Bachelor of Social Work

Course summary

Social workers make an important contribution to the wellbeing and improvement of society. With a strong commitment to social justice and human rights, social workers can be found working with people who are disadvantaged and marginalised by society because of poverty or personal circumstances. 

As a social work graduate you will enter the labour market with extensive skills and knowledge and supervised professional practice experience. You will be ready to promote social change and development, and improve the lives of individuals, families and communities.
 
Providing a balance of skills, concepts and theory, as well as hands-on experience, this degree will cover five areas: study of the individual and society; skills for practice; enactment of social justice; engaging with community; and supervised professional practice.

The intensive professional experience in this degree will allow you to practise your skills with real people, in real world situations, giving you first-hand social work experience. This experience ensures you are job-ready when graduating, making you highly attractive to employers.

Course information

Study area

Social Work

Campus

Wollongong

Course Code

347

ATAR-SR

80

IB Score

29

Duration

4 years full-time, or part-time equivalent

Delivery

On Campus

Cricos

081143C

UAC Code

755340-1

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. The procedures governing admission are defined in UOW's Admissions Procedures, and the UOW College Admissions Policy.

For any specific advice or questions regarding an application, please contact the Future Students Team.

Recent Secondary Education Admission Criteria These criteria may be used to gain admission to this course for students who are currently in year 12 or have recently completed their secondary education.

Recent secondary education students can gain admission to this course via non-ATAR or ATAR-based options.

NON-ATAR ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options students may be admitted on the basis of criteria other than ATAR.

Non-ATAR admissions at UOW take an individual approach to understanding potential for academic success. Each student is assessed based on key qualities across academic readiness, motivation & passion, planning & persistence, and communication & collaboration.

Early Admission

Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.

ATAR-BASED ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options, students may be admitted on the basis of ATAR or ATAR plus additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

Guaranteed entry selection ranks

The minimum score for guaranteed entry (or for consideration if this course has limited places) is an ATAR-Selection Rank of 80 or an IB of 29. This includes the effect of adjustment factors.

Adjustment factors

Adjustment factors, such as the subjects you are studying, the area in which you live or equity and access schemes, are taken into consideration and these will be combined with your ATAR to adjust your selection rank and make it higher than your ATAR. Find out more about UOW's adjustment factors.

Other Admission Criteria

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree.

Applicants who hold a TAFE Diploma in Community Services or Diploma in Counselling may receive up to 48 credit points of credit towards the degree.

Click here for more information on UOW's credit transfer arrangements.

RECORD CHECK

NSW Health Requirements
The NSW Health Department requires all students undertaking clinical placements at NSW Health hospitals and facilities to:

  • undergo a national criminal record check; and
  • comply with NSW Health's immunisation requirements

prior to employment or placement in any capacity in the NSW health system.

This criminal record clearance will be conducted by the NSW Police and/or the Australian Federal Police. Students are required to arrange for this check to be undertaken following enrolment, and the cost of the check will be their responsibility.

Students should consult the information on Criminal Records Checks, Prohibited Employment Declaration and Infectious Diseases in the Health Placements section.

Child Protection
Under the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012, and the Child Protection (Working with Children) Regulation 2013, students enrolled in UOW degrees where their studies require them to engage in activities that involve children or young people, may be required to complete a Volunteer/Student Declaration and/or undergo a Working With Children Check (WWCC).

FEES

Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject. For information regarding student contribution amounts, please refer to the UOW Current Students website.

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at UOW, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants need to have achieved the required score in a qualification equivalent to the completion of 13 years of schooling in Australia.
In order to succeed in your chosen course, it is assumed you have completed relevant subjects in your senior high school studies or other relevant qualifications. This is particularly important for degrees which have a strong basis in Mathematics or Science.


ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:

English Test

Overall Score

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

IELTS Academic

7.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

TOEFL (Internet-based)

94

24

27

24

23

UOW College: English for Tertiary Studies: Distinction (weighted average mark of 75 overall and minimum 75 in Academic Reading and Writing (ARW) and 75 in Academic Listening and Speaking (ALS))

Other qualifications may also be considered. Full details can be found on our English Language Requirements website.


CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree.

Applicants who hold a TAFE Diploma in Community Services or Diploma in Counselling may receive up to 48 credit points of credit towards the degree.

Click here for more information on UOW's credit transfer arrangements.

RECORD CHECK

The NSW Health Department requires all students undertaking clinical placements at NSW Health hospitals and facilities to:
  • undergo a national criminal record check; and
  • comply with NSW Health's immunisation requirements

prior to employment or placement in any capacity in the NSW health system.

This criminal record clearance will be conducted by the NSW Police and/or the Australian Federal Police. Students are required to arrange for this check to be undertaken following enrolment, and the cost of the check will be their responsibility.

In addition, overseas students must also provide a Police Certificate from their home country/any country they have resided in, or a signed Statutory Declaration with no convictions/pending charges.

Students should consult the information on Criminal Records Checks, Prohibited Employment Declaration and Infectious Diseases in the Health Placements section.

FEES

Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Additional Fees:


In addition to tuition, there are other fees and costs you will need to consider, including but not limited to:



  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

  • Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

For more details on fees and other costs, please visit Fees and Assistance.

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

Wollongong

On Campus

$15,696 (2025)

$125,568 (2025)

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. The fees outlined in your Letter of Offer of Admission to the University are correct at the point of offer, but are indicative and subject to change without notice. The indicative total course tuition fee is an estimate, based on normal course length and progression and current course fees.

Admission Profile


INDICATIVE ENROLMENT



STUDENT PROFILE

This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at UOW for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at UOW in 2023.

Applicant background

2023 intake

2023 intake (%)

Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

-

-

Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

-

-

Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

-

-

Recent secondary education

ATAR Only Students admitted only on the basis of ATAR including any applied adjustment factors.

-

-

ATAR plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both ATAR and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

-

-

Other criteria only (non-ATAR) These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where ATAR was not a factor (e.g. UOW Early Admission).

-

-

International students All other students.

-

-

All students

-

-

< 5: Number of students is less than 5
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)


ATAR PROFILE

This table relates to all students selected on the basis of ATAR alone or ATAR in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘ATAR-based admission’.

ATAR profile of ATAR-based offers in 2023

ATAR The unadjusted, raw ATARs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR. Selection Rank The ATARs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors.
Highest rank to receive an offer

-

-

Median rank to receive an offer

-

-

Lowest rank to receive an offer

-

-

< 5: Less than 5 ATAR-based offers made
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 ATAR-based offers made)

More Information

For more information about UOW admission pathways, see UOW Admission Information.

Key Dates

SESSION

CAMPUS

SESSION DETAILS

2025 Autumn

Wollongong

Orientation: 24 - 27 February 2025
Session: 03 March - 27 June 2025

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (UAC): 30 September 2024 (early bird), 30 January 2025 (final) (see UAC Key Dates).
  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 31 December 2024*
  • International Applicants: 9 December 2024*

*Applications must be complete with all the required documentation.
Late applications may be assessed for future sessions if an outcome for the requested session is not possible.

Course Structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Handbook

Accreditation & professional recognition

The Bachelor of Social Work is fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). Graduates of this course are eligible for membership of the AASW, which is required by many employers.

Graduates will also be required to meet AASW English language requirements for migration and/or employment purposes.

Why choose this course

The UOW Bachelor of Social Work is an innovative degree, giving you expertise in social science foundations, research, and practical knowledge of social systems and practices in diverse environments. Our Social Work academics are at the forefront of their specialisations. They're accredited professionals, published authors and respected researchers who are connected to community through professional and research networks. They take all this experience with them to the classroom to enrich and guide your learning experience.

Career opportunities
  • Health
  • Disability
  • Aged Care
  • Children and Child Protection
  • Family Services
  • Community Development
  • Housing
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities
  • Migrant and Refugees Services
  • Social Planning
  • Mental Health
  • Social Policy
  • Homelessness
  • Youth Services
  • Community Based Research
  • Program Planning and Evaluation
  • Women (Including Domestic Violence) and Trauma
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