overall 185
Listening 185
Reading 185
Writing 185
Speaking 185
PTE Academic
Overall 65
Listening 65
Reading 65
Writing 65
Speaking 65
TOEFL iBT
Overall 98
Listening 24
Reading 24
Writing 27
Speaking 23
English Test Overall Listening Reading Writing Speaking
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake 7 7 7 7 7
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. 		185 185 185 185 185
PTE Academic 65 65 65 65 65
TOEFL iBT 98 24 24 27 23

We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.

When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.

Course requirements

There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. You will need to identify these requirements and ensure you allow sufficient time to meet them. Some of these requirements have associated costs.

Blue card: You must undergo a criminal history check for working with children and be issued with a suitability card (blue card) before commencing clinical placement/practicum in an organisation where they may work with children or young people.

The processing of your application may take several months so you must submit your blue card application to HiQ as early as possible to ensure you have your card before you begin any unit that requires contact with children. There is no charge for student blue cards. Students who already have a blue card must register it with QUT.

Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.

Applying for this course

Applicants with recent secondary education

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants with higher education study

Applicants with work and life experience

Find out more if you are an international applicant

Applying for this course

Applicants with recent secondary education

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants with higher education study

Applicants with work and life experience

Find out more if you are an international applicant

Fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.

2026 fees

2026: Fee available from October

Additional Costs

There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs. Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.

 

 

2026 fees

2026: Fee available from July

Additional Costs

There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs. Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.

 

2025 fees

2025: CSP $9,400 per year full-time (96 credit points)

Additional Costs

There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs. Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.

 

 

2025 fees

2025: $36,600 per year full-time (96 credit points)

Additional Costs

There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs. Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.

 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Find out more about undergraduate course fees

HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

Find out more about government loans

Scholarships

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

Browse all scholarships

QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)

QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding academic achievement.

Scholarship eligibility
Academic performance

Equity scholarships scheme

A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.

Scholarship eligibility
Struggling financially

QUT Elite Sport Scholarship

QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding sporting achievement.

Scholarship eligibility
Sporting excellence
Applications
Open Sunday 28 July 2024
Close Monday 13 January 2025

International Merit Scholarship

A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Scholarship eligibility
Academic performance

You may also be eligible for

Centrelink payments

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