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Overview
Develop your passion for helping others into a rewarding career
Become a registered social worker with Massey’s Bachelor of Social Work. As a social worker, you can advocate for structural change, engage in community development and help people overcome challenges to enhance individual and whānau wellbeing.
Level
- Undergraduate, NZQF Level 7
Campus
- Auckland, Manawatū
Distance learning
- Available
Credits
- 480
Duration
- 4 year(s) full-time. Available part-time.
International
- Available for international students studying in NZ
Other
- Selected entry programme.
Note: This programme is covered by the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order 2021. Students are required to provide details of their vaccination status on enrolment.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is highly sought-after and internationally recognised. It will offer you a lifelong career that can take you across New Zealand and around the world.
- More than 90% of Massey social work graduates find employment within six months of earning their degree.
- Massey University is committed to being Te Tiriti o Waitangi-led and this is reflected in the School of Social Work and in your learning.
- The degree is recognised by the NZ Social Work Registration Board.
- Massey graduates make up the largest number of qualified social workers in the country.
- Social work is a growth industry, with about 7000 registered social workers in NZ.
- Massey is the leading university in New Zealand where you can study for your degree through distance learning.
- You will get vital hands-on experience in the workplace in your third and fourth year of study where you will be supported to undertake placements.
- We combine both theory and practice, taught by well-qualified staff.
Our degree equips you with all the skills needed to understand and work alongside people and communities in the modern world.
Want to work towards a role that has a positive impact on individuals, families, groups and communities? Want to enjoy a fulfilling career that can give you great employment opportunities and further career development pathways? Open to personal and professional development and keen to work with diverse communities? Join us today on a journey of self-discovery and success.
Careers and further study
Careers
A social work degree means you can work in many different areas. Social workers work across all age groups and you will have opportunities to work in many different areas, in non-government or statutory organisations, for example:
- child protection
- community work and community development
- diversity specific services (eg Chinese, Korean, Sāmoan, Rainbow, Spiritually-based)
- hospitals and primary health care
- housing
- iwi and marae-based social services
- management and supervision
- mental health and addictions
- offenders
- policy development
- refugees and migrants
- residential care
- schools
- tertiary education
- women
- youth justice.
Further study
You may wish to progress to the Master of Social Work when you successfully complete this programme.
International students
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
Entry requirements
University admission
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Programme admission
Required
The Bachelor of Social Work is a selected entry programme. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.
To enter the Bachelor of Social Work programme you will:
- meet the requirements set down by the Social Workers Registration Act 2003 for registration as a social worker in New Zealand in terms of being “fit and proper persons to practise social work” – see: swrb.govt.nz/about-us/policies/
- provide a curriculum vitae which includes your academic and work history
- provide a personal statement explaining why you wish to enter the social work programme and profession
- provide details of two character referees - these must not be family or friends
- provide details of any convictions or charges pending in New Zealand and/or overseas
- complete the vetting service request and consent form for a New Zealand Police check
- provide a current police certificate from any overseas countries you have lived in for twelve months or more in the last ten years.
- undertake an interview (if required).
Application closing date
If you are a new-to-Massey student, applications for this programme close on 31 January 2022 (Semester One) and 11 June 2022 (Semester Two).
International students
International students must be in New Zealand to study this programme by distance learning.
English language requirements
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
If English, Māori or New Zealand sign language is not your first language, you will need to provide official evidence of your English language competency in the form of:
- an IELTS test with an overall academic score of at least 6.5, with no band score less than 6.5, taken within the preceding two years; or
- a TOEFL internet-based test (IBT) score of 85 or higher with a writing score of 22; or at least two years of successful study in a new Zealand secondary school, with at least 10 Level 2 NCEA credits in Literacy (five reading and five writing); or equivalent.
Massey University English language requirements
Other requirements
About referees
We require two people who can act as referees for you. A referee should be someone who has known you for one year or more in the capacity of employer, educator, work colleague or person of community standing, e.g. Kaumatua, Minister or similar. Your referee should not be a friend, flatmate, relative or someone who has not known you for at least a year. The information your referee supplies is confidential to those involved in the selection process.
If you do not have the entry requirements
English language and foundation courses
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and qualifications that may help.
Summer School
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
Courses and planning
Credit summary
480 credits
- Part One compulsory courses – 120 credits
- Part Two compulsory courses – 120 credits
- Part Three compulsory courses – 120 credits
- Part Four compulsory courses – 120 credits
- 120 days of approved supervised field education and associated reports
This is a parts-based qualification. This means that there are regulations around completion of Part One before progressing to Part Two etc.
