Master of Social Work

This degree prepares graduates for practice in a range of social work roles including working with individuals, groups and families, community work, advocacy, research, planning and policy development and management and administration. The frameworks for practice embedded in the program are designed to ensure graduates are effective, ethical and innovative thinkers, communicators, problem-solvers, change facilitators and leaders.

There are career opportunities for social workers in government, non-government and private sector agencies with jobs in hospital and community health settings, youth work, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, child and family welfare, child protection, youth and adult offending, employment and income support, aged care, community development, family support, disability services, services for women, multicultural services and many other social welfare organisations.

Higher Education

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Social Work, applicants must hold a suitable bachelors degree in related fields (other than Social Work) and covering at least one year of studies in psychology and social sciences type units.

This will include (but not be limited to) programs in human services, social sciences, behavioural sciences, psychological sciences. If you are unsure please contact Griffith University to determine your eligibility.

The off-campus version of this program is not available to international students.

English Proficiency Requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to these programs are as follows:

A minimum overall band score of 7.0 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 7.0

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Applicants should refer to the English language requirements section of the Admission Policy for Coursework Postgraduate Programs for exceptions to these overall requirements:

• Admission Policy for Coursework Postgraduate Programs

If you do not meet the University's specified English language requirements, you may wish to contact the Griffith English Language Institute to increase your eligibility for entering a Griffith University program.

Special requirements

Commonwealth Supported Students

• Commonwealth supported students make a student contribution towards the cost of their units, while the majority of the cost is subsidised by the Australian Government.
• Students are liable for the student contribution charge for the units they are enrolled in as at the census date.
• HECS-HELP is a loan scheme which provides eligible Commonwealth supported students with assistance in paying their student contribution charge.
• Student contribution amounts are set by the Australian Government on an annual basis.

Fee paying (Postgraduate) Domestic Students

• A fee-paying postgraduate student pays tuition fees.
• Students are liable for tuition fees for the units they are enrolled in as at the census date (end of teaching week 4).
• The tuition fee is charged according to the approved tuition fee for the session in which the student commences the course (for up to 3 years).
• If a student is enrolled in the course for more than 3 years, the tuition fee will be reset to the approved tuition fee applicable to the program in the current session.

Additional Fee Information

Open Universities Australia in partnership with Griffith University is offering Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS) funded places for the Master of Social Work Degree. This postgraduate program has Commonwealth supported places. Therefore students admitted to the degree will be eligible for HECS-HELP rather than FEE-HELP.

This postgraduate program has Commonwealth Supported Places. If you are eligible, the Australian Government will contribute to the cost of this program but you will also be required to make a contribution.

Quotas are applied for admission to the Commonwealth Supported Places. Where demand exceeds the number of available places, not all eligible applicants who meet minimum program entry standards may be offered a place. Assessment for admission is based on meritorious performance. If you are not successful in gaining a Commonwealth Supported Place, you may be eligible for a Fee-Paying Postgraduate place.

On campus requirements

In accordance with AASW on-campus requirements, students must attend a total of 20 days on-campus throughout the entirety of the Master of Social Work program.
All students commencing in the Master of Social Work from July 2016 are required to attend at least 20 days on campus throughout their full period of study. This program requirement can be achieved by attending the 10 day compulsory intensive in 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice as well as the 5 day compulsory intensive in 7063HSV Critical Reflective Practice in Social Work and one of the following 5 day, on-campus, undergraduate units:

3007HSV Ethics and Professional Practice

3020HSV Counselling Individuals and Families

3023HSV Working with Family Violence

3024HSV Contemporary Issues in Ageing

Note: Students are only permitted to undertake one undergraduate unit in the Master of Social Work.
Once intensive dates are confirmed for the year, students will be notified.

The Program commences with an introductory unit 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice which is offered in Sessions 2 (July) and 3 (November) of each year. The introductory unit (7060HSV) includes a compulsory two week, ten-day face-to-face intensive at Griffith's Gold Coast campus. The focus of the intensive is to assess a student's interpersonal communication skills in preparation for their subsequent practical placement. An additional unit intensive (of 5 days) will need to be completed through the choice of an on campus unit as listed below:

3007HSV Ethics and Professional Practice

3020HSV Counselling Individuals and Families

3023HSV Working with Family Violence

3024HSV Contemporary Issues in Ageing

Note: Students are only permitted to undertake one undergraduate unit in the Master of Social Work.
A one week on-campus intensive is part of the final unit, 7063HSV Critical Reflective Practice in Social Work. Intensives are compulsory and are required as part of the accreditation standards.

Students must pass the introductory unit 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice to continue in the program and undertake the practicum unit 7034HSV (HSV7034) Social Work Field Placement 1. The face-to-face intensive will provide students with an invaluable opportunity to meet and network with their student cohort, lecturers and industry practitioners.

Session 2 (July-Oct) intensive is scheduled in approx. October each year.

Session 3 (Nov-Feb) intensive is scheduled in approx. January of each year.

Practicum placement

The Master of Social Work Degree contains two Field Placement units. Students must complete all requirements for the field placements as outlined by Griffith University.  The first preparation for field placement requirements are completed during the same period as enrolment in 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice, (prior to enrolling in the field placement units).

