- ATAR 65.60
- View full details
- 4 years (or part-time equivalent)
- External
- Feb, May
- View dates
- AUD 9,312
- (Indicative annual fee)
- External 909135
Overview
- Be ready to drive change as a practice-ready graduate practitioner dedicated to achieving social justice, inclusion and wellbeing. Study UniSQ’s Bachelor of Social Work and develop the skills you need to help in a time of need - whether it be a personal crisis, concern about a child’s welfare, assisting community groups, or navigating recovery after illness.
- Learn to work clinically with individuals and families, co-develop community solutions to address inequalities and structural disadvantage, and advocate for justice through policy and legislative change.
- Create change in the regions that need it most. If you are from a rural, remote, or regional area and recognise the demand for social workers, you can give back to your community by co-developing strategies and solutions to address this need.
- Experience two 500-hour industry-based placements. Typically taken in the later years of your degree, you will be mentored and supervised by an experienced social worker in a chosen field of practice, from domestic and family violence services to schools, or an emergency department in a hospital.
- Extend beyond the delivery of traditional social work. As a UniSQ graduate you will be an excellent communicator, be able to comprehensively assess individual and community needs, problem solve, advocate for human rights and social justice, navigate complex services and systems, and contribute to policy development and evaluation.
Encouraged to challenge myself
At UniSQ I am encouraged to challenge myself and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn new things. My future after I graduate feels endless with opportunity; my degree is preparing me for a diverse career as a social worker.
Tayla - Social Work
Career outcomes
- Graduate with skills to deliver social work services in areas such as child protection, youth justice, domestic and family violence, mental health services, disability support, hospitals and health care, sexual assault services, asylum seekers and refugee support, community services and schools.
- Social work leads to careers in agencies and services that provide opportunities for working with individuals and families in the community but your degree will also enable you to work towards societal change through advocacy, policy development and evaluation, and legislative input.
Professional accreditation
The Bachelor of Social Work is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) under the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS) and UniSQ graduates are eligible to apply for membership with the AASW.
What you'll study
To graduate from the Bachelor of Social Work, you must successfully complete 32 units of study.
Degree structure
An undergraduate university degree typically consists of a combination of core, major and elective courses designed to provide you with foundational knowledge and opportunities for an in-depth deeper dive into your chosen field.
Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for detailed recommended enrolment patterns and course availability.
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previous studies or relevant work experience. This could reduce the number of courses you need to study to complete your degree.
Degree requirements
As part of the degree, you will need to complete two 500-hour industry-based placements. Typically taken in the later years of your degree, you will be mentored and supervised by an experienced social worker in a field of practice. You could be placed in a wide range of government and non-government agencies, from child and youth mental health services, emergency department in a hospital, domestic and family violence services, first nations services or child safety services.
All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of practical placements within this degree.
You will be required to attend 5 days of residential workshops each year of the degree, totalling 20 days of face-to-face residential workshops. This is a requirement of the external accrediting body – Australian Association of Social Workers.
These face-to-face workshops provide experiential learning opportunities and you will make important connections with fellow students and academics.
Other study options
If you’re interested in further study, after completion of this degree you can go on to study the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) (if you meet all the entry requirements).
Entry requirements
There are many ways to be considered for entry into a UniSQ degree based on your education, work experience and relevant personal attributes.
Select the highest level of education you have or will be completing to find the entry requirements that applies to you.
You need to satisfy the following requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.
To study this degree, we assume you have sound knowledge in:
- English (Units 3 & 4, C), or equivalent
We assume that your knowledge is equivalent to a grade C or higher in Units 3 and 4 at high school level (typically studied in Year 12). Find out more about assumed knowledge.
This information applies if you’ve previously completed or started higher education study at university.
If you’ve done any study at UniSQ or another university, you may be eligible to apply based on your previous studies. We’ll use the best selection rank from your previous studies when assessing your application.
If you have completed a qualification from a TAFE or qualified private provider, you can use your Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) awards of:
- certificate III
- certificate IV
- diploma or
- advanced diploma
to apply to study with UniSQ.
We will review your academic history to determine if you’re eligible for admission. We’ll convert your TAFE or VET qualification, past school results and any relevant work experience into a selection rank. This selection rank will determine which degrees you meet the entry requirements for.
If it’s been over two years since you completed secondary education and you haven’t pursued any vocational education training (VET) or higher education since, you’re still eligible to study at UniSQ.
You don't need to have an ATAR or come straight from high school to study at uni. Your work experience and other adjustment factors may help you meet UniSQ's entry requirements.
Let us help you navigate through our entry options – start a conversation, whenever suits you.
All applicants
You'll need to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires:
- IELTS (Academic) - Minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components - listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Alternative English language proficiency tests may also be accepted.
Explore the ATAR/selection rank of students offered a place in this degree in the first 2025 intake, based entirely or partly on their ATAR. To learn more about the backgrounds of students in this degree, access the QTAC website via the How to apply section.
External
- Highest ATAR/selection rank - 95.35
- Median ATAR/selection rank - 72.50
- Lowest ATAR/selection rank - 68.00
During your study
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet these requirements throughout your studies.
Inherent requirements are fundamental skills, capabilities, and knowledge that you must be able to demonstrate to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the degree, while maintaining the academic integrity of the degree.
If you think you may experience any problems meeting inherent requirements, you can talk to an Accessibility Support Officer about reasonable adjustments that may be put in place to assist you. Any reasonable adjustments made must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.
