Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Master of Social Work (Applied) is designed for graduates who already hold a relevant undergraduate degree and want to gain a recognised first professional qualification in social work.
• It combines academic study with practical professional training, including two fieldwork placements and practice-research integration.
• The qualification is intended to meet the professional pathway requirements associated with social work registration in New Zealand, subject to the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) requirements.
• UC describes its Social Work degrees as combining academic courses with intensive skills development and internship experience in the field. Graduates of UC's Social Work programmes are eligible to apply for social-work registration in New Zealand and overseas, subject to the relevant jurisdiction's requirements.
• The programme is particularly suitable for graduates from social sciences, human services, health-related or other relevant backgrounds who want to transition into professional social work.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The 240-point programme is divided into two parts.

Part I consists of five courses:

• SOWK611 – Mental Health – 15 points
• SOWK612 – Tino Rangatiratanga and Mana Motuhake in Practice – 15 points
• SOWK614 – Social Work Theory, Research and Practice – 30 points
• SOWK615 – Social Work Principles and Skills – 30 points
• SOWK640 – Practice Research for Social Work – 30 points

Part II consists of:

• SOWK671 – Field Education 1 – 45 points
• SOWK672 – Field Education 2 – 45 points
• SOWK673 – Practice Research Integration – 30 points

The programme therefore covers:

• Mental health
• Social work theory
• Research and evidence-based practice
• Social work principles and professional skills
• Maori approaches to practice and self-determination
• Practice research
• Professional field education
• Integration of research with social-work practice.c

Disciplines / Specialisations

• Main discipline: Social Work.
• The qualification does not currently list separate majors, minors or formal specialisations.
• Students receive broad professional preparation rather than selecting a named specialisation.
• The curriculum includes areas such as mental health, Maori and Indigenous practice, social-work theory, research, professional skills and field education.

Programme Highlights

• 240-point professional master's qualification.
• Designed as a conversion route for students who already hold a relevant undergraduate degree.
• Two-year full-time professional pathway.
• Combination of distance learning and compulsory on-campus block teaching.
• Two substantial field education components.
• Practice-research integration.
• Professional suitability and Police vetting requirements built into the programme.
• Designed around the requirements associated with professional social-work practice and SWRB registration.
• UC's Social Work Department describes the programme as an internationally recognised first professional qualification in social work.

Career Outcomes

The qualification is intended to prepare graduates for professional social-work practice. Potential career areas include:

• Social worker
• Community and social-service organisations
• Mental-health and wellbeing services
• Child and family services
• Community development
• Social-sector organisations
• Policy and social-sector roles
• Human-services organisations
• Government and non-government social services.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• UC is currently accepting full-time and part-time applications for 2027.
• The programme has limited places, so meeting the academic minimum does not by itself guarantee selection.
• A separate Social Work programme application is required in addition to the normal UC enrolment application.
• Two referees are required for the current first-year application process.
• Police vetting is required as part of the professional suitability process.
• Fieldwork placements require satisfactory suitability/character requirements and may have additional requirements imposed by individual social-service agencies.
• SOWK671 and SOWK672 involve assessed fieldwork under approved Fieldwork Educators.
• The current regulations came into force on 1 January 2025 and are reflected in the 2026 UC Calendar.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students who are accepted into the programme generally require a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa to study in New Zealand.

Key Immigration New Zealand conditions include:

• You must have an offer of place from an approved education provider and provide evidence of tuition payment/funding as required.
• You must demonstrate sufficient funds for living costs.
• For tertiary study of one year or longer, the current living-cost requirement is NZD 20,000 per year.
• For study of less than one year, the requirement is NZD 1,667 per month.
• Evidence can include personal funds, scholarship evidence, an eligible education loan, fixed-term deposits, sponsorship or an acceptable financial undertaking.
• The visa can normally be issued for the period of study that has been paid for, subject to the visa conditions, and can be issued for up to 4 years.
• Depending on the conditions attached to the visa, students may work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time during eligible holidays/scheduled breaks.
• International students are strongly encouraged by Immigration New Zealand to apply around 3 months before their intended travel date.
• Appropriate health and travel insurance is required for international students studying in New Zealand; UC's Studentsafe insurance is one option, subject to its terms.