Overview

Key Features

The Social Work program at University of Cape Town leads to a professional qualification and provides a solid foundation for all people-centred careers and social service professions. The education and training provides knowledge for life and opportunities for lifelong learning. By the time of graduation, the student has relevant work and professional experience and is registered with a professional body to practice.

Social work is a dynamic profession that promotes social change, problem-solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Social Workers intervene at the points where people interact with their environments.

Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to Social Work practice. Social Work is practised worldwide in a variety of settings across all sectors of society and in close collaboration with other sectors such as education, development, health, law and business. Social Workers also engage in private practice.

Careers

From the beginning of the second year, students work with people in different communities, doing their practical work in the context of a range of government and Non-Profit Organization settings, such as schools, hospitals, development programmes, industry, prisons, rehabilitation and trauma centres.

To assist students to integrate their theoretical knowledge of assessment and intervention strategies, they receive supervision from a specialist in the field. The programme leads to a professional qualification and provides a solid foundation for all people-centred careers and social service professions.

The education and training provides knowledge for life and opportunities for lifelong learning. By the time of graduation, the student has relevant work and professional experience and is registered with a professional body to practice.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Courses offered in the department focus on a range of relevant topics, such as professional interaction; human development; social and economic empowerment; child abuse; crime; alcoholism and substance abuse; human sexuality; social welfare policy and social development; and social research. Apart from the subject social work, you will also major in either Sociology or Psychology.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-02-16 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-31 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

88

Schedule TOEFL®

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Cape Town, South Africa

Disciplines

Social Work View 9 other Bachelors in Social Work in South Africa

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

88

Schedule TOEFL®

Other requirements

General requirements

Applicants holding a South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) need to pass a minimum of 4 subjects at a rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50-59%) or better in any four 20-credit NSC subjects.
Applicants holding a South African Senior Certificate need matriculation endorsement.
Applicants holding non-South African school-leaving certificates must qualify for a matriculation exemption certificate.

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

66100 ZAR / year

≈ 66100 ZAR / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

32500 ZAR / year

≈ 32500 ZAR / year

Living costs

Cape Town

South Africa

9088 - 15529 ZAR / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Social Work.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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