The Master of Social Work at the University of Melbourne offers an outstanding graduate course of study. You will benefit from our research-led teaching, based on up-to-date data allowing you to apply the most relevant theory to your social work practice.

This is one of the first masters degrees accredited nationally by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). A master’s degree in social work is a portable qualification, enabling you to work nationally or internationally.

The course is led by highly qualified, experienced, research-active and accessible experts in the field, with strong ties to the profession and community services. Their expertise encompasses specialist knowledge in particular fields of practice including: Mental health, child and family practice, health, ageing and substance abuse.

We give you strong research preparation through specific skill development in social work research. This is important in teaching you to utilise current research to inform your practice and as preparation for research studies

You will undertake a specialist elective in the final semester. Throughout the degree you will find special areas of social work that interest you. You can follow these up more closely by undertaking a specialist elective in:

• Health
• Psychiatric disability
• Group work
• Aged care
• Child and family
• Social policy or mental health

Course description

The course offers mixed teaching methods: lectures, tutorials, seminars, collaborative learning and practice simulations. This ensures a rich and diverse learning environment, and is inclusive of all students. Our specially designed interview simulation rooms allow you to practice and review your skills in a safe environment before commencing your fieldwork placements.

Over two years you will enrol in 175 points of coursework subjects and 50 points of field education subjects. You will undertake four theory subjects totalling 50 credit points per semester in your first year. At mid-year you will undertake a block of supervised field placement of 500 hours (approx. 67 days) duration, worth 25 credit points. In the second year you will undertake three theory subjects totalling 37.5 credit points per semester with a mid-year block of supervised field placement, also of 500 hours (approx. 67 days) duration worth 25 credit points. In the final semester one subject is an elective subject. By completing 25 credit points of research (taken in the MSW as Researching Social Work Practice 1 and 2), you are eligible to apply for the PhD directly after your MSW.

Degree structure (full-time enrolment)

Not all elective subjects will be available every year. Some may be on a two year cycle. Students may vary their course plans by negotiation with the Course Coordinator if they wish to undertake a specific elective subject.

The 2022 academic calendar for the Master of Social Work.

As a student of the Master of Social Work you will benefit from:

• a curriculum approved by the Australian Association of Social Workers;
• well-qualified, experienced, research-active and accessible teachers, with strong ties to the profession and community services;
• mixed teaching methods: lectures; tutorials; seminars; collaborative learning; practice simulations;
• a well-developed field education program, including several student units in key agencies in the health, aging, child and family, drug and alcohol and women's services;
• good coverage of particular fields of practice such as: mental health; child and family practice; health; aging; substance abuse;
• excellent student facilities and the backing of a well-resourced major university;
• the excellent employment record for our graduates in a wide range of fields and job descriptions;
• a diverse and talented population of students at entry-to-practice, advanced practice and research levels

Additional Costs

All students undertaking a placement in a hospital, clinic or other health or community environment are required to satisfy a number of requirements, including:

• undergoing a recent National Police Record Check
• holding a valid Working with Children Check for the relevant state/territory, and
• being satisfactorily protected against infectious disease transmission.

Please refer to the Student Placements webpage for detailed information regarding compliance requirements.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The MSW degree:

• Prepares students for professional social work practice in a diverse range of contexts;
• Provides students with foundational theories informing social work practice;
• Introduces students to the methods of social work practice, including casework, counselling, group-work, community development, policy and research;
• Introduces students to the fields of social work practice, including child and family health and mental health;
• Immerses students in practice through two 70 day fieldwork placements;
• Provides a pathway for graduates wanting to pursue doctoral study.

Generic Skills

The MSW aims to offer its students an outstanding graduate course of study, preparing students for professional practice in a diverse range of social work contexts. The course provides students with a nationally and internationally benchmarked course of study, in the theory and practice of social work.

Graduates of the MSW degree will be expected to develop advanced generic skills in the areas of critical thinking, communication and research.

Graduate Attributes

Through the theoretical and practical curricula of the MSW degree, its graduates will be professional social workers who are academically excellent, knowledgeable across disciplines, leaders in communities, attuned to cultural diversity, and active global citizens.

A worthwhile career awaits those who undertake this challenging and rewarding course. The University of Melbourne’s Master of Social Work has been specifically designed to equip graduates with the skills to work in various facets of social work practice, including casework, counselling, advocacy and community engagement. Expert staff and industry mentors will guide you to achieve your ambitions as a social worker and an ambassador for change.

This qualification can also assist those working in periphery fields, such as law or education, better comprehend the different and specialised needs of their clients or students.

Career opportunities

Whether you want to work directly with individual clients or with communities more broadly, the Master of Social Work can prepare you to address societal disadvantages and develop solutions.

Extremely high employment prospects await graduates of this in demand course. Large numbers of students secure employment during or soon after graduation from the course. Graduates of this course also often experience rapid career advancement and promotion to senior positions.

Previous graduates of this program have progressed to rewarding careers in a range of human service contexts around Australia and the world. Graduates have been employed in key roles within health and mental health facilities, the criminal justice system, disability services, child protection and family violence, as well as in human service design and government policy. Some graduates also move into private practice and become registered with Medicare to provide mental health counselling services.

Students seeking a career change experience great success in this course. Those already working within the sector leave the degree with a greater possibility of a promotion to higher level positions and new specialisations within international and national NGOs and the government sector.

An internationally recognised qualification

Graduates of the University of Melbourne’s Master of Social Work are in high demand around the world.

Specialised skills and knowledge will steer you toward exciting local and international opportunities in human services organisations, community-based initiatives, government and private practice. Students of this course can also take advantage of placements around Australia, or internationally within the United States, Canada, Hong Kong and India.

Completion of this qualification also means graduates are eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). The degree is also recognised by professional social work associations and regulatory bodies in a number of countries.

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed: an undergraduate degree with at least one year of full-time studies in social sciences or equivalent, with studies to hav

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