Social Work
Social workers are essential to making society a fairer place. They assist individuals, families and children
to overcome social and economic challenges in order to flourish in their homes and communities. This
qualification will allow you to work as a social worker in New Zealand and overseas – equipping you with
the skills to make a positive difference in many people’s lives.
Bachelor of Social Work/
Bachelor of Social Work
(Honours)
Highlights
• Confront social inequity and improve lives by
choosing a profession where you can make
a difference as an effective practising social
worker.
• Taught by industry professionals, you will
learn through an integrated approach that
combines a variety of disciplines, including
psychology, sociology and law and a practical
element.
• You can complete your degree with honours
in your fnal year of study (criteria apply).
In the first year you will:
• Be introduced to work in social and human
services.
• Study psychology and sociology for human
services, cultural diversity, professional
communication skills, the impact of the
Treaty of Waitangi on New Zealand’s social
services and the nature and context of social
work as a profession.
Over the next three years, you will:
• Develop your skills in working with children
and families in diverse cultural communities.
• Gain real experience on supervised
placements in social work agencies where you
will both observe and work alongside social
work professionals.
• Build on your theoretical knowledge base
with the addition of courses in the theory and
practice of social work, including the policy
environment and law and the state.
• Depending on your grades, you may
be eligible to complete the fnal year of
your social work degree at honours level.
An honours degree is a postgraduate
qualifcation that demonstrates an advanced
level of critical and analytical ability and
allows you to investigate an area of interest
through a research project.
During the programme of study you will also
take two courses from the General Education
schedules available for this degree.
Find out more at:
Master of Social Work
(Professional)
If you already hold an undergraduate degree in
a related discipline, you may be able to study
at masters level to become a qualifed social
worker.
You will learn advanced approaches and
interventions in social work practice while
developing valuable knowledge, enhanced
skills and real experience in critiquing and
undertaking social work research to enhance
your practice.
Find out more at:
Choose your career –
social worker
There is a shortage of qualifed social
workers in many countries, particularly
New Zealand, Australia and the United
Kingdom.
With a Bachelor of Social Work you will be a
qualifed social worker and be able to work
in a wide range of felds such as:
• Health
• Child and family services
• Child protection and justice
• Youth work
• Schools
• Mental health and addiction
• Disability services
This degree is recognised by the Social
Workers Registration Board, allowing you to
apply for social work registration. You can
also go on to postgraduate-level study and
research.
8
Programme options Full-
time
Part-
time
Points
per
degree
Location
Practical
element
(days
approx)
Entry criteria1 Start date
Indicative annual fee2
Domestic International
Bachelor of Social
Work
4
Years
Part-time study options available.Note that placements are full-time.
480 Epsom 120 Undergraduate entry (pg. 18) 26 Feb 2018 $5,882 $27,002
Bachelor of Social
Work (Honours)
4
Years
480 Epsom 120 Entry is based on grades achieved in
Years 1–3 of the BSW programme
26 Feb 2018 As per BSW but fnal
year (Honours) is at
postgrad level (approx
$7,253 – $7,396)
As per BSW but fnal
year (Honours) is at
postgrad level (approx
$33,080 in 2017)
Master of Social Work
(Professional) 3
2
Years
240 Epsom 120 Bachelors degree, or higher
qualifcation, with study in a relevant
discipline or subject area (Some grade
average criteria apply).
26 Feb 2018 $7,250 $31,509
1. For detailed information see
2. Fees listed are for 2017 (for a full-time student) and
provided as a guide only. For more information see
3. This programme is at postgraduate level. For
information on masters programmes visit