In order to study Social Work at advanced levels, our students go through an additional application process as well as enrolling via MyUC. Choose the level that you are enrolling at below in order to find out how to apply for our limited entry programmes. (Please note: BSW(Hons) 1st year entry is open to all students eligible to enrol at UC).
Bachelor of Social Work with Honours | BSW(Hons)
The Bachelor of Social Work with Honours is ideal for those with a commitment to working with others in overcoming personal and institutional barriers to well-being, and promoting the full potential of people.
This four-year qualification is intended for those without a prior degree. If you already have a degree you might want to consider the two-year Master of Social Work (Applied) instead.
Progression beyond Year 1 of the BSW (Hons) is dependent on students meeting the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) entry criteria which includes an assessment of fitness for registration. This means that the person must be a ‘fit and proper person to practise as a social worker’ as stated in S.6(b) of the Social Workers Registration Act, 2003). Please read the SWRB Fit and Proper Policy.
For students who intend to continue into their 2nd year of the BSW (Hons) Programme.
Complete your application using myUC, by selecting your Qualification (BSW Hons 2-4).
- You will be required to provide 3 references.
- We also require 2 forms of ID. If in person verification is not possible, we will arrange a short appointment with you for online verification.
- Complete all the required information on MyUC. You be directed to this form, that can be uploaded to your profile: BSW Limited Entry Application form.
- Complete a New Zealand Police Vetting Service Request and Consent form and return it to the Department of Social Work.
- A student for whom English or Māori and New Zealand Sign is not their first language, must provide evidence of their English language ability by providing and IELTS certificate with no individual score below 6.5 OR at least 2 years of successful study in a New Zealand secondary school, with at least ten level 2 NCEA credits in Literacy or equivalent.
Please read the SWRB Fit and Proper Policy.
Next steps
- Once you have made your application, it will be reviewed by the selection panel
- If your application is successful you will be sent a conditional offer, which is based on the results of your police check and references
- You will be notified if your application is unsuccessful
- Once we have all required documentation you will receive an offer letter
- You will be contacted when your enrolment agreement is available
- Read more about about the enrolment process
Note: It is a requirement of the Social Work Registration Board that all applicants undertake a Police vetting process. This is in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014.
For students who intend to continue into their 3rd year of the BSW (Hons) Programme, entry is not automatic and you need to apply as follows:
Complete your personal statement and return it to us via email
Interviews will take place in person or online. You will be sent a link to make an interview booking and details of the interview process
- Complete the Letter of Intent to notify us of your plans for next year.
- Your letter of intent will be reviewed, and if successful, you will be invited for an interview
- Interviews take place in person or online and are 20 minutes long. You will receive a link to make a booking and full details of what to expect on the day.
Next steps
- You will be notified in writing if your application has been successful and you will receive your offer letter
- You will be contacted when your enrolment agreement is available
- Read more about the enrolment process
Entry in to Level 400 of the BSW (Hons) programme is dependent on the successful completion of 300 level.
This is a placement year and courses are taught in Block Course format as part of the blended learning delivery of the social work programme. The block courses occur once per term for 1 week at a time. Attendance of the courses you are enrolled in is a required component of the programme and non-attendance may affect your ability to pass the course. More information on these requirements will be given at various information sessions.
To prepare for placement and pre-placement interviews, you are required to complete the following forms:
- Complete the Student Profile Form
We will undertake the Police vetting process. You will need to complete the NZ Police Vetting and Consent form and provide us with 2 types of identification. This needs to be your drivers’ licence (both front and back) and your passport or birth certificate
These items do not need to be verified before sending them to us, we will do our own verification process
- You will need to provide proof of a full NZ drivers’ licence.
Next steps
- Placements are allocated at the direction of the UC Field Education Co-ordinator, in consultation with academic staff on the social work programme
- The student is tentatively assigned to an agency on the basis of the best fit with their learning goals. Once a prospective placement is identified, the student attends a pre-placement interview.
Master of Social Work (Applied) | MSW (Applied)
The Master of Social Work (Applied) is an innovative programme that provides the opportunity to people with an undergraduate degree to gain an internationally recognised first professional qualification in social work. Study can be either full-time for two years or part-time over a maximum of six years.
Entry into the MSW (App) is dependent on students meeting the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) entry criteria which includes an assessment of fitness for registration. This means that the person must be a ‘fit and proper person to practise as a social worker’ as stated in S.6(b) of the Social Workers Registration Act, 2003). Please read the SWRB Fit and Proper Policy.
Complete your application using myUC.
- You will be required to provide 3 references.
- We also require 2 forms of ID. If in person verification is not possible, we will arrange a short appointment with you for online verification.
- Complete all the required information on MyUC. You will be directed to this form, that can be uploaded to your profile: MSW (Applied) Limited Entry Application form.
- You will be sent a New Zealand Police Vetting Service Request and Consent form which needs to be completed and returned to the Department of Social Work.
- A student for whom English or Māori and New Zealand Sign is not their first language, must provide evidence of their English language ability by providing and IELTS certificate with no individual score below 6.5 OR at least 2 years of successful study in a New Zealand secondary school, with at least ten level 2 NCEA credits in Literacy or equivalent
Please read the SWRB Fit and Proper Policy, then read and acknowledge the following documentation:
Next steps
- Once you have made your application, it will be reviewed by the selection panel
- If the panel agree, you will be contacted to attend an interview
- If your application is successful you will be sent a conditional offer, which is based on the results of your police check and references
- You will be notified if your application is unsuccessful
- Once we have all required documentation you will receive an offer letter
- You will be contacted when your enrolment agreement is available
Note: It is a requirement of the Social Work Registration Board that all applicants undertake a Police vetting process. This is in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014.
For students who intend to continue into their 2nd year of the MSW(Applied) Programme.
This is a placement year and courses are taught in Block Course format as part of the blended learning delivery of the social work programme. The block courses occur once per term for 1 week at a time. Attendance of the courses you are enrolled in is a required component of the programme and non-attendance may affect your ability to pass the course. More information on these requirements will be given at various information sessions.
To prepare for placement and pre-placement interviews, you are required to complete the following forms:
- Complete the Change of circumstance form
- Complete the Student Profile Form
- Complete the Badge request form
- We also require 2 forms of ID. If in person verification is not possible, we will arrange a short appointment with you for online verification.
- You will be sent a New Zealand Police Vetting Service Request and Consent form which needs to be completed and returned to the Department of Social Work.
- You will need to provide proof of a full NZ driver’s licence
Next steps
- Placements are allocated at the direction of the UC Fieldwork Education Co-ordinator, in consultation with academic staff on the social work programme
- The student is tentatively assigned to an agency on the basis of the best fit with their learning goals. Once a prospective placement is identified, the student attends a pre-placement interview.
