Bachelor of Social Work
at The University of Sydney, New South Wales.
A four-year social work degree at Camperdown/Darlington, accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers. Students complete 140 days of field education placements in third and fourth years. Assumed knowledge depends on the units chosen.
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 USyd 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 | 80.10 | uac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 78.25 | uac.edu.au |
| 2024 | 80.05 | uac.edu.au |
| 2023 | 75.15 | uac.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 UAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
No formal Year 12 subject prerequisites; assumed knowledge may still apply.
What you will study
Core units come from social policy, social work and sociology, and all students complete a professional program in social work. Electives can be drawn from the Bachelor of Arts majors and minors. The third and fourth years include 140 days of supervised field education placements.
Placement and industry experience
Students complete a total of 140 days of field education placements in third and fourth years, supervised by qualified social workers in health, government and community organisations.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as social workers in hospitals, child protection, mental health, family support and community services.
- Common employers include NSW Health, the Department of Communities and Justice and not-for-profit organisations.
- Many progress into specialist clinical practice, policy or management roles.
Professional accreditation
- Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Typical first jobs
- Social worker at NSW Department of Communities and Justice (child protection, OOHC)
- Hospital social worker in NSW Health (acute, oncology, palliative care, mental health)
- Family and domestic-violence caseworker at NGOs
- Mental health social worker in community and inpatient settings
- School-based social worker (under NSW Education)
- Aboriginal community-controlled organisation caseworker
Graduate starting salary
$70,000 - $80,000 per year
Source: jobsandskills.gov.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
The degree is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers, so graduates are eligible for AASW membership and work as social workers in health, child protection, mental health and community services.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with high emotional resilience and people skills
- Those willing to engage with violence, child protection and trauma material
- People comfortable with reflective writing and supervision
- Students happy to do 1000 hours of unpaid placement
- Those committed to a regulated, values-driven profession
It is probably not for you if
- Students who avoid emotional content and difficult conversations
- Those unwilling to take unpaid full-time placement blocks
- Anyone hoping to maximise starting salary out of undergraduate study
Related courses at USyd
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the University of Sydney website and on UAC before applying.