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Masters degree (coursework) · university

Master of Social Work

A Master of Social Work is usually a qualifying degree for people who hold a degree in another field and want to become social workers.

Compare 9 providers
Illustration of a person working as social Worker
How long it takes
2 years
full time
Level
Masters degree (coursework)
University
Leads on to
Social Worker
$112,900 median pay
Taught by
9 providers
4 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Master of Social Work asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

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 accredited qualifying 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 9 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.

What you’ll learn

The main topics covered in the Master of Social Work.

  • Social work theory and practice
  • Human development and social policy
  • Mental health and family violence
  • Ethics and professional practice
  • Supervised field placements

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
  5. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), published by the Australian Government Department of Education. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.