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
February Entry score
IELTS 7.0
Duration
Full-time 2 years Location
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 course 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 courses, two 24-credit-point core courses, and two 12-credit-point elective courses. Most courses are offered face-to-face.
Core courses 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 courses 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.
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).
If you are applying for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) you must submit your application by 30 November. Selection for Commonwealth Supported Places is competitive, based on your grade point average (GPA) and professional experience. You will receive an outcome for your CSP application in late December.
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 have your professional experience considered you must include with your application:
- a CV
- a personal statement detailing your relevant professional experience.
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.
Pathways
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.
2020 indicative annual fees
- Commonwealth supported places (CSP) range from AU$6,684 to AU$11,155*.
- Full-fee places: AU$23,040*.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$308* maximum fee for 2020.
- 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.
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?
In 2020, the annual student contribution amount you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,684 to AU$11,155.
Courses (subjects) fall into one of three bands. 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 2020
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2020 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,684 per standard year $835 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,527 per standard year |
|
$11,155 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 will 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 the Department of Human Services 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 2020 is $308.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
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 2020 is AU$30,720.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2020 commencement is AU$62,400.
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.