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Bachelor degree · university
Bachelor of Social Work
This degree trains students for professional social work.
- How long it takes
- 4 years
- full time
- Entry ATAR
- From 39.8
- Lowest offered at Federation University Australia, 2026
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or a mix
- Includes a work placement
- Leads on to
- Social Worker
- $112,900 median pay
- Taught by
- 30 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Bachelor of Social Work asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in people and their wellbeing
- good listening and communication skills
- a calm and patient approach to helping others
- an open mind about different backgrounds and lives
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
Where this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Social Worker
Social workers work with people in crisis to sort out housing, money, health and family problems, and they keep pressing until the support actually arrives.
What else you need
Choose an AASW-accredited entry-level social-work programme, complete placement requirements, and check current employer and jurisdiction requirements. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Median pay$112,900
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
Where you can study this course
There are 30 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Curtin University (opens in a new tab)
Curtin University
Bentley, WA
4.2from 1,745 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 66.55 lowest
- (66.55 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
What students like
- Staff are helpful and welcoming
- Support services help students through hard times
What to weigh up
- Enquiries can take a while to answer
- Website for Western Sydney University (opens in a new tab)
Western Sydney University
Liverpool, Parramatta, NSW
4.2from 1,872 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 80.6 lowest
- (85.6 median, 2023)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
What students like
- Staff are friendly and supportive
- Good academic experience and learning
What to weigh up
- Admin can be slow to respond
- Course page for Charles Sturt University (opens in a new tab)
Charles Sturt University
Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga, NSW
4.0from 631 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 54.9 lowest
- (65.1 median, 2024)
- How you study
- Online, on campus or a mix
- (full or part time)
- Website for Griffith University (opens in a new tab)
Griffith University
Gold Coast, Logan, Logan/Gold Coast, QLD
4.3from 1,317 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online, on campus or a mix
- (full or part time)
- Fee
- $12,800 a year
- (Government-supported place)
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and approachable
What to weigh up
- Tutors can be slow to reply to emails
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Website for Deakin University (opens in a new tab)
Deakin University
Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, VIC
4.4from 2,192 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 51.35 lowest
- (60.1 median, 2026)
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
What students like
- Lecturers are approachable, supportive and knowledgeable
- Support services are helpful for students
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Website for Southern Cross University (opens in a new tab)
Southern Cross University
Gold Coast, QLD
3.4from 183 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 60 lowest
- (60 median, 2024)
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Fee
- $9,536 a year
- (Government-supported place)
Victoria University
Footscray Park, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
- Course page for Flinders University (opens in a new tab)
Flinders University
Bedford Park, City, SA
4.3from 1,059 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 60 lowest
- (65.85 median, 2026)
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Mar 2027
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Bachelor of Social Work.
- Social work theory and practice
- Human behaviour and development
- Social policy and research
- Counselling and advocacy skills
- Ethics and social justice
- Supervised field placements
Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
This is a Bachelor of Social Work, a bachelor degree level qualification. It prepares people for work in social work.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entry requirements for this qualification are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose.