Study Social Work in Australia: Bachelor and Master’s Guide

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If you’re looking to study Social Work (also called "Social Care" or "Social Services" in Arabic sources) in Australia, it’s known there as "Social Work". It’s taught at dozens of universities through two pathways: a Bachelor’s degree, usually 4 years, or a qualifying Master’s degree, usually 2 years for holders of a related Bachelor’s degree. Both pathways qualify you for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), the professional reference body for the field in Australia.

What is Social Work study in Australia?

The term "Social Work" is translated into Arabic in several ways: "Social Care", "Social Services", or "Social Work". All refer to the same programme offered at Australian universities. As of 10 October 2026, there is no mandatory legal registration (legal registration) to practise this profession in any state in Australia. South Australia had planned to become the first state to introduce a mandatory registration scheme for social workers, but the state government announced it had decided not to proceed — "The State Government has decided not to proceed with the commencement of a mandatory registration scheme for social workers in South Australia" — Social Work Registration Board of South Australia (SWRB SA). Nonetheless, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) remains the reference body for professional standards, accrediting university programmes and assessing overseas qualifications for migration and employment purposes —. Since many employers require eligibility for AASW membership, graduating from an AASW-accredited programme is effectively the natural route into the profession.

AASW accredits both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as entry qualifications for the profession, and graduates of accredited programmes are eligible to apply for AASW membership immediately after graduation —.

What are the admission requirements for Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work?

Requirements vary between universities, but the general framework is consistent: a secondary school certificate with a guaranteed ATAR for the Bachelor’s, or a related prior Bachelor’s degree for the Master’s, plus a required English language score.

Bachelor of Social Work

The standard duration is 4 years at AQF level 7 or 8 (with honours), according to the official classification by. For example, Flinders University requires a guaranteed ATAR of 75 and an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in writing — Flinders University, while the University of Sydney requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 for its 4-year programme — TopUniversities (QS). The UNSW Sydney Bachelor of Social Work runs for 48 months and includes a field placement programme within Australia and partner countries — TopUniversities (QS).

Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

The standard duration is 2 years at AQF level 9, available to holders of a related Bachelor’s degree in social or behavioural sciences —. The University of Sydney requires an Australian Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a related field for its qualifying programme, plus prior work experience in the human and community services sector, usually at least 2 years — TopUniversities (QS), while the University of Melbourne’s Master’s is AASW-accredited and qualifies graduates to apply for AASW membership immediately after graduation — TopUniversities (QS). If you’re considering the Master’s route and want to understand general requirements around grades, English and experience, see our guide Master’s Admission Requirements in Australia: GPA, English, Experience and Conversion Degrees.

Element	Bachelor of Social Work	Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
Standard duration	4 years	2 years
Entry requirement	Secondary certificate + guaranteed ATAR	Related Bachelor’s degree
AQF level	7 or 8 (Honours)	9
AASW accreditation	Yes	Yes
Example annual fee	AUD 59,100 for 2026 (Sydney) —	AUD 33,984 for 2026 (Melbourne) — University of Melbourne

Which universities offer this programme?

AASW-accredited Social Work programmes are available at universities spread across nearly every Australian state, including New England, Charles Sturt, Griffith, James Cook, Melbourne, Monash, Queensland and others, some offered via distance education —. In addition to the universities mentioned above (Flinders, Sydney, UNSW, Melbourne), the University of Newcastle’s Bachelor of Social Work is officially registered in the government CRICOS database under code 027437D, with total published fees of AUD 175,802 for the full programme (AUD 174,194 tuition plus AUD 1,608 other fees) — CRICOS.

Since the list of accredited universities may change, the most accurate way to confirm a programme’s accreditation status is to check the AASW list directly before applying.

Is Social Work funded under the Saudi scholarship programme?

As of 15 September 2026, Social Work does not appear explicitly on the published specialisation lists for the Emdad track — Saudi Ministry of Education, and the Ruwad (Pioneers) track does not include any Australian university at all among its 30 accredited institutions — Saudi Ministry of Education. The Research and Development track is reserved for PhD level only, and includes Australian universities under the field of "Social Sciences, Journalism and Information" such as Sydney, Monash, UNSW and Macquarie, without explicit mention of Social Work as a specialisation — Saudi Ministry of Education.

If this is your target specialisation, it’s best to check the current guidance manual for comparison and confirm directly with the scholarship office whether it can be included under a similar field, or explore self-funded study alongside other scholarship options. See Comparing Saudi Scholarship Tracks: Ruwad, Emdad, Research & Development and Waed and Self-Funded Study in Australia: How to Join the Scholarship Later to understand your options.

Is Social Work an in-demand occupation for migration to Australia?

Yes. The occupation of Social Worker (ANZSCO code 272511) is listed on the Core Skills Occupation List issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs — Australian Department of Home Affairs, and is also on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), opening up several skilled visa pathways such as subclass 189, 190, 491, 482 (medium-term stream) and 186 —. For assessing an overseas qualification for these visas, AASW is the designated assessing authority —. Inclusion on these occupation lists does not guarantee a visa grant; it is one of several requirements. Always check the full visa criteria directly on the Department of Home Affairs website.

How much does it cost to study Social Work in Australia?

Fees vary by university and programme. For example, the University of Sydney’s Bachelor’s fee for 2026 is currently published at AUD 59,100 per year —, while the University of Melbourne’s Master’s fee for 2026 is AUD 33,984 per full academic year according to the university’s official fee schedule — University of Melbourne.

Note that Social Work programme fees vary significantly across different university comparison websites. The difference appears to stem from differing reference academic years, total versus annual fee calculations, or differing programme type (Qualifying versus Advanced). To avoid confusion, always rely on the figure published in the university’s official fee schedule for your intended admission year, or check the current figure directly with the university.

Steps to apply to study Social Work in Australia

1. Determine the right pathway for you: Bachelor’s if you’re a recent secondary school graduate, or a qualifying Master’s if you hold a related Bachelor’s degree in social or behavioural sciences.
2. Check the AASW list of accredited programmes and confirm your chosen university is listed —.
3. Check the English language score required by each university (usually between IELTS 6.5 and 7.0); see English Language Requirements for the Saudi Scholarship to Australia: IELTS, PTE and TOEFL Scores Needed.
4. If you’re planning to apply via the Saudi scholarship, check with the scholarship office on the status of this specialisation under your target track, and see Saudi Scholarship Programmes: A Complete Guide to All Tracks, from King Salman Scholarship Program to Cultural Scholarship.
5. Prepare required documents for university admission (certificates, transcripts, English score, statement of purpose if requested).
6. Apply to your target universities, await a conditional offer or letter of offer, then proceed to visa arrangements.

How can KD International help with this specialisation?

KD International provides free university admission services and educational consultancy to students wishing to enrol in Social Work or related specialisations at Australian universities accredited by the Ministry of Education, as stated in its service offering. If you want to understand the full university admission process before you start, our guide University Admission in Australia for Saudi Students: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide will help.

If you’re serious about studying Social Work in Australia, start with one step: contact us via the registration form to review your options among accredited universities and available scholarship pathways.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Core Skills Occupation List — وزارة الداخلية الأسترالية
• Bachelor of Social Work — Flinders University
• Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) – Course Details — CRICOS – إدارة التعليم الأسترالية
• 2026 Australian Course Tuition Fees — University of Melbourne
• Bachelor of Social Work – University of Sydney — TopUniversities (QS)
• Master of Social Work (Qualifying) – University of Sydney — TopUniversities (QS)
• Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) – UNSW Sydney — TopUniversities (QS)

Last updated: 10 October 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.