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Bachelor of Social Work with Honours (A4S)

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Overview (2027)

Key Information

Duration

Minimum 4 years, up to a maximum of 9 years.

This course is available to study as both part-time or full-time
Duration
Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

Hobart
Semester 1, Semester 2
Cradle Coast
Semester 1, Semester 2
Launceston
Semester 1, Semester 2

In the right headspace

Social Work graduate Ella Baker-Condon is helping some of society’s most at-risk and in-need people as a social worker for Headspace, a free youth-focused health service.

Social Workers strive to improve lives and are committed to combating inequality. Recognising compassion and support are key to improving social, financial, environmental and cultural wellbeing. Our Bachelor of Social Work with Honours has been designed with direct industry input to reflect current and emerging practice trends in the profession.

You’ll learn how to respond to social justice, human rights and socio-environmental challenges in ways that are culturally responsive, principled, regenerative, sustainable and effective. Identifying and addressing any external issues that may impact on wellbeing or may create inequality, injustice and discrimination.

Our course focus is applied learning opportunities that include community, health, and human services agencies. Through placement, students establish their professional identity while contributing to our community as agents of change. An unexpected benefit of studying social work is the introspection and self-development it inspires. Many students find their perspective on different social issues have changed or been challenged through their course work and through hearing the perspectives of others.

Our study options have been created for maximum flexibility. You can study part-time or full-time, with recognition of prior learning and experience, no exams in your final 2 years, and authentic, real-world focused assessment tasks. All designed to help those looking to begin a rewarding career, or those in the industry to upskill.

This course engages with distinctive Tasmanian, national, and international contexts. Threaded through the course is a focus on decolonising, Indigenising, sustainability, collaboration, and innovation in social work, ensuring that as a graduate, you are well-equipped for new and diverse roles in
changing workplaces. The palawa / pakana people of lutruwita (Tasmania) belong to the oldest continuing culture in the world. From your first year you’ll learn about historical and contemporary perspectives. You will learn how Indigenous knowledges can inform responses to social justice and human rights challenges, the importance of truth telling, and gain a greater understanding of the Indigenous life world. You will also learn to locate yourself in relation the ongoing impact of colonisation.

The Bachelor of Social Work with Honours prepares students for generalist social work practice, helping them to develop core knowledge, skills and values that can be applied across practice settings, fields and methods of social work practice. In your third and fourth year of study, you’ll complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised professiona field education placement.

The Commonwealth Prac Payment offers social work students support while they’re undertaking mandatory placements. From July 2025, eligible students will be able to access $338.60 per week (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate) while they’re undertaking a placement.

Should you have any questions about the CPP, please reach out to them at the following email address:

commonwealthpracpayment@education.gov.au

What is the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP)? - Ask Us - University of Tasmania, Australia

Part-time students should be aware that undertaking their professional experience placement part-time may extend their course duration by up to a year. If you are studying part-time, please contact the Field Education team to discuss.

Professional Recognition

The Bachelor of Social Work with Honours is a professionally accredited qualification, awarded full accreditation by the Australian Association of Social Workers. It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards.

Watch our course information webinar

Thinking of studying this course in 2025 and want to learn more? This webinar explores course structures, career opportunities, and the student experience to support your study journey.

Watch now

  • 1 Recommend improvements to services, policies and professional accountability in social work based on critical analysis, research, and culturally relevant knowledge.
  • 2 Combine decolonising social work knowledge and practices to address inequality and injustice in ways that promote sustainable social change.
  • 3 Adapt and respond to the communication needs and capacities of diverse social work client groups, communities, and organisations.
  • 4 Develop social work leadership approaches that are collaborative, cooperative and useful in micro, meso and macro contexts.
  • 5 Formulate ethical social work responses to local, national and global social justice and human rights challenges.
  • 6 Design interventions and strategies that can contribute to the decolonising agenda in social work by using creative, entrepreneurial, and relational approaches.
Career ready with 1,000 hours of professional experience

In your third and fourth years of studying the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours, you’ll complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of professional experience placement. These placements offer unique opportunities to participate in professional activities, learn about the practice of social work as a change agent and meet people currently working in the field.

The Social Work team work closely with community organisations across the state to create the practical learning experiences you need to apply your knowledge and develop the skills for professional practice.

Become a Student Ambassador

Improve your communication, teamwork and leadership skills, meet new people, inspire and help others, and developing lasting friendships and networks as a student ambassador. Our ambassadors proudly represent the University throughout Tasmania in schools, at University and community events, and support a range of recruitment and engagement activities. Through the Student Ambassador Program you will have many opportunities for training and professional development, experience in real-world community engagement and outreach, networking, and public speaking, plus end up with a key point of distinction on your CV.