Review the inherent requirements for this degree.
All students must provide the following documents prior to commencing field education/placement courses:
- Blue Card or Working with Children Check
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Workers Screening Card
- Australian Police Check Certificate.
You must also provide the following immunisation evidence prior to commencing placements:
- Hepatitis B immunisation evidence
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella immunisation evidence
- Varicella immunisation evidence
- Pertussis immunisation evidence
- Influenza immunisation evidence
- Tuberculosis Risk Assessment
- COVID-19 vaccinations as directed by health services.
Entry pathways
There is more than one way to get into university, and if you're not sure about your entry options get in touch to discuss.
Fees and scholarships
- This estimated 2025 annual fee is based on the current average rate for your first year of study (8 units per year) and does not include cost of materials such as textbooks, additional costs or the Student Services and Amenities fee.
- This is an indicative guide only and your fees will vary depending on the courses you select, with the actual rates calculated at enrolment.
- We review our fees annually and they may increase each year.
- Further details are available on the Fees website.
Additional costs
You may be required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee as part of your degree cost.
This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation, and meal expenses.
Placement courses may incur some additional costs, including uniform and equipment, transport to and from venues and, in some instances, living expenses, particularly for placements in rural and remote settings.
You may be eligible to receive the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) designed to help cover some of the costs associated with mandatory placements.
Payment options
You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP is a government loan scheme that allows you to defer payment until your income reaches a certain threshold. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP.
You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Services Australia.
UniSQ Scholarships
We offer scholarships for academic excellence, community leadership, and financial need - you can apply for more than one!
Find out moreHow to apply
You can apply to study at UniSQ via the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) website.
- Copy the QTAC code for the study location you've chosen for this degree.
- Click on the location you’ve chosen in the below table to take you to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) website.
- Select 'Apply Now' to create a QTAC account.
| Location | QTAC Code |
|---|---|
| External | 909135 |
Some applicants may be eligible to apply directly to UniSQ if they meet certain criteria. Explore the application process that’s right for you.
You can select to start your study in Trimester 1 or 2.
| Study period | Application closing date | Orientation | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1, 2025 | Monday 10 February | Monday 3 February | Monday 10 February |
| Trimester 2, 2025 | Monday 26 May | Monday 19 May | Monday 26 May |
| Trimester 1, 2026 | Monday 16 February | Monday 9 February | Monday 16 February |
More information on application key dates is available.
There are several special admission schemes that use adjustment factors to boost your ATAR or selection rank with additional points, to improve your chances of getting into your preferred degree.
You may be eligible for these admission schemes based on:
- your background and personal circumstances
- where you live
- the subjects you studied at school.
You do not have to apply for these adjustments as they will be automatically applied by QTAC when your application is assessed.
Preparing to apply
You've made the decision to study at UniSQ - congratulations! Take the next steps:
The documentation you need to provide with your application depends on your qualifications.
If applying through QTAC, you will also need a Unique Student Identifier which is your individual education number for life.
Follow our easy instructions to discover further information on applying to study that’s right for you.
Depending on how you applied to study at UniSQ, the process to accept your offer will vary.
Offer to study at UniSQ from QTAC
- QTAC will send you an email if you have received an offer. To respond to your offer, log in to the QTAC application portal.
- Information regarding QTAC key dates for when offers will be made is available.
- Didn’t receive an offer? Don’t worry – you may just need to update your preferences.
Offer to study from UniSQ
- After you’ve submitted your application, you will be emailed a reference number. You will be notified via email the outcome of your application within 10 business days.
- Follow the link in your email from UniSQ or log in to the application portal to accept your offer.
Find out more
Connect with us - start a conversation, whenever suits you.
Available 5 days a week
Chat now
Freecall
1800 269 500
Email us at study@unisq.edu.au
Frequently asked questions
According to the Australian Association of Social Workers, social workers provide services to the most vulnerable members of our community and support them in a variety of matters including mental health, poverty, housing, disability, family violence, child protection and family support.
If you are an empathetic person, passionate about supporting your community and want to enhance your transferrable skills, a Bachelor of Social Work degree may be the right path for you!
With a large demand in Australia for allied health and psychology and human services workers, there is not better time to study a Bachelor of Social Work in Australia.
The skills and knowledge you gain when you study Bachelor of Social Work online at UniSQ will allow you to competently assess individual and community needs, problem solve and advocate for human rights and social justice – all while contributing to policy development and evaluation.
During your Bachelor of Social Work studies you will have the opportunity to practice the theory you are learning with two 500-hour industry-based placements.
A Bachelor of Social Work qualification can lead to fulfilling career opportunities in a range of government, non-government and community settings such as:
- Communities and schools
Domestic and family violence - Early intervention and child protection programs
- Family support services
- Hospital and health care
- Housing
- Justice
- Private practise
- Schools and education providers.
Get a strong start to your career in social work.
- UniSQ’s Bachelor of Social Work graduates are eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers.
- After successful completion of the first two years of the Bachelor of Social Work degree, you can apply to study a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours).
- Benefit from professional placement and make the most of our work integrated learning with 500 hours of industry-based placements. This allows you to gain real life experience in diverse social work settings.
- We are #1 in Australia for social work learning resources and #1 in Queensland for overall educational experience (Good Universities Guide, 2025).
