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Overview
Take your social work career to the next level
Enhance your social work career with Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work.
Level
- Postgraduate, NZQF Level 8
Distance learning
- Available
Credits
- 120
Duration
- 1 year(s) full-time. Available part-time.
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.
Take your social work practice and your career to the next level. The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work meets an increasing professional demand for a post-qualifying pathway for professionally qualified and registered social workers.
Flexible professional development that fits your lifestyle
Massey is the only university in New Zealand that offers post-qualifying social work courses by distance. Which means you can study wherever you like, to fit in with your other commitments.
Extend your social work knowledge and expertise
On this programme, you’ll extend your knowledge of your chosen area of social work and apply this knowledge to your own contexts.
You’ll learn to read and appraise the latest social work research. You will master methodological and theoretical issues and research methods. You’ll also deepen your knowledge of cultural competence as it relates to research and practice principles with Māori and other diverse cultural groups.
Become a leader in your field
The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work will prepare you for leadership in specific areas of social work practice. This is through the dissemination of information in workplaces. It is also through clinical supervision and mentoring of students and beginning practitioners.
Careers and further study
Careers
Enhance your career progression
You’ll already be employed as a social worker. The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work strengthens your professional development as an advanced practitioner and specialist in your field of practice.
Further study
Study at postgraduate diploma level can lead to a Master of Social Work and then to a doctorate.
Entry requirements
University admission
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Programme admission
Required
To enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work programme you will:
- have been awarded a Bachelor of Social Work or Bachelor of Social Work with Honours or equivalent.
You will provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
English language requirements
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
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
120 credits
- Courses from the Schedule – 120 credits
Courses for this programme
| 120 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 179702 | Advanced Research Methods | 30 |
| 179736 | Substance Misuse and Addictions | 30 |
| 179740 | Social Service Supervision: Theory and Practice | 30 |
| 179741 | Social Service Management | 30 |
| 179761 | Current Issues and Theories in Social Service Practice | 30 |
| 179763 | Clinical Practice | 30 |
| 179771 | Child Welfare | 30 |
| 179773 | Disability Studies | 30 |
| 179777 | Disability, Consumer Rights and Advocacy | 30 |
| 179778 | Mental Health and Social Work | 30 |
| 179783 | Māori Development and the Social Services | 30 |
| 279703 | Social Policy Studies | 30 |
Planning your programme
Planning overview
Thinking about progressing to the Master of Social Work?
The Master of Social Work requires you to have a B average from the four taught courses and at least a B grade in 179.702 Advanced Research Methods.
Please see the Master of Social Work webpage for more information.
Maximum time limits for completion
There are maximum time limits to complete 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
Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with a class of Honours, Distinction or Merit.
- Look for information under ‘Student Progression’ in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
- Contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
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:
- are a professionally qualified social worker
- want to do further study, or
- completed your Bachelor of Social Work through a non-university provider.
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.
Postgraduate regulations
General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
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.
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.