The OUA website refers to these units as Field Placement 1: HSV7034 and Field Placement 2:  HSV7044, however on the Griffith University website you will find these are referred to as 7034HSV and 7044HSV.  These units are designated units for the purpose of exclusion. If a students fails either of these units they may be excluded from the course.

7034HSV- Social Work Field Placement 1 (refer to HSV7034 on OUA website)

Situated near the beginning of the course is a designated course for the purpose of exclusion. Students who do not pass this unit may be excluded from the course. Field Placement 1 requires students to complete a minimum of 500 hours of placement, ie. 500 hours of on-site practice with a social work qualified field supervisor in a suitable human service organisation/agency.

Placement within an organisation/agency fulfilling a social work type role

Field Placement 1 can be completed within a student's current place of work if the workplace meets strict requirements as per accreditation standards. If you are interested in finding out more about a work based placement, please enquire about this once registration for preparation for placement has begun, (during completion of the introductory course).

Students can also apply for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to reduce the time of their field placement based on previous work experience in the field (work experience must be equivalent to 5 years or more and have been completed within the last 10 years).  Again, this can be applied for once you have commenced the Master of Social Work degree.

7044HSV- Social Work Field Placement 2 (refer to HSV7044 on OUA website)

Situated at the end of the course and a designated course for the purpose of exclusion. Students who do not pass this unit may be excluded from the program. Field Placement 2 requires students to complete a minimum of 500 hours ie. 500 hours of on-site practice with a social work qualified field supervisor in a suitable human service organisation/agency.

Placement within an organisation/agency fulfilling a social work type role

Recognition of prior learning can not be applied for in Field Placement 2.

The Field Placement course convenors will work with students to arrange suitable field placement positions before the beginning of enrolment in the Field Placement units.

Griffith University may award credit for units previously completed at postgraduate level, where these units are equivalent in content to the Master of Social Work units. Students can apply for credit by lodging a credit transfer application form which can be found on the Griffith University website.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can also be assessed on the basis of work experience for a reduced field placement (work experience must have been completed within the last 10 years and be equivalent to a total of 5 years or more in the field). This is an internal application process within the School of Human Services and Social Work and can be applied for once admission to the degree has been made. RPL Applications are assessed by a board and decided on a case-by-case basis.

The Master of Social Work provides graduates with a postgraduate professional social work qualification that will allow them entry into the profession. It is specifically designed for graduates holding degrees with specified social and behavioural science components. Students who have already completed a Bachelor of Social Work are not eligible to apply.

The program equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, values and ethical foundations for social work practice in contemporary social policy and human service contexts.

Graduates are likely to be employed in a variety and range of settings and contexts including government and non-government agencies in a range of health and human service sectors.

Recommended Study Pattern

Please Note: For students wishing to commence the Master of Social Work in Session 2, please visit the Griffith University Programs and Courses website for the recommended Course Structure if you wish to maintain full-time enrolment.

All reference to Study Sessions below refer to Griffith Trimesters.

You can find the Griffith University academic calendar below:

2017 Academic Calendar.pdf 700KB

The Master of Social Work degree is set out in a particular order and full-time students must complete the degree as set-out in order to progress in a timely manner. Students who are looking at studying part-time should contact Griffith University for advice on their course progression once they have been accepted into the program.

Students begin with an introductory course 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice either Session 2 (July-Oct) or Session 3 (November-Feb) of each year. The course is then followed by a full-time load of courses (30CP minimum for a full-time student load each Session) for a further 2 years beginning in the 1st Session the following year after completing 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice:

• if you begin the course in Session 2 (Jul-Oct/Nov) in 2017 you can choose to enrol in 7060HSV only OR you can choose to enrol in 7060HSV and 2 other set courses to be eligible as a full-time student during this time. Either way you will still begin full-time study from Session 1, 2018. This would allow you to complete the degree at the ending of Session 2, 2019. Choosing to complete 7060HSV alone will mean that you will have a full 40CP study load during each session for the term of the program. Choosing to complete 7060HSV alongside 1 or 2 other units will allow you to reduce your future studies to the minimum 30CP full-time study load in some sessions.
• if you begin the program in Summer Session (Nov-Feb) in 2017/2018 you will enrol in 7060HSV ONLY and then begin full-time study from Session 1, 2018 this would allow you to complete the degree at the ending of Session 2, 2019.

Award Requirements

The Master of Social Work degree program requires the completion of 12 core units, 1 elective unit and 2 field placement elective units.

Designated courses for the purpose of exclusion

The courses listed below are designated for the purposes of the Griffith University Policy on Academic Standing, Progress and Exclusion. A student who fails a designated course will be subject to review by the Health Assessment Board and may be excluded from the program.

• 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice
• 7034HSV Field Placement 1
• 7044HSV Field Placement 2

This program is restricted and enrolment is only available to students who have been accepted into this program.

Please refer to the Griffith University programs and courses website for further information on closing dates for this course.

Master of Social Work Application

Please Note: Griffith University may close application dates earlier than expected if the maximum number of applications are reached before the date specified. Due to the popularity of this course it is recommended that students submit their applications as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note: Applications for Master of Social Work are fully managed by Griffith University. OUA do not process or track these applications.

For information regarding the next available intake and application close dates, please click below:

Master of Social Work Application