Bachelor of Social Work

Become an agent of positive change in diverse communities with UNE's accredited Bachelor of Social Work. With an emphasis on social work in rural and complex community environments, our flexibly delivered course will equip you with the practical skills to work with and empower individuals, groups and communities who experience marginalisation, isolation or discrimination.

In our complex world, skilled social workers are valued and in high demand. You'll be choosing a rewarding profession, with the qualifications to work in a range of professional environments.

Why study the Bachelor of Social Work with UNE?

Social workers address barriers, inequality and injustices faced by many groups, particularly those who are socially excluded. UNE's Bachelor of Social Work is an innovative and flexible social work degree with an emphasis on rural and complex communities. Learn online or on campus with interactive problem-based learning.

Covering the core requirements of an accredited professional social work degree, the course gives you the skills to understand how human behaviour interacts with complex social environments and institutions.

With a shortage of social workers in many countries, your UNE qualification can take you around the world. Our social work degrees are recognised internationally and locally.

What makes our course different?

Our Bachelor of Social Work is delivered flexibly, and we focus on developing both your theoretical and practical skills to fully equip you to work in a broad range of professional contexts. We offer opportunities to:

Study flexibly —either on campus or online (with on campus intensive schools for some units), Choose the option that suits your lifestyle and learning needs by studying with us — we understand that students come to UNE at different stages of their lives and professional careers.

Learn theoretical skills, enabling you to future proof your career in diverse areas of social work, including work with Indigenous peoples, child protection, rights-based practice, mental health and the law.

Learn practical skills by undertaking 1000 hours of professional fieldwork (clinical) placements in diverse social work settings, either locally or internationally.

Our clinical placements are supervised by experienced practitioners who support you in developing the skills needed to work with disadvantaged and marginalised individuals, groups, and communities. Our approach uses a social justice framework in counselling, advocacy, and community development to enhance people's health and wellbeing.

In order to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers, you must complete a minimum of 140 hours (20 days) of face-to-face teaching, even if you are studying online. For most units of the course, this can be achieved by way of the mandatory intensive schools that are held on campus.

Applying for advanced standing for existing professional experience could be an option if you have already completed:

• Diploma (AQF Level 5) or advanced diploma (AQF Level 6) from a Vocational Education Training (VET) Community Services Package
• Vocational Education Training (VET) Health Training Package in one of the following areas, or
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Care, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice, Nursing.

Our honours stream for the Bachelor of Social Work is worth considering to progress your studies, solve complex problems, and to develop your research and analytical thinking skills. Places are offered on academic merit, based on grade point average. Successful completion of the honours stream will equip you with the skills necessary for further postgraduate research, and allow you to demonstrate enhanced discipline knowledge.

UNE is Australia’s longest continuous provider of distance (now online) education and we're highly rated by our students. Year after year, students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus

Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.

UNE is one of Australia’s oldest universities with a 85 year reputation for excellence in teaching, learning and research. The University of New England (UNE) was the first Australian university established outside a capital city. With a history extending back to the 1920’s UNE has a well-earned reputation as one of Australia’s best teaching, training and research universities. Many graduates of UNE have gone on to hold senior positions around Australia - and overseas - in business, government, education, research and community development. UNE has over 22,000 enrolled students with the majority studying their course online. There are over 4,500 students that study on the University’s traditional Armidale campus, including over 1,200 international students from over 70 different countries. Choose to study in Armidale, Sydney, Adelaide, or online.

At the University of New England, we work hard to give you the best possible learning and research environment.

If you decide to live on or near our main campus in Armidale, a regional city on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, you will find your second home. If you want to live in a major Australian city, our Sydney campus is an ideal choice.

Like many international students, you might decide not to study on campus at all. UNE offers many flexible and online learning options.

No matter how you prefer to study, our academic and professional community will be on-hand to provide advice and support.

Come to UNE to improve your English, make lifelong friends and build a professional network. UNE is also an excellent choice if you are looking for a research centre with more than 700 PhD candidates. Our researchers are pursuing world-class fundamental and applied research in their fields.

While UNE offers a range of courses and study options, you will leave here with so much more than a degree. We will help you master the skills you need to make a real difference in the world.

One of Australia’s most respected universities

UNE is one of Australia’s oldest universities, with a reputation for excellence in teaching, learning and research.

We have over 22,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework, as well as Higher Degree Research programs across fields of study such as:

• Arts and humanities
• Education
• Health and Nursing
• Business and Law
• Environmental and Rural Science
• Science and Technology

An affordable, truly Australian lifestyle

UNE's primary campus is nestled into the city of Armidale, in the heart of the picturesque New England Tableland region of New South Wales.

The New England region is famous for its magnificent gorges, waterfalls and rivers. Our area has a rich history and vibrant culture and is loved for the contrasting beauty of the four distinct seasons.

The Armidale community is proud of its diverse, multicultural society. We have students from over 70 nations studying here. The engagement of international students with the broader community is an important aspect of life at UNE. We know our students enjoy the warm welcome they receive when they arrive. They also appreciate the lower cost of living here compared to capital cities.

Read more about life in Armidale.

UNE has a second campus located in Parramatta, Sydney that offers International students a vibrant city experience. UNE Sydney has a range of courses designed to help students meet the future needs of business, computer science, and the healthcare sectors globally.

Students who choose to study at UNE Sydney will have opportunities to network and explore career paths with Australia’s largest and leading companies, along with easy access to countless restaurants, bars and clubs, retail outlets, the scenic outdoors, and accessible public transport to keep them busy outside of their studies.

Read more about life in Sydney.

Close interaction with teaching staff

With one of the lowest staff-to-student ratios among Australian universities, we give you the chance to interact more easily with your classmates and academic staff.

When you have this close contact with your teachers and peers, you can have in-depth discussions and ask questions more freely.

Smaller class sizes also mean that you are not just a number at UNE. One of the things international students like most about our university is that lecturers and academic staff know their names.

Flexible and distance study options

In addition to UNE's on-campus degrees, we also offer an extensive range of programs via the online mode.

We have an outstanding reputation for our commitment to distance education, and for setting standards for academic learning across the world.

UNE is Australia's longest continuous provider of online education. We have more than 17,000 online students. The flexibility offered by this mode of study allows you to arrange your study around work, family and other commitments.

Browse UNE courses (full-time, on-campus and online programs).

A modern English language centre

The English Language Centre (ELC) at UNE provides a range of English language courses as well as a direct pathway to tertiary study.

The ELC is a fully accredited, modern language centre. Whether you are just beginning to learn English, or you are preparing for entrance into the highest levels of university study, there’s an English language study option for you here.

Read more about our English language programs.

Support when you need it

When you start looking for a university, you have lots of questions. You might be wondering if you are eligible to study here or want to know more about visas and fees.

Maybe you need to find a supervisor to support your Higher Degree research proposal.

There’s plenty of information online, but sometimes you want to speak to someone from the university. Find a full list of UNE International team contacts here.

If you are ready to apply, you will find the online application process is easy. We also have a list of approved education agents in your country who can help you.

We wish you a happy and rewarding time at UNE and look forward to seeing you soon. View our Welcome to UNE brochure for a quick look around before you arrive.