Bachelor of Social Work
at University of Wollongong, New South Wales.
A four-year social work degree at Wollongong and Liverpool, fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers. Students complete 1,000 hours of work-based placement in the final two years. The assumed knowledge is any 2 units of English.
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 UOW 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 | 76.10 | uac.edu.au |
| 2024 | 75.35 | uac.edu.au |
| 2022 | 76.25 | 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
First and second years cover interdisciplinary foundations examining the individual and society; later years focus on compulsory professional social work subjects such as skills for practice, social justice and community engagement. Honours is embedded in the fourth year, with entry based on merit in the first three years.
Placement and industry experience
Students complete 1,000 hours of work-based placement in the final two years of the course, supervised by qualified social workers.
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 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 fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers and is an entry qualification into the profession. Graduates work 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 UOW
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the University of Wollongong website and on UAC before applying.