Bachelor of Social Work
at The University of Queensland, Queensland.
A four-year AASW-accredited social work degree at St Lucia with about 1,000 hours of supervised placement. The only prerequisite is English (Units 3 and 4, C).
Lowest selection rank
The lowest selection rank (LSR) is the lowest ATAR plus adjustment factors (equity, subject and regional bonuses) that received an offer to the UQ Bachelor of Social Work for that intake. Universities publish it in their admissions student profiles. Only intakes with a published figure are listed.
| Intake | Lowest selection rank | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 75.60 | qtac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 75.00 | qtac.edu.au |
A lowest selection rank describes a past intake, not a guaranteed entry score. Check the current entry requirements on the official course page before you apply through QTAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The program combines social work practice with social policy and research. Students study social work and the law, human development, professional ethics, and current welfare and social issues, alongside related social sciences. Simulated activities rehearse the challenging scenarios of practice before placements. Semesters with placement require full-time enrolment.
Placement and industry experience
Students complete about 1,000 hours of supervised placement in settings such as hospitals and public and private agencies, with the option to apply for rural, interstate or international placements. A Blue Card is required before placement.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as registered social workers in child-protection, mental-health, hospital and family-support settings.
- Common destinations include state-government child-safety roles, community-health centres and not-for-profit support agencies.
- Many alumni progress into clinical specialty practice, policy roles or accredited mental-health social work after further study.
Professional accreditation
- Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Typical first jobs
- Child-safety officer with the Queensland Department of Child Safety
- Hospital social worker in Queensland Health facilities
- Mental-health or community-health social worker
- Family-support and domestic-violence caseworker in not-for-profits
- Youth or homelessness support worker
- Disability and aged-care support coordinator
Graduate starting salary
$62,000 - $72,000 per year
Source: qilt.edu.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers and work in hospitals, child protection, mental health and community services. An Honours version is also offered.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who want to work directly with people facing disadvantage
- Those comfortable with emotionally demanding placements and self-reflection
- People with strong communication and active-listening skills
- Students committed to social justice and structured ethical practice
- Those willing to complete 1000 hours of unpaid supervised placement
It is probably not for you if
- Students seeking high starting salaries or corporate roles
- Those uncomfortable with emotionally heavy casework
- Anyone hoping to avoid extended unpaid field placements and reflective writing
Related courses at UQ
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the University of Queensland website and on QTAC before applying.