Courses for this programme
Part One
| 120 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 150103 | Nau mai e noho: Engaging with Māori | 15 |
| 176101 | The Sociological Imagination | 15 |
| 179110 | Creating a Foundation for Social and Community Work | 15 |
| 179120 | Environmental Sustainability in Social and Community Work | 15 |
| 179121 | Identity Development in Aotearoa New Zealand | 15 |
| 179155 | A Foundation of Interpersonal Skills for the Helping Professions | 15 |
| 275102 | Human Development | 15 |
| 279101 | Social Policy: An Introduction | 15 |
Part Two (No New Enrolments in 2023)
| 120 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 150201 | Te Kawenata o Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand Society | 15 |
| 150205 | Kura Mai Tawhiti: Māori Knowledge | 15 |
| 179202 | Applied Research for Social Policy and Social Work | 15 |
| 179210 | Social Work Theories, Assessment and Interventions | 15 |
| 179230 | The Wellbeing of Pacific Peoples in New Zealand | 15 |
| 179255 | Introduction to Field Education | 15 |
| 279201 | Social Policy: Concepts and Theories | 15 |
| 279203 | Law, Government and Social Policy | 15 |
Part Two (from 2023)
| 120 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 150201 | Te Kawenata o Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand Society | 15 |
| 150205 | Kura Mai Tawhiti: Māori Knowledge | 15 |
| 179202 | Applied Research for Social Policy and Social Work | 15 |
| 179210 | Social Work Theories, Assessment and Interventions | 15 |
| 179230 | The Wellbeing of Pacific Peoples in New Zealand | 15 |
| 179240 | Ethics, Values and Law in Social Work and Social Policy | 15 |
| 179255 | Introduction to Field Education | 15 |
| 279203 | Law, Government and Social Policy | 15 |
Part Three (No New Enrolments in 2024)
| 105 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 179310 | Integrated Practice with Groups and Families | 15 |
| 179320 | Community Development | 15 |
| 179330 | Māori Development and the Social Services | 15 |
| 179355 | Field Education I | 45 |
| 279301 | Government Policy, Planning and Administration | 15 |
Part Three (from 2024)
| 120 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 179310 | Integrated Practice with Groups and Families | 15 |
| 179320 | Community Development | 15 |
| 179330 | Māori Development and the Social Services | 15 |
| 179340 | Developing Practice | 15 |
| 179355 | Field Education I | 45 |
| 279301 | Government Policy, Planning and Administration | 15 |
Part Four (No New Enrolments in 2025)
| 135 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 179410 | Social Work Fields of Practice | 30 |
| 179420 | Advanced Social Work Practice | 30 |
| 179440 | Management in the Social Services | 15 |
| 179455 | Field Education II | 45 |
| 279401 | Social Policy Evaluation | 15 |
Part Four (from 2025)
| 120 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 179430 | Integrated Social Work Practice – Authentising Practice | 15 |
| 179431 | Consolidating Practice | 15 |
| 179432 | Ahurea ki uta, Ahurea ki tai | 15 |
| 179433 | Selected Study in Policy, Practice or Diverse Populations | 15 |
| 179440 | Management in the Social Services | 15 |
| 179455 | Field Education II | 45 |
Planning your programme
Planning overview
If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
The Bachelor of Social Work is a parts-based qualification. That means you must complete the first part, before moving to the second, etc.
Part One
Part One provides an understanding of people and society, particularly in New Zealand. Courses can be chosen from a range of social science, humanities and other disciplines.
Part Two
Part Two brings a deeper understanding of social problems, social work theories, social policy and government, social work and basic interview skills.
Part Three
Part Three concentrates on developing practical social work skills that are firmly based in social work theory, Māori development, advanced social policy and community work. An exciting feature is attendance at a Noho Marae.
Part Four
Part Four develops applied skills in specialist areas of social work. These include management, policy evaluation and a variety of fields of practice.
In Parts Three and Four, you will complete supervised placements in social service agencies.
Part-time study
If you work for more than 12-15 hours a week, we recommend you enrol for part-time study.
Second semester start
If you are applying to begin the Bachelor of Social Work in the second semester (mid-year), please contact us to help you plan your degree.
Distance students
If you study by distance, you will be required to attend in-person compulsory contact workshops (from Year One. Dates for contact workshops are on each course page.
Withdrawing from courses
Withdrawing from a course may impact on you being able to progress to the next part of your Bachelor of Social Work. Prior to withdrawing from a course we recommend you make contact with one of the Bachelor of Social Work Coordinators located within the School of Social Work.
