Bachelor of Social Work
at The University of Queensland, Queensland.
An AASW-accredited four-year social-work degree. Includes 1000 hours of supervised field education and leads to eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the The University of Queensland Bachelor of Social Work. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official QTAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The UQ Bachelor of Social Work is a four-year AASW-accredited degree taught from St Lucia and leading to eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers. Year one introduces the social-work profession, human development across the lifespan, sociology and social policy, and communication and interviewing skills, alongside an introduction to the values and ethics that underpin practice. Years two and three develop practice theory and methods: casework and case management, group work, community development, mental health, child protection and family work, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and research methods. Students undertake the first supervised field placement, applying assessment, intervention and reflective practice in a real agency under a qualified social-work supervisor. Year four carries advanced practice, social policy analysis, and the second and longer field placement, building toward independent entry-level practice. Across the degree students complete 1000 hours of supervised field education in settings such as hospitals, child-safety services, community centres, mental-health services and not-for-profits, the AASW requirement for qualification.
Example first-year subjects
- Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
- Human Development Across the Lifespan
- Sociology and Social Problems
- Communication and Interviewing Skills
- Social Policy and Australian Society
- Ethics and Values in Professional Practice
How you will be assessed
- Supervised field-placement assessment and supervisor evaluation
- Case-study and intervention-plan assignments
- Reflective practice journals and process recordings
- Policy-analysis and research essays of 2000 to 3500 words
- Role-play and recorded interview skills assessment
- Group-work and community-project reports
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
- AASW accredited
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: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Graduates are eligible for AASW membership and can practise as qualified social workers immediately. Common specialisation pathways include accredited mental-health social work (allowing Medicare provider status after supervised practice and further training), child and family practice, and health social work. Postgraduate options at UQ include the Master of Social Work Studies, Master of Mental Health, Master of Counselling and graduate study in social policy or public health. Research-minded graduates can enter Honours, MPhil and PhD pathways.
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 ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Queensland handbook and on QTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/uq/bachelor-of-social-work.