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Study social work abroad

Find programs that match your eligibility and aspirations then apply with reduced application fees, a free assessment and access to a dedicated advisor.

Find your perfect social work programs abroad

Find social work programs you love that match your needs & aspirations, where you stand a high chance of acceptance.

Find other programs in social work

Social Work degrees abroad

Social work is an academic discipline that is committed to human rights and social justice by helping those in need. You will learn how to work with vulnerable people across different ages and cultures, and how to build respectful and trusting relationships.

While studying a social work program you’ll cover a range of subjects including sociology, psychology, and law amongst others. Working in social work is a demanding and rewarding profession, that plays a crucial role in communities all over the world. If you have the drive and commitment to improve the lives of others, then social work could be the ideal program for you.

Social work is a popular program that is offered at universities all over the world, including the UK, US, South Africa, Canada and many others. By studying abroad, you’ll get to develop important skills like interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

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Social Work program structure

There are a variety of degree qualifications you can study for in social work at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. At bachelor’s level you can study for a BA, BSc or a BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) over three or four years, depending on where you study.

If you study at bachelor’s level in the US, you can choose to study social work as a major or minor subject. To graduate, you’ll need to earn a certain amount of credits in social work modules.

Most postgraduate social work degree programs are offered as an MA or MSc over two years, but you can also study for a PhD over four years. In the US and some other countries you can study an MSW (Master of Social Work), and some universities also offer PgDip (Postgraduate Diploma) programs.

Social work programs are usually taught through student-led seminars, group workshops and lectures. You will also spend time on placement where you’ll be able to shadow professional social workers and interact with the local community. The program content will be unique to each program, but some of the main areas of study include:

  • Introduction to social work
  • Equality and diversity
  • Law and social policy
  • Introduction to psychology
  • Professional practice
  • Social work with children
  • Social work skills

Types of social work degrees

Social Work study abroad programs

Social work undergraduate programs

Bachelor's in social work

  • false

    Social Work/Pacific Studies Heritage and Arts - BA University of the South Pacific, Fiji

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    3 years
    Annual tuition fee
    18,000 FJD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    July, February
    Show program overview about A Double Major in Social Work / Pacific Studies Heritage and Arts
  • false

    Social Work - BA (Hons) Bournemouth University, UK

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    3 years
    Annual tuition fee
    17,595 GBP

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about BA (Hons) Social Work
  • false

    Social work - BSW University of the Fraser Valley, Canada

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    19,718 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Bachelor degree in Social Work
  • false

    Bachelor of Social Work - BScW Vancouver Island University, Canada

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    24,145 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Bachelor of Social Work
  • false

    Social Work - BSW Campbellsville University, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    25,600 USD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    August, January
    Show program overview about Bachelor of Social Work

Associate in social work

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    Social Work - AA Cuesta College, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    12,288 USD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    August, January
    Show program overview about Social Work
  • false

    Social Work and Counseling - AAOT Lane Community College, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    11,500 USD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September, January, March
    Show program overview about Social Work and Counseling
  • false

    Social Work - AA St. Charles Community College, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    6,660 USD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    August, January
    Show program overview about Social Work Transfer Program, A.A.
  • false

    Sociology/Social Work - AA Lake Land College, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    13,900 USD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    June, August, January
    Show program overview about Sociology/Social Work

Diploma in social work

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    Community Social Work - Dip Portage College, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    15,943 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    August
    Show program overview about Community Social Work
  • false

    Social work - Dip Mount Royal University, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    23,100 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Social Work
  • false

    Social Work - Dip Red Deer Polytechnic, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    19,163 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September, January
    Show program overview about Social Work
  • false

    Social Work - Dip MacEwan University, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    30,400 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Social Work
  • false

    Social Work - Dip NorQuest College, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    21,139 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Social Work

Certificate in social work

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    Social Work and Human Services Paraprofessional - Cert Berkeley City College, USA

    Program type
    Undergraduate certificate
    Duration
    1 year
    Annual tuition fee
    10,740 USD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    August, January
    Show program overview about Social Work and Human Services Paraprofessional

Social work graduate programs

Master's in social work

  • false

    Social Work - MSW University of Windsor, Canada

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    19,418 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    January, May, September
    Show program overview about Social Work (MSW)
  • false

    Social Work - MA Bournemouth University, UK

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    15,250 GBP

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about MA Social Work
  • false

    Social Science: Social Work - MSocSc Maynooth University, Ireland

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    14,000 EUR

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about MASTER OF SOCIAL SCIENCE (SOCIAL WORK)
  • false

    Social Work - MSW RMIT University, Australia

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    36,480 AUD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    February
    Show program overview about Master of Social Work
  • false

    Social Work - MSW University of Ottawa, Canada

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    21,800 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    January, September
    Show program overview about Master of Social Work

Doctorate in social work

  • false

    Social Work - PhD University of Canterbury, New Zealand

    Program type
    Doctorate
    Duration
    18 months
    Annual tuition fee
    7,099 NZD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    May, June, July, August, September, October, November, January, February, March, April
    Show program overview about Social Work
  • false

    Social Work - PhD University of Manitoba, Canada

    Program type
    Doctorate
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    8,859 CAD

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Social Work (PhD)

Diploma in social work

  • false

    Social Work (Greenwich Campus) - Dual MA/PGDip University of Greenwich, UK

    Program type
    Master's/Postgraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    8,150 GBP

    Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Social Work, PGDip/MA

Future social work careers

Social work is a vocational degree, and most graduates go on to become practicing social workers in their local community. However, there are several different roles you could pursue, including:

  • Social worker
  • Care manager
  • Persistent offender coordinator
  • Family support worker
  • Housing adviser
  • Support worker

The skills you’ll acquire on a social work degree program like compassion, communication and teamwork are also easily transferable to other areas of work.

If you’re not quite sure what role you want to pursue after you’ve graduated, make use of your university’s career services, who can help you work out which path is right for you.