In your third and fourth years of study you will need to complete a minimum of 1000 hours of professional experience placement, equivalent to 2 x 14 weeks full-time. Placements are undertaken on a full-time basis. In some circumstances part-time placements may be negotiated, subject to availability.

The University will organise your placements. Before you begin placement, you will need to preparation activities and tasks. You will be allocated a field educator/social worker, with a minimum of 2 years full time equivalent post-graduation experience in the field. Your professional placement experience provides you with the opportunity to learn how to translate theories of social work into practice.

It is possible in some circumstances for students to complete a placement in their place of work.

The Commonwealth Prac Payment offers social work students support while they’re undertaking mandatory placements. From July 2025, eligible students will be able to access $338.60 per week (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate) while they’re undertaking a placement.

Should you have any questions about the CPP, please reach out to them at the following email address:

commonwealthpracpayment@education.gov.au

What is the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP)? - Ask Us - University of Tasmania, Australia

Recognition of Prior Learning is possible for the first placement. Students who are given RPL for the first placement are unable to complete the final placement in their place of employment.

See more information and resources at Field Education Placements.

The Bachelor of Social Work with Honours is an externally accredited degree.

This course is accredited by Australian Association of Social Workers.

For further accreditation/membership requirements, please visit the Australian Association of Social Workers website.

If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us for further information.

Career outcomes

Social workers may support people in one-on-one direct counselling, helping families, supporting community awareness through casework, counselling, advocacy, community engagement and development and social action. Social workers also work in areas such as policy development, education and research particularly around issues of social justice, disadvantage and the marginalisation of people in their communities or in society.

This demand is already being reflected in graduate outcomes, with the 2022 Graduate Outcome Survey revealing that social work graduates were the third highest paid in the country with a median starting salary of $75,000, ranking only behind doctors and dentists.

The skills and expertise our Social Work graduates gain equips them for a diverse range of rewarding careers, including

  • Project Manager - projected growth of 9.7%*
  • Social and Welfare professionals - 19.6%*
  • Social Workers - 31.8%*
  • Policy and Planning Manager - 21.5%*
  • Counsellor - 29.1%*

Other career opportunties exist include:

  • Migrant and Refugee Settlement Workers
  • Case Manager
  • Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
  • Palliative Care Social Worker
  • Relationships Counsellor
  • Disability Advocate

*National Skills Commission ten year projections from May 2024-May 2034.

Postgraduate study

If you successfully complete this course, you may be also be eligible to apply for a range of other postgraduate courses including Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas and Masters by coursework and research.

Course structure

Completion of the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours requires 400 credit points including:

  • 200 credit points of Core units
  • 100 credit points of Discipline Electives (Studies of the Individual and Studies of Society)
  • 100 credit points from the Research or Professional Honours pathway. Entry into the research pathway is by invitation only.

As an accredited course students must complete their study in the sequence below, ensuring all units at each year level are completed before progressing to higher levels, unless specific written approval has been given to vary the sequence.

Course Planner
Your course planner gives you a visual representation of your course and will help you plan which units to enrol in and when. For course planners from previous years, refer to the handbook entry for that year.

Entry requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you’re not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, the admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option. 

Enquire online for advice on the application process and the available pathways to study. 

Schools Recommendation Program

Australian year 12 students can apply for this course via our Schools Recommendation Program. Rather than an ATAR, your application is based on a recommendation by your school teachers. This can factor in your year 11 results, an assessment of your capabilities, and other considerations.

Through the program, you can receive and accept an offer prior to completing year 12. You will still need to finish your year 12 studies – including any exams – to commence your studies.

If you don’t receive an early offer for this course through the Schools Recommendation Program, you will be re-assessed for a higher preference offer once your ATAR is released. 

Domestic applicants who have recently completed secondary education (in the past two years) 

Applicants are ranked by ATAR and offers made based on the number of places available. In 2026, the lowest ATAR to receive an offer into this course was 68.25. The lowest ATAR to receive an offer may change from year to year based on the number of applications we receive 
 
If you do not receive the minimum ATAR please refer to Alternative entry pathways below. 

Domestic applicants with higher education study 

To be eligible for an offer, you must have: 

  • Completed a course at Diploma level or higher at any Australian higher education provider (or an equivalent overseas qualification); or 

  • Completed at least two units of study (equivalent to 25 UTAS credit points) of a course at Diploma Level (or an equivalent overseas qualification). If you have failed any units your application may be subject to further review before an offer is made; or 

Domestic applicants with VET / TAFE study 

To be eligible for an offer, you must have: 

  • completed a Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma (or an equivalent qualification) in any field. 