Requirements while you are studying
- You will complete supervised placements in social service agencies in your third year (field education). By this time you are required to have a full New Zealand driver’s licence.
- During the course of your study, you will continue to meet our requirements under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014, and under the Social Workers Registration Board ‘Fit and Proper Person policy and Code of Conduct.
Supervised placements – field education
A critical part of the degree are two field education courses. These consist of 120 days (in total) of approved work placements supervised by a registered social worker. You must pass these courses to progress to the next part of the degree. Field education is assessed through both academic and practice requirements.
Re-applying after a break
If you are returning to the Bachelor of Social Work at Massey after a break of two years or more, you must apply for re-entry to the programme.
Maximum time limits for completion
There are maximum time limits to complete some undergraduate and all postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the programme if you wish to continue your studies.
Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit
If you complete this programme within the stated time limit, you will normally be able to graduate with a class of Honours.
Look for further information under ‘Student Progression’ in the regulations for this programme.
More information
- Read the regulations for this programme thoroughly
- Contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
Typical pattern for the Bachelor of Social Work
Core courses These courses are a compulsory part of your qualification.
All courses are compulsory - 480 credits: 120 credits each year
| Year one |
|---|
| 176101 The Sociological Imagination |
| 179110 Creating a Foundation for Social and Community Work |
| 179121 Identity Development in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| 279101 Social Policy: An Introduction |
| 150103 Nau mai e noho: Engaging with Māori |
| 179120 Environmental Sustainability in Social and Community Work |
| 179155 An Introduction to Helping Skills in Social and Community Work Practice |
| 275102 Human Development |
| Year two |
|---|
| 150201 Te Kawenata o Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand Society |
| 179210 Social Work Theories, Assessment and Interventions |
| 179230 Tangata Moana Perspectives and Practices for Transformation |
| 179255 Introduction to Field Education |
| 150205 Kura Mai Tawhiti: Māori Knowledge |
| 179202 Applied Research for Social Policy and Social Work |
| 179240 Ethics, Values and Law in Social Work and Social Policy |
| 279203 Law, Government and Social Policy |
| Year three |
|---|
| 179310 Integrated Practice with Groups and Families |
| 179320 Community Development |
| 179330 Māori Development and the Social Services |
| 279301 Government Policy, Planning and Administration |
| 179355 Field Education I (45 credits) |
| 179340 Developing Practice |
| Year four |
|---|
| 179430 Integrated Social Work Practice – Authentising Practice |
| 179432 Ahurea ki uta, Ahurea ki tai |
| 179433 Selected Study in Policy, Practice or Diverse Populations |
| 179440 Management in the Social Services |
| 179431 Consolidating Practice |
| 179455 Field Education II (45 credits) |
Fees and scholarships
Fees and finance
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
- Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
- View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student portal
A good fit if you:
- dream of helping people from all walks of life
- want to make a real difference in the world
- believe in human rights and social justice.
Meet our students
“
I chose social work without fully understanding the concept, but I knew it was about people and I knew that people mattered.
” Blake Gardiner
“
I had thought about getting a qualification in youth work, but then someone suggested social work as it provided greater scope in terms of areas I could work in.
” Courtney Gray
“
Studying at Massey University has provided me a broad and sound knowledge of what social work is all about. The day of a social worker is never the same, encountering different situations and people impacted by social and personal issues.
” Kaysha Whakarau
Accreditations and rankings
The Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Applied Social Work are accredited by the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board. Upon completion you can apply for provisional registration as a registered social worker.
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Regulations
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
Undergraduate programmes
Applying and enrolling
Applying for the programme
Check you are ready
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
Choose your programme and click on Apply now
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
Receive and accept an Admission Offer of Place
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
Enrolling in courses
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
- prerequisites (courses you have to do before the one you are enrolling in)
- corequisites (courses you have to do at the same time as the one you are enrolling in)
- restrictions (courses that you cannot enrol in if you are completing or have completed another identified similar course)
- location – for instance some distance-based courses still have an on-campus element, so double check that the way the course is taught is suitable for your situation.
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
What are courses and credits?
What are courses and credits?
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
- See the ‘Courses for this programme’ section for the list of courses.
- Courses search
Understanding course numbers
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
- sub-degree courses are '0' (i.e. xxx.0xx)
- undergraduate study begins at 100-level, (i.e. xxx.1xx)
- as you progress through 200- and 300-level courses this number changes to 2 and 3 respectively. The higher the number that starts the second three digits, the higher the level of study.
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Workload and time management
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
If you are returning to the Bachelor of Social Work at Massey after a break of two years or more, you must apply for re-entry to the programme.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
Scholarships and awards
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.