Bachelor Programme

Faculty of Health Sciences


Duration Language Campus
4 Years Full-Time (Day/Evening) 
Chinese/English
Ilha Verde Campus

 

This programme prepares students for professional social work practice.

The Bachelor of Social Work trains students in the methodologies of social work practice, social policy, and organisational management with an emphasis on human values and ethics. Students develop knowledge and skills to promote social change by empowering and liberating people to reach their full potential and enhance their wellbeing.

The programme includes two field placements in community or social services agencies. The work placements provide students with opportunities to apply their acquired knowledge and skills while acquiring new experiences in different and dynamic work environments. Graduates enter the workforce as innovative thinkers, advocates, competent practitioners, care managers, and agents of positive social change.

The programme coordinator is Leona Ng.


Student Experience

  • Students gain multiple perspectives, model social work behaviour, and translate social work theory into practice
  • Students build practical skills to work effectively with individuals and communities to address social issues and problems
  • Students gain knowledge and skills to enable social change and improve the wellbeing of others
  • Students examine and apply various social work approaches
  • Students gain hands-on professional experience during the field placements

Career Opportunities

Graduates have opportunities to pursue careers as social workers within various government departments and non-profit organisations. Non-profit organisations include: elderly centres and residential care homes, integrated youth and family service centres, community centres, rehabilitation centres and residential facilities, as well as primary and secondary schools and kindergartens.


Typical Applicants

  • Have strong communication skills
  • Are involved or interested in working with people
  • Are passionate about making our community a better place

Admissions Information >


Testimonials

“The Social Work curriculum aligns with societal needs, allowing me to apply academic knowledge directly in my first job. The program emphasizes hands-on practice and provides supportive internship supervision. Our experienced faculty, drawn from various social work fields, guides students in pursuing their specialized interests.”

Li Kaiyin, 2021

“Reflecting on my university years, choosing the Bachelor of Social Work programme was a profound journey. It was not merely an accumulation of knowledge but also a process of learning empathy, reflection, and practice.

The programme was rigorously designed, teaching me not only “how to do” but also “why we do.” It laid a solid theoretical foundation, enabling us to understand the structural challenges faced by service users from a macro perspective, rather than merely addressing surface-level issues. In micro-practice skills training, we acquired essential abilities—building relationships, empathetic listening, and professional assessment. After graduation, these skills allowed me to quickly establish trust with service users and become a reliable source of support for them.

Social work practice is complex and multifaceted. The programme covered specialized knowledge in youth, elderly, and rehabilitation social work, equipping us with relevant theoretical frameworks and intervention strategies for different groups. Particularly during internships, I came to appreciate the weight of social work ethics. When theory clashed with reality, it was these ethical guidelines that guided us in making decisions aligned with professional values in dilemmatic situations.

The most valuable aspect of this program is that it nurtures not just social workers who “get things done,” but thoughtful activists. Courses like policy analysis and social welfare policies and services helped us understand the logic behind institutional operations, while community organization and service planning, implementation, and evaluation empowered us to drive change. We were not merely executing services but were also equipped to evaluate their effectiveness and even advocate for policy innovation. What I gained was not just “social work” but “social justice.”

Social work is a profession that “uses life to influence life.” This bachelor’s programme provided me with solid knowledge, proficient skills, and, most importantly, a warm and steadfast heart. I am deeply honored to have graduated from this program and highly recommend it to all future colleagues who aspire to serve the community and pursue social justice. It lays the strongest foundation for becoming a competent, confident, and reflective social worker.”

Ieong Long Heng, 2022


Study plan & description of modules

For the programme’s government approval [in Chinese and Portuguese] please click here.

For the study plan & description of modules prior to the 2024/2025 Academic Year, please click here.

Please click on any specific module below to see its description

 


Modules

Year 1
BSW101
2 credits
BSW103
3 credits
BSW104
3 credits
BSW105
2 credits
ENG111
4 credits
LAM101
2 credits
LAM102
2 credits
LSW211
3 credits
LSW212
3 credits
Year 2
Students are required to complete one elective modules to obtain 3 credits
BSW285
3 credits
BSW286
3 credits
BSW287
3 credits
BSW202
3 credits
BSW203
2 credits
BSW205
3 credits
LAM201
2 credits
LSW223
3 credits
Year 3
Students are required to complete one elective modules to obtain 3 credits
BSW285
3 credits
BSW286
3 credits
BSW287
3 credits
BSW305
3 credits
BSW306
3 credits
LAM301
2 credits
LSW305
3 credits
Year 4
BSW403
6 credits
BSW405
2 credits
BSW406
2 credits
BSW408
6 credits
* - Internship
** - Elective