Domestic applicants with work and life experience 

If you have not successfully completed senior secondary, tertiary or TAFE/VET study, but have relevant work and life experience you can complete a personal competency statement. 

Special consideration 

If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors, including economic hardship, serious medical condition or disability. 

We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the UTAS admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course. Special consideration is not available for international applicants. 

Course participation requirements 

This course includes compulsory field placements. In order to participate in field placements, all students must: 

  • obtain a Tasmania Police Schedule 1 National Police Record Check and Working with Vulnerable Persons and Children Check; and 

  • complete a Safety in Practice Agreement 

All international students will need to meet the minimum English Language Requirements, University General Entry Requirements and any course specific requirements such as pre-requisite subjects, if applicable.

English Language Requirements

This degree requires an IELTS (Academic) of 7.0, with no individual band less than 7.0. Equivalent tests are accepted for this course. 
Applicants will be required to meet this requirement prior to commencing a pathway into their Social Work program.

Applicants who have successfully completed a minimum of 24 months of full time (or equivalent) studies undertaken in English at institutions in Australia, UK, US, Singapore, Canada or NZ within the previous 24 months will meet the English language requirements for entry.

For students who do not meet the English Language Requirement through citizenship or prior studies in English in an approved country, evidence of an approved English language test completed within the last 2 years must be provided.

See the English Language Requirements page for more information.

General Entry Requirements

Admission to undergraduate courses at the University of Tasmania requires the completion of qualifications equivalent to a 12th year of education in Australia.

Please review the equivalent undergraduate entry requirements to see the minimum requirement relevant to your country. The ATAR information for this course is located in the “For Domestic Students” section of the entry requirements on this page.

You can also meet the General Entry Requirement for this course with the following qualifications or prior studies:

  • Completion of an equivalent AQF Certificate IV or above
  • Complete or incomplete (minimum 25 credit points) of previous tertiary study at Bachelor level or higher

If you do not meet the minimum requirements, we offer the Foundation Studies Program.

Course Specific Requirements

This course includes compulsory field placements. In order to participate in field placements, all students must:

  • obtain a Tasmania Police Schedule 1 National Police Record Check and Working with Vulnerable Persons and Children Check; and
  • complete a Safety in Practice Agreement
How to apply for a credit transfer

Applications for credit can be made in your course application. Find out more information about how to apply for a credit transfer/advanced standing at Recognition of Prior Learning.

Talk to us on 1300 363 864 or enquire online about your credit transfer.

If you have completed any of the following qualifications, you can articulate into the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) with 50 credit points of credit: 

  •  Diploma of University Studies (21A) 
  • Undergraduate Certificate in Community Support (Z0C)

If you have completed one of the following qualifications, you can articulate into the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) with 100 credit points of credit: 

  • Diploma of Community Services (TasTAFE) 
  • Diploma of Counselling (M1E) 
  • Diploma of Applied Health and Community Support (Z1H)
  • Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support (Z2H)

If you do not meet the General Entrance Requirements or course-specific requirements, there are alternate entry pathways to the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours:

Completion of the Diploma of University Studies (Social Work) pathway will allow for up to 50 credit points of credit towards the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours.

Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.

Fees & scholarships

Domestic students

Commonwealth supported places (CSP) are available for this course. For eligible domestic students, this means your fees will be subsidised by the Australian Government. You’ll only need to pay the student contribution amount for each unit you study within the course.

Commonwealth Supported Place indicative annual fee: $14,426.45

How is this calculated?

This is an estimate. The calculation is based on the average full-time enrolment for this course in 2026. All figures are indicative only for 2027. Actual tuition fees will depend on specific unit enrolment, and are subject to annual increases each year. You can find the complete fee details for each unit of study on the individual unit pages. The units for this course are found in the course structure section of this page.

These figures do not include other costs such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). For further information, please visit Scholarships, fees and costs.

HECS-HELP loans

You may be able to defer payment of the student contribution amount by accessing a HECS-HELP loan from the Government. If eligible, you’ll only have to pay your tuition fees once you start earning above a specific amount.

Further information on student loans and a CSP eligibility checker can be found at Australian Government Study Assist.

International students

2027 annual international student tuition fee: $40,898 AUD

The standard year of study for this course is 100 credit points.

Indicative total tuition fee for international students: $ 176,273 AUD.

This total tuition fee is indicative only. Please visit fees and costs for further information on how this is calculated.

International students are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the annual rate. International students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.

Domestic scholarships

For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.

Course year 2027

View 2026 course information

View 2025 course information

View previous years course information

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Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.

Domestic

13 8827 (13 UTAS)

International

+61 3 6226 6200

Email

Course.Info@utas.edu.au

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