Study social work in Australia as an international student

Course options and duration

A Bachelor of Social Work is typically a four-year degree — AASW requires at minimum a bachelor's-level (or higher) qualification specifically in social work, and diplomas, certificates or general community-services qualifications don't meet the standard on their own. For students who already hold an unrelated bachelor's degree, a Master of Social Work (qualifying) is available at several universities and typically runs around two years, compressing the same core curriculum and placement requirements into a graduate-entry structure.

Both pathways carry the same AASW-set placement requirement regardless of degree level — this isn't optional coursework you can skip through prior experience, since AASW assesses the placement hours specifically, not just general work history in a related field.

What it costs

As at 2026, published international tuition for a Bachelor of Social Work typically sits in the broad AUD $28,000–42,000-a-year band, and a qualifying master's is often in a similar or slightly higher per-year range given its more intensive graduate-entry structure. These are sticker prices from the provider's current fee schedule, not net cost after any scholarship — check the specific university, since fees are revised annually. Factor in placement-related costs too — police checks, working-with-children checks, and sometimes travel to a placement site outside your usual city.

Work rights while studying, and the graduate visa window

On a student visa (subclass 500), work is capped at 48 hours per fortnight during term and uncapped during scheduled breaks — as at 2026. Placement hours are generally treated separately from paid work hours as part of your enrolled course, but confirm this against your specific course's structure since arrangements can vary.

After graduation, the 485 Post-Higher Education Work stream currently grants two years to bachelor's and coursework master's graduates and three years to research master's/PhD graduates, with a further one to two years possible for eligible regional-campus study. Confirm current age and English settings before relying on them.

The migration pathway: occupation, AASW assessment and the skilled list

Social Worker sits at ANZSCO 272511, and — unusually among the occupations on this page — there is no closely related alternative code within the same unit group, so the code choice is straightforward. The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the designated assessing authority for skilled migration purposes, evaluating whether your qualification (Australian or international) meets AASW's accreditation standard.

Social Worker has appeared on Australia's skilled occupation lists in recent cycles, but list status and points value are reviewed periodically — check the current list before assuming eligibility, and confirm your specific case with a MARA-registered agent. Migratio matches you free.

The placement-hour requirement, in detail

AASW's accreditation standard requires a substantial minimum of supervised field education hours (commonly cited around 980 hours) split across at least two placements completed in different academic years, with contrasting practice foci — typically one placement focused on direct practice with individuals or families, and another with a different focus such as community or policy work. This structural requirement is set at the accreditation level, meaning it's built into how AASW-accredited Australian degrees are designed, but it's worth understanding before enrolling, since it affects how long a degree realistically takes to complete and how much scheduling flexibility you'll have during it.

AASW also sets its own English requirement — commonly an IELTS Academic overall score with no individual band below a set minimum — assessed separately from whatever score got you into the degree.

Is social work a strong choice for a migration-focused international student?

Social work's advantage is structural clarity — one occupation code, one assessing body, and an accreditation standard that Australian degrees are specifically designed around, so a genuine AASW-accredited qualification maps directly to a positive assessment in most cases. The trade-off is the placement-hour requirement, which is genuinely demanding in scheduling terms and not something you can fast-track.

This article is general orientation, not a confirmation that your specific circumstances qualify for a given visa. A MARA-registered agent can confirm your pathway — Migratio matches you with one free.

Does a general community-services diploma qualify me for AASW assessment?

No. AASW requires at minimum a bachelor's-level qualification specifically accredited as social work — diplomas, certificates and general community-services qualifications don't meet the standard on their own, regardless of related work experience.

How many placement hours does a social work degree in Australia require?

AASW's accreditation standard commonly cites a minimum around 980 supervised field education hours, split across at least two placements in different academic years with contrasting practice focuses. This is set by the accrediting standard, not negotiable per student.

Is social worker on Australia's skilled occupation list?

Social Worker has appeared on Australia's skilled lists in recent cycles, but list status and points value are reviewed periodically. Check the current list before assuming eligibility, and confirm with a MARA-registered agent — Migratio matches you free.

How long can I work in Australia after a social work degree?

As at 2026, the 485 Post-Higher Education Work stream grants two years to bachelor's and coursework master's graduates and three years to research master's/PhD graduates, plus a possible further one to two years for eligible regional-campus study. Confirm current age and English settings before relying on this.