Graduate Certificate in Social Sciences for Social Work

The Graduate Certificate in Social Sciences for Social Work is a pathway program designed as academic preparation for graduates of disciplines other than social or behavioural sciences who wish to undertake the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying) to become a social worker. Please note that no academic credit for prior learning will be awarded towards the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying) based on coursework completed in this Graduate Certificate.

To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must have completed a bachelor level degree (AQF 7) in any field of study. International applicants or those whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English must also meet the minimum English language requirements: an IELTS Overall Score of 6.5, with minimum scores of 6.0 in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

The course is available at the Gold Coast campus and online for domestic students. International students can study at the Gold Coast campus. Online study is highly interactive and may include a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes.

The course comprises 4 core units totalling 48 credit points: Human Behaviour and Development (PSYC5005), Australian Society and Disadvantage (CLST5001), Political Systems and Social Policy (POLT5001), and Australian Social Welfare in a Global Context (WELF5003).

For domestic students, the indicative fee is $8,696 (first year only) as a Commonwealth Supported Place. In a Commonwealth Supported Place, the Government pays some of your fees and you pay the rest as the Student Contribution Amount (SCA), which is calculated per unit, not per course. Eligible students can defer the SCA through a HECS-HELP loan. For international students studying at the Gold Coast campus, the annual tuition fee is $13,000 (at $3,250 per unit).