Master of Social Work
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
FebruaryEntry score
IELTS 7.0
Duration
Full-time 2 yearsLocation
Melbourne City
Overview
Social workers promote human wellbeing and foster social inclusion. They mobilise the forces of individuals, the community, and state organisations to transform lives and create lasting and meaningful social change.
RMIT has been teaching social work for over 40 years, and our programs continue to reflect up-to-date ideas about social work and its place in a changing world.
Our graduates are resilient, outspoken members of society who advocate a fairer world for all.
Field education forms a large component of the social work course. You'll undertake 140 days of work placements within human and community service organisations.
Details
Most of the classes are held in a group workshop format. You'll interact with others, and benefit from the experience and knowledge of your peers.
RMIT offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches, including lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations, and group discussions.
Ongoing assessments throughout the semester include written exercises, exams, class exercises, oral presentations, workshop and seminar facilitation, and online activities.
RMIT and community service organisations work together to provide field education.
You'll undertake two placements, usually within human and community service organisations. Placement helps you practise your skills so that you have the confidence to apply your abilities to professional situations.
Placements may be arranged locally, with some opportunity for interstate or overseas placements for the final round.
You could find work placements in organisations such as:
- Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
- Anglicare
- Department of Human Services
- Foundations for Survivors of Torture
- Oxfam Australia
- Brotherhood of St Laurence
- Department of Education
- Salvation Army Crisis Services
- Centrelink.
RMIT is a world leader in social justice and homelessness research, and supports a number of research projects and networks that maintain wider links with local and global communities.
The Centre for Applied Social Research undertakes research and promotes public debate on key areas of social change and policy. The Centre works closely with a range of community organisations, government departments, local governments, and the union movement.
The Centre for Urban Research is a thriving interdisciplinary research centre with an emphasis on the intersecting streams of housing and homelessness, urban and regional planning, and sustainability.
This degree is designed to develop your capacity to deliver human services. and to master current and emerging policy and practice trends.
You'll reflect on and analyse social policy and organisational practices, and develop the skills necessary for advocating change. You'll graduate with the knowledge, skills, and ethical foundations to bring about individual and collective wellbeing from a social justice perspective.
The Master of Social Work comprises of ten 12-credit-point core subjects, two 24-credit-point core subjects, and two 12-credit-point elective subjects. Most subjects are offered face-to-face.
Core subjects include:
- Critical Social Work
- Casework, Counselling and Advocacy
- Group and Community Work Strategies
- Ethical, Legal and Organisational Contexts of Social Work Practice
- Discourses of Care, Control and Protection
- Field Education
- Contemporary Themes in Professional Practice
- Social Policy
- Rights, Recognition and Social Justice
Elective subjects include:
- Advanced Advocacy and Social Action
- Conflict Resolution and Mediation
- Indigenous Policy
- Loss, Trauma and Grief
- Minor Thesis
- Social and Political Theory
- Working with Violence and Abuse.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Social Work | City Campus |
2 years full time
4 years part time
|
2 years full time
|
MC150P15 | 058234C |
Choose a program structure
Program code: MC150
Career
Graduates are highly employable in human services organisations, community-based agencies, various levels of government, and increasingly in corporate and private enterprise.
Some graduates help to develop social policy, some engage in research, some assist communities to develop their own services, and some provide services to individuals and families. In a social work career, there are ample opportunities to pursue different specialisations and interests.
With your working knowledge of social science, research, and social work, you'll be eligible for a wide range of human services or community jobs in areas such as:
- child protection
- dispute mediation and industrial relations
- health services and hospitals
- human resource management
- policy and advocacy work
- community development projects
- program and organisational development
- immigration advice and referral centres
- government departments
- youth and family services.
Job Outlook projects that work opportunities for social workers are set to increase by 29.3% to 2024. Job Outlook also estimates that the most common annual salary for a social worker in Australia is between $75,000 and $85,000.
Admissions
You must have successfully completed an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification) that includes at least one year of full-time studies in social sciences (or equivalent).
Applications for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is now closed. The deadline was 30 November 2021. Selection for Commonwealth Supported Places is competitive, based on your grade point average (GPA) and professional experience. Applicants who already submitted a CSP application will receive an outcome for your CSP application in mid-January 2022.
To have your professional experience considered you must submit with your application a CV and a personal statement detailing your experience.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification) in a relevant discipline which includes at least one year of full time studies in social sciences (or equivalent).
Applicants will be selected competitively based on undergraduate results and professional experience.
Please note complete applications must be submitted by 1 November (in any given year) in order to be considered.
Entry requirements
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band below 7.0)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 94 (with minimum of 24 in Reading, 24 in Listening, 23 in Speaking and 27 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 65 (with no communication band less than 65)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 185 with no less than 185 in any component.
The following information outlines the tasks you will be required to undertake during professional experience placement and on-campus learning activities.
The non-academic abilities listed are provided for your information only and are not entry requirements.
If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, there are a range of adjustments to your study conditions available to enable and support you to demonstrate these abilities. Please contact the Equitable Learning Service to discuss any adjustments you may require.
The following information outlines the tasks you will be required to undertake during professional experience placement and on-campus learning activities.
The non-academic abilities listed are provided for your information only and are not entry requirements.
If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, there are a range of adjustments to your study conditions available to enable and support you to demonstrate these abilities. Please contact the Equitable Learning Service to discuss any adjustments you may require.
By understanding the types of activities you’ll participate in, you can:
- understand more about the program
- determine if you may need support during your studies
- make an informed decision about whether the program is suitable for you
If you are living with disability, long-term illness and/or a mental health condition, we can support you by making adjustments to activities in your program so that you can participate fully in your studies.
To receive learning adjustments, you need to register with Equitable Learning Service
The University considers the wellbeing and safety of all students, staff and the community to be a priority in academic and professional experience placement settings.
NDIS Worker Screening Check*
Applicants may be required to apply for, and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to undertaking professional placement with an NDIS provider as part of this program.
*All relevant screening and compliance check fees are the responsibility of the student.
Pathways
Credit and recognition of prior learning
Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience. Find out if you might be eligible.
Fees
Entry for this program is primarily through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs).
Government financial assistance is available to eligible students regardless of the type of place you enrol in.
2022 indicative fees
- Commonwealth supported places (CSP) range from AU$3,985 to AU$14,630*.
- Full-fee places: AU$24,960*.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$315 maximum fee for 2022.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
For more information and to learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees see postgraduate study fees.
Payments and refunds
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
The Australian Government has introduced changes to university funding and student contribution fees under its Job-ready Graduates Package.
The fees in the table below apply to students commencing their program in 2022. Fees for continuing students are available at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Each course (subject) falls into a band. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at Fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2022 for commencing students
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount (per EFTSL) in 2022 |
|---|---|
Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Indigenous and Foreign Languages, Agriculture |
$3,985 per standard year $498 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology |
$8,021 per standard year $1,002 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science |
$11,401 per standard year |
Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture |
$14,630 per standard year |
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP, HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
This program is approved for income support.
You may be eligible for student income support payments from the Commonwealth Government if you are undertaking a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or an approved professionally oriented masters by coursework program. For more information see Income support for Masters students.
If you are enrolled in an eligible program you will also need to satisfy all other student payment eligibility requirements. You can contact Centrelink or Services Australia for further information about student income support entitlements, your eligibility and how to apply.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2022 is $315.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2022 is AU$33,600.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2022 commencement is AU$69,120.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.
Applying for refunds
For information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student, please see Refunds.
Looking for answers or more general infomation?
For frequently asked questions or how to find more information regarding applications and enrolments, fees, student support services, university policies and more, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.