Updating Results
Menu

The University of Western Australia (UWA)

  • 22% international / 78% domestic

Master of Social Work

  • Masters (Coursework)

This course prepares beginning social work practitioners for employment in local, State and international human services agencies. This is for students with any undergraduate degree who would like to pursue a professional qualification in social work....

Key details

Degree Type
Masters (Coursework)
Course Code
11550
Study Mode
In person

About this course

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 and 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. The Master of Social Work is the most established Masters course in WA, with Social Work being first taught at UWA in 1965.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

If you're interested in furthering your career by studying this postgraduate course, find out the admission details below

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility for 2025

To be considered for admission an applicant must have:

  • a bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA
  • the equivalent of a UWA Weighted Average Mark of at least 60 per cent, calculated by UWA
  • a current Australian National Police Certificate, or equivalent certification, indicating no criminal convictions. The currency of a National Police Certificate is 12 months.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility for 2025

To be considered for admission an applicant must have:

  • a bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA
  • the equivalent of a UWA Weighted Average Mark of at least 60 per cent
  • a current Australian National Police Certificate, or equivalent certification, indicating no criminal convictions. The currency of a National Police Certificate is 12 months. (Please note: eligible applicants can meet this requirement after an offer has been made)
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have-
(a) a bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent;
and
(c) a current Australian National Police Certificate, or equivalent certification, indicating no criminal convictions. The currency of a National Police Certificate is 12 months.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have-
(a) a bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent;
and
(c) a current Australian National Police Certificate, or equivalent certification, indicating no criminal convictions. The currency of a National Police Certificate is 12 months.
Ranking and Selection Process
Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Ranking and Selection Process

Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

English language requirements

The ELC requirement may be satisfied by:

At least two successful years of full-time or equivalent degree studies undertaken in one of the following countries:

  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom
  • Republic of Ireland
  • United States of America
  • Canada (except Quebec)
  • South Africa, where studies are taught and assessed in English.

OR

A valid IELTS (Academic) minimum score of 7.0 overall with at least 7.0 in each section.

To be considered for the MSW, ELC must be satisfied by the application closing date.


English language requirements

Study locations

Perth

Career pathways

Careers and further study

Explore the career opportunities available to you.

Career Pathways
Social workers work with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities to create positive outcomes and to empower marginalised or disenfranchised members of society. They promote change at individual, family, community and policy levels.
Career Pathways Social workers work with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities to create positive outcomes and to empower marginalised or disenfranchised members of society. They promote change at individual, family, community and policy levels.
Student Experience with Amy Duggan
Student Experience with Amy Duggan

At the time I enrolled in the Master of Social Work Course, I was working in a job where almost daily I was encountering individuals affected by homelessness, mental health issues, family violence or some form of substance use. I was tired of sitting back and watching what was happening around me, without knowing how to help. I wanted the opportunity to better understand these people and what might be going on for them at a deeper level, and find ways to help them.

Having only been in Perth for a short time before enrolling at UWA, I had to do a bit of online research into what University was going to suit my needs. I found the UWA site easy to navigate and as their Master of Social Work course is accredited by AASW, I knew would open a lot of doors for me going forward.

I was fortunate to secure two fantastic, but vastly different field placements during my studies. In my first year on a geriatric ward of a public hospital and in my second, working with perpetrators of family and domestic violence at a men's behavioural change program. Given the placements were so different, one of the greatest surprises to me was how seamlessly I was able to adapt my coursework learnings into each role and establish myself as not just a student, but a contributing member of the teams I was welcomed into.

After my second placement I was privileged to gain employment with them. I am humbled to be a part of this work and I am thankful to the UWA field placement team for introducing me to something I knew so little about - I feel like I was perfectly matched to this placement!
Career Opportunities

Social work requires a strong commitment to and passion for social justice and human rights. If you think you have what it takes, the employment opportunities in Australia are excellent and the demand for graduates is high, with graduating students quickly finding work in a range of fields.

Careers to consider in addition to the health and welfare sectors:
  • Aged care worker: provide personal, physical and emotional support to older people who need assistance with everyday living
  • Correctional services officer: aid in the rehabilitation and counselling of offenders
  • Domestic violence victim services officer: counsel, investigate and report on incidences of domestic violence
  • Disability services officer: provide support for people in the community with intellectual, physical, social and emotional disabilities
  • Social planner: a pivotal role in creating liveable, sustainable communities; social planners create strategic policy and action that policy in order to meet the needs and wants of the people
  • School based: assisting students individually or in group contexts, psychosocial education and counselling
Career Opportunities
Why choose a career in social work?
Animating Social Work
Animating Social Work

Admissions Requirements
Further Study
Graduate Certificate in Social Policy Practice, Graduate Diploma in Advanced Social Work, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
View full details
Further Study Graduate Certificate in Social Policy Practice, Graduate Diploma in Advanced Social Work, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Ranked 1st in WA for full-time employment (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020)

Course structure

Please note that students seeking to undertake a Research Dissertation Project must meet the requirements as described in the pre-requisites of SWSP5603 Master of Social Work Research Dissertation Part 1.

Core

Take all units (84 points):

Option - Coursework Units

Students not undertaking a research dissertation project take units to the value of 12 points from this group:

Option - Research Dissertation Project

Students undertaking a Research Dissertation Project take units to the value of 12 points from this group:

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Social Work courses at The University of Western Australia (UWA).
83.9%
Overall satisfaction
83.9%
Skill scale
60.7%
Teaching scale
72.9%
Employed full-time
$73.4k
Average salary
Data source

Copyright 2025 © OpenLearning
In collaboration with governments, educational institutions and stakeholders, StudyPerth provides a leadership role in building the profile of international education in WA and overseas.