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Study social work abroad

: We maximize your chance of getting admitted to your chosen universities

The smart alternative to applying direct for social work degrees abroad and the easy way to find programs that match your eligibility and aspirations

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.

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

How we maximize your chance of studying social work abroad

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Social Work study abroad programs

Social work undergraduate programs

Bachelor's in social work

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    Behavioral Sciences-Sociology: Social Work - BS New York Institute of Technology, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    41,440 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 41,440 USD

    Start date
    September, January
    Show program overview about Behavioral Sciences-Sociology: Social Work
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    Collaborative Health & Human Services: Social Work - BA California State University, Monterey Bay, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    16,647 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 16,647 USD

    Start date
    January, August
    Show program overview about Collaborative Health & Human Services - Social Work
  • false

    Human Services Administration: Social Work - BSc Nova Southeastern University, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    34,500 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 34,500 USD

    Start date
    August, January
    Show program overview about Human Services Administration: Social Work
  • false

    Social Work - BSW Long Island University Brooklyn, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    35,736 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 35,736 USD

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

    Social Work - BScW University of the Fraser Valley, Canada

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    13,915 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 18,900 CAD

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about 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
    10,650 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 10,650 USD

    Start date
    August, January
    Show program overview about Social Work
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    Social Work - AA Moraine Valley Community College, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    9,408 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 9,408 USD

    Start date
    August, January, June
    Show program overview about Social Work
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    Social Work (Pre-Major) - AA College of the Rockies, Canada

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    11,182 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 15,188 CAD

    Start date
    January, April, August
    Show program overview about Social Work (Pre-Major)
  • false

    Social Work and Counseling - AAOT Lane Community College, USA

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

    Fee in university's local currency 11,500 USD

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

    Sociology/Social Work - AA Lake Land College, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    13,500 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 13,500 USD

    Start date
    August, January, June
    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
    11,738 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 15,943 CAD

    Start date
    August
    Show program overview about Community Social Work
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    Social Work - Dip NorQuest College, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    15,710 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 21,338 CAD

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

    Social Work - Dip Red Deer Polytechnic, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    13,451 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 18,269 CAD

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

    Social Work - Dip Keyano College, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    10,792 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 14,658 CAD

    Start date
    January, August
    Show program overview about Social Work Diploma

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

    Fee in university's local currency 10,740 USD

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

Social work graduate programs

Master's in social work

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    Applied Social Work - MASW Massey University, New Zealand

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    18,590 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 31,010 NZD

    Start date
    November, February, July
    Show program overview about Applied Social Work
  • false

    Social Science: Social Work - MSocSc Maynooth University, Ireland

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    14,933 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 14,000 EUR

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

    Social Work (Advanced Standing) - MSW Millersville University, USA

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    15,363 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 15,363 USD

    Start date
    May
    Show program overview about Master of Social Work (MSW) ADVANCED STANDING
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    Social Work and Public Health - Dual MPH/MSW University of Nebraska Omaha, USA

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    16,374 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 16,374 USD

    Start date
    August, January, May
    Show program overview about Social Work, MSW and Public Health, MPH (MSW/MPH)
  • false

    Social Work - MSc Long Island University Brooklyn, USA

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    21,618 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 21,618 USD

    Start date
    September, January
    Show program overview about Social Work

Doctorate in social work

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    Professional Doctorate in Social Work - ProfDoc University of Portsmouth, UK

    Program type
    Doctorate
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    8,869 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 7,150 GBP

    Start date
    October
    Show program overview about Professional Doctorate in Social Work
  • false

    Social Work - PhD University of Canterbury, New Zealand

    Program type
    Doctorate
    Duration
    18 months
    Annual tuition fee
    4,255 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 7,099 NZD

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

    Social Work - Doctorate Liverpool Hope University, UK
    • Part-time

    Program type
    Doctorate
    Duration
    5 years
    Annual tuition fee
    15,506 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 12,500 GBP

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

    Social Work and Juris Doctor - JD/MSW Southern Utah University, USA

    Program type
    Doctorate/Master's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    23,620 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 23,620 USD

    Start date
    September, January, May
    Show program overview about Social Work and Juris Doctor

Diploma in social work

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    Arts: Social Work - PGDipArts University of Canterbury, New Zealand

    Program type
    Postgraduate diploma
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    16,306 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 27,200 NZD

    Start date
    January, February
    Show program overview about Arts: Social Work

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.