Bachelor (Honours)
Through innovative teaching that focuses on real-world case studies and experiences outside the classroom, you'll gain critical insights into all aspects of the justice and social systems. The social work courses will teach you to understand people and how to help them through challenging times, such as homelessness, addiction, abuse, mental illness, poverty, ageing and discrimination. Your criminology courses will draw from psychology, sociology, law, philosophy and cultural studies to help you better understand crime and criminality.
A one-of-its-kind accredited social work program
UNSW School of Social Sciences offers the only accredited social work program in Australia that integrates Honours into your undergraduate degree. Our leading academics guide you through a dynamic, evidence-informed and collaborative program designed to help you make a positive impact at all levels of society. From counselling and advocacy to community work, research and policy development, learn how to make a real difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities.
Practical experience
Translate what you learn in the classroom into practice. In the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Criminology and Criminal Justice, you'll go beyond lectures through a range of experiential learning opportunities. These include real-world case studies, visiting courts and prisons and hearing first-hand from the people involved in the justice system through guest presenters and other engagement opportunities.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
During the last two years of the degree, you'll gain hands-on social work experience in our field education program. You'll complete two diverse placements in metropolitan and rural Australia or overseas in our partnering countries. You'll have the opportunity to apply classroom learning in real-life situations for a total of 70 days per placement. In the Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice, you can also undertake an internship with a range of criminal justice agencies and not-for-profits through our Criminology Work-Integrated Learning Placement course.
Honours program
Once you've completed all program requirements, you'll graduate with Honours. As part of the Honours requirement, you'll complete either a piece of independent research as a thesis or an advanced practice portfolio.
At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.
To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.
We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.
We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.
HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.
Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.
Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.
Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our future student advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.
Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.
Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you're completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
| Qualifications | Direct entry requirement |
|---|---|
|
International ATAR
|
75
|
| UNSW Foundation Studies GPA |
6.9
|
|
Great Britain General Certificate of Education (GCE A levels)
|
10
All applicants must present a minimum of two Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry Scores are calculated from the best two, three, or four A2 Level subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1. |
|
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
|
26
Results based on scores required for entry into UNSW in 2019 and are only applicable if the Diploma has been completed. Students currently attempting the IB can apply directly to UNSW or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). For more details, visit www.uac.edu.au |
|
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (after 2016)
|
1130
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) based on the total of evidence-based reading and writing and mathematical test scores. Must be provided in conjunction with evidence of successful completion of senior secondary studies. |
We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.
Please contact us for direct entry requirements.
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
UNSW's Bachelor of Social Work is one of the most highly regarded social work programs in Australia. Our graduates receive industry accreditation from the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Studying Social Work at UNSW opens the door to a range of career options across many sectors, including private and government agencies, social welfare support organisations and community groups. Our strong partnerships and placement opportunities will elevate your industry recognition and employability upon graduation.
The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice integrates career readiness training through our Criminology Capstone course, Criminology in Practice, alongside mentoring programs, job-seeking modules, and professional career support opportunities. In this course, you'll draw together key concepts, themes and debates in criminology and apply them to current issues. You'll graduate with a portfolio of work that touches on eight contemporary themes within criminology.
At UNSW, we believe that university is about more than what you learn in the classroom. Through immersive learning, you'll become equipped to debate tomorrow's problems and become a beacon of support in the communities you feel drawn to work with.
The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Criminology and Criminal Justice degree focuses on balancing theoretical studies and hands-on learning in the criminal justice system to ultimately prepare you for the workforce.
When you enrol in this course you'll be joining Sydney's number 1 law faculty* where you'll gain first-hand experience being led by academics who teach industry-aligned coursework designed to cultivate future leaders in the sector.
UNSW has been named 'Most Employable University' by the Australian Financial Review, four years in a row. Our students build professional portfolios through proximity and partnerships with some of Australia's most influential figures in crime and justice.
Graduating from the widely respected Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Criminology and Criminal Justice at a prestigious Go8 university like UNSW will open up a world of opportunity that could take you anywhere - Australia and beyond.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) qualify for membership in the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).