The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) is a four-year degree when studied full time, with an integrated honours component. 

Becoming a social worker is a genuinely transformative experience. Not only will you be able to significantly change and enhance others’ lives, but you’ll also be actively shaping happier, healthier relationships and communities. 

This bachelor’s degree focuses on the very real and very important outcomes of social work – giving you the practical skills to make a difference, with direct guidance from industry professionals and current social workers. You’ll gain experience across diverse human services such as mental health, social work counselling, community work, sociology, psychology, and working with Indigenous communities.

Key features

A solid foundation
In your first year of study, you’ll begin building the stability to adapt within a diverse field that is constantly changing. Discover new interests and contexts while developing the foundations of your future social work practice. You’ll have guidance throughout the program from social workers experienced in teaching, practice, research, and policy. 

Field education
Work experience is essential to learning and experiencing the world beyond the classroom. This degree includes two work placements to develop your insights, confidence, and essential practical skills. You’ll gain distinct experience working in metropolitan and rural Australia or in one of our partnering countries overseas. 

Fuel your passion
Dive deeper into the area where you’re driven to have the most impact. You’ll be able to focus your efforts and interpersonal skills in fields such as community health, child welfare, or clinical social work. You’ll also have opportunities to gain expertise in various areas of practice and in research fields such as social work theory and policy studies.

Research for your future
Social work careers evolve with society’s changing needs. With advanced research and analysis skills, your professional development can adapt to future changes with confidence. In your final year, you’ll produce a thesis or advanced professional portfolio based on your independent research. 

Accreditation 
Empower yourself with an education that meets formal accreditation standards. Upon graduation, you’ll meet the benchmarks set by the Australian Association of Social Workers (the professional body for social workers) and be eligible for their membership.

Program structure:

The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) consists of 30 courses and an honours thesis. It can be completed in four-years full-time.  

The program includes:

• 24 Core courses
• 4 Electives/General education courses
• 2 Professional placements
• 1 Honours thesis

Full program structure:

Each university year at UNSW has three terms and an optional summer study period.

Some courses need to be studied in your first and second year, so you’re prepared for courses that can only be studied in later years. Depending on how you plan your study load, you can fit two or three courses into a term and one course in a summer term.

Below is an example of what you could study in a standard four-year, full-time study plan in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours).

First year

• 7 Social Work/Arts & Social Sciences core courses
• 1 Free elective/general education course

Second year

• 6 Social Work/Arts & Social Sciences core courses
• 2 Free elective/general education courses

Third year

• 4 Social Work/Arts & Social Sciences core courses
• 2 Professional placements

Fourth year

• 6 Social Work core courses
• 1 Honours thesis

For your full course listing, descriptions and timetables please see the UNSW Online Handbook.

From much-needed mental health support to child protection, case management, social justice, human rights advocacy and community development – the potential for true change and impact as a social worker is limitless. 

Upon successful completion of this degree, you’ll launch your career with expertise, experience and skills that can’t be found elsewhere. Our Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) is one of the most highly regarded social work programs in the country, enabling passionate and insightful people like you to positively impact the lives of others through diverse and well-established careers.

Potential careers:

• Caseworker
• Counsellor
• Policy analyst 
• Research officer
• Project manager
• Special care worker
• Social policy adviser
• Social research officer
• Social worker
• Welfare worker
• Youth worker

To help you choose if social work is the right path for you, find out how to become a social worker in Australia, the qualifications you need and where your career might take you.

Accreditation

Australian Association of Social Workers, Graduates with the degree of Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) from UNSW are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

There are several admission pathways to an undergraduate degree at UNSW including high school qualifications, UNSW Foundation Studies, UNSW Diploma, recognised prior study or university trans

IELTS: 6.5 overall (min. 6.0 in each subtest)

TOEFL IBT (Internet Based): 90 overall (min. 23 in writing, 22 in reading, listening and speaking)

Pearson (PTE - Academic): 64 overall (min. 54 in each subtest)

C1 Advanced Cambridge: 176 overall (min. 169 in each subtest)

C2 Proficiency Cambridge: 180 overall (min. 180 in each subtest)

UNSW Global University English Entry Course (UEEC): C+, Writing C.