Bachelor of Social Work

VU course code: ABSW | CRICOS: 077997B | Level of study: Undergraduate
4 years full time or longer for part time
In person
Footscray Park
Overview

Overview

Make a real difference in a rewarding career with a Bachelor of Social Work from Victoria University (VU). 

Prepare yourself for roles that address social issues and help to improve people’s quality of life.

Take advantage of VU’s strong connections with a range of important community organisations. Your social work degree includes 1000 hours of work integrated learning (WIL) experience across two Social Work Field Education placements in two different human service agency settings.

Build on your passion for human rights, social justice and social development with an in-depth understanding of:

  • interpersonal and group work
  • community development
  • family violence
  • mental health
  • policy analysis
  • social research
  • social action.

Gain the skills and knowledge to develop the potential of individuals, groups and communities, preparing you for a diverse range of job opportunities from federal and state government to hospitals, non-government organisations or community services.

By studying a social work degree at VU, you’ll graduate work-ready and be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your educational achievements and work experience, as well as your skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

ATAR requirements

No minimum ATAR required

This course does not have a minimum ATAR requirement for entry. Read the entry criteria for this course below.

Why ATAR is not applicable

You do not need an ATAR score to apply for this course. Instead, you need to have successfully completed secondary school and to meet any requirements outlined below. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their ATAR, age, education or socioeconomic background.

Entry criteria

Credit & Entry pathways into this course


Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course Structure

To attain the Bachelor of Social Work, students will be required to complete:

  • 384 credit points of Core studies.

Units

Fees & Scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the government, reducing it to the amount listed here. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will qualify for a CSP place. If your course is not Commonwealth supported, or you don't qualify, you'll pay full fees.

Learn more about Commonwealth Supported Places

10% discount for alumni

If you’ve previously completed a qualification with us, and you’re paying full fees for this course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount.

Find out how

Scholarships

CAREERS

As a qualified social worker eligible for accreditation by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), you’ll be ready for a variety of roles within not-for-profit and charitable organisations, as well as the community and government sectors. Your job title could be:

  • social worker
  • community health centre counsellor
  • youth worker
  • drug and alcohol worker
  • homelessness policy officer.

Take advantage of the strong future growth expected in social work, which is expected to grow very strongly over the next five years. Visit Jobs and Skills Australia to see the average salary for social workers in Australia.

VU Stories

Briahny Lundberg standing at her desk at headspace Sunshine, smiling at the camera. There are framed posters and a window in the background.
Placing young people at the centre of their care – Briahny at headspace
Bachelor of Social Work
"We engage parental and carer figures in the way we want them to communicate with the young person – without judgement and fostering hope. "
Briahny's story