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Postgraduate

Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

Domestic students International students
Master of Social Work (Qualifying) (MSWQ)
CRICOS: 114532B
Entry requirements
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Study mode
  • On-campus
Campus
  • Ipswich
Duration
  • 2 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Feb, May
Intakes

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Overview

  • Become a social worker in just two years* with UniSQ and embark on a career as a change agent in society. You’ll be prepared to enter an in-demand profession and work with people who are experiencing emotional, social, and economic challenges.
  • The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) can be the start of a new career in social work and can build on your existing skills to make a difference in society.
  • Develop effective communication, creative thinking, and solution-based skills and get 1000 hours of hands-on experience during field placements to prepare you for professional practice. Graduates can work clinically with individuals and families or in counselling, advocacy, community engagement, disability services, social action, and international development.
  • You will be able to practice as a critical ally with marginalised people and communities, and foster cultural safety, be culturally responsive and be able to work alongside First Nations peoples.
  • Choose either a professional or research pathway in your final year to tailor the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) to your desired career path.
    • The professional pathway is unique to the UniSQ MSW(Q) degree and allows you to select between bespoke social work elective courses to gain deeper knowledge of particular areas of interest.
    • The research pathway advances your research capability and involves an independent research project that produces a thesis and the possibility of undertaking a PhD in the future.

* If studying full-time.

Further study

Upon successful completion of the UniSQ MSW(Q) degree (Research pathway), you can apply to study a PhD to gain further research experience.

Professional accreditation

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). UniSQ graduates will be eligible for membership with AASW.

Career outcomes

  • Graduate with the specialised knowledge and skills that enables you to deliver social work services across diverse fields of practice, including disability, health, research, child, youth and family wellbeing, education, community services and criminal justice. 
  • You’ll be prepared to step into leadership roles and positioned to work towards societal change through policy advocacy

Entry requirements

  • Completion of an Australian university three-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum of one year of Social Science subjects.
  • Participate in an interview with a panel of staff from the Social Work and Human Services discipline in the School of Psychology and Wellbeing.
  • Additional requirements apply before you start any industry placements.

Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements that must be met in order to successfully complete this degree. Inherent requirements are fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the degree, while maintaining the academic integrity of the degree.

English language requirements

To meet the English language requirements for this degree, we accept the minimum English language proficiency scores from one of the following tests. Your test must be completed within two years of applying to UniSQ.

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.
Pearson Test of English

Minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills - listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
 TOEFL iBT Minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: 24 for listening and reading; 27 for writing; 23 for speaking.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

If you have previously studied in your home country, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we offer several bachelor degrees for you to choose from to start your journey towards your chosen degree. 

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 16 units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per study period.

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 8
2 x placement courses 6
2 x Professional Pathway elective courses
or 
2 x Research Pathway dissertation courses		 2
Total 16

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Professional experience / placements

You’ll undertake 1000 hours of placements in this degree.

All students will need to comply with UniSQ's Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Compliance requirements and provide the following prior to commencing field education courses:

  • Blue Card or Working with Children Check
  • Criminal History Check (Australian Police Certificate)
  • UniSQ Mandatory Compliance form
  • Evidence of required vaccinations. 
 

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for international students' first year of study (8 units) in this degree:

Study Mode Cost
On-campus

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 31840

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2025. 

Student services and amenities fees

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

Professional experience costs

This degree includes a professional experience component that may involve travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

CRICOS: 114532B

Apply direct to UniSQ

Intakes

You can select to start your study in Trimester 1 or 2.

Study period  Orientation  Study period start date Finish date
Trimester 1, 2025  Monday 3 February  Monday 10 February  Friday 9 May
Trimester 2, 2025 Monday 19 May Monday 26 May  Friday 22 August
Two men collaborating at a computer workstation in an office environment.

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Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2025

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