This course is not currently available.
Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) logo

Bachelor of Social Work

Course details

Bachelor of Social Work
NZQF Level 7

About the course

A social work degree will allow you to be there to encourage and assist your community to get ahead and forge new futures for themselves and their families. You will also acquire the skills to reflect on your own perceptions, actions, and processes, as well as the knowledge and skills to work professionally as a social worker.

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) supports people from the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay communities in becoming competent social work practitioners within their communities, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and beyond. It enables registration as a social work practitioner in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The objective of this programme is to produce graduates who:

  • Are empathic, non-judgmental, respectful, resilient and self-aware; and demonstrate integrity, authenticity and professionalism.
  • Take a critical, reflective approach to social work practice that includes the use of supervision, continuing professional development, on-going learning and personal wellbeing.
  • Are able to promote social justice and social change, and to uphold the principles of human rights in both the Aotearoa New Zealand and global contexts.
  • Are able to work collaboratively and in partnership with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.
  • Understand the significance and implications of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and integrate this understanding into social work practice.
  • Work in accordance with the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) Code of Ethics and the Social Work Registration Board (SWRB) Code of Conduct.
  • Have an extensive knowledge base, skills and professional attributes to work across a range of diverse social work contexts and communities.
  • Are proficient in professional literacies, including academic and research literacy, information literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy.

Social workers are an integral part of today’s society and you could find yourself assisting in a range of areas from setting up programmes and giving guidance to people and communities, to working with government agencies at a policy level.

EIT’s social work courses will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and attributes required for social work practice in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, community groups or government agencies. Possible agencies where you could find employment as a social worker include:

  • Oranga Tamariki
  • Hospitals
  • DOVE
  • Birthright
  • Presbyterian Support Services – Family Works
  • Schools
  • Community Mental Health Services
  • Disability Resource Centres
  • Age Concern
  • Iwi social Services
  • Directions
  • Prisons, and
  • a range of other social service agencies.

The following websites offer further information:

Social Work Registration Board: www.swrb.org.nz
ANZASW: www.anzasw.org.nz


Please feel free to make an appointment to discuss your study options. You can meet with our staff in person at our Hawke’s Bay campus, or simply give us a call on 0800 22 55 348. And you’re most welcome to visit EIT to view our facilities at any time.

Entry requirements

ENTRY CRITERIA

Standard Entry

University Entrance

Non-Standard Academic Entry

Sixty credits of successful study at an approved Level 4 or above programme at an accredited tertiary institution, OR
Where applicants do not meet all entry requirements, they may gain special admission if EIT is satisfied the applicant is capable of meeting the academic requirements of the BSW. You may be asked to complete a written test to demonstrate your ability to study at this level.

Age Requirement

Applicants must be 17 years of age or older at the time of the commencement of the programme.

Health and Professional Requirement

ALL applicants are required to provide a completed Vetting Service Form and a PERSONAL DECLARATION Form (these forms are included in the application pack).

EIT reserves the right to decline entry to the programme should an applicant’s police record, safety check or health difficulties be such that they would be considered unsuitable for social services work. The guidelines on which this decision will be based are the relevant professional association, legeslative and registration requirements.  The requirement applies to each subsequent year of enrolment.

All applicants must also meet the professional following requirements.

Be free from criminal convictions which would preclude them from working with vulnerable clients.
For Social Work Registration Board Policy refer to: http://www.swrb.govt.nz/policy Then open the ‘Fit and Proper’ policy for further information about the Social workers Registration Boards policy. (Also refer to the Vulnerable Children Act 2014)
Provide evidence of the personal and professional qualities appropriate for undertaking a Bachelor of Social Work by furnishing two references from persons who are not related to the applicant, using prescribed Referee Forms. One of the referees must be someone who has observed the applicant interacting with other people.
Provide a brief CV (no more than 3 pages) outlining past education and work, and voluntary experiences. (Please do not use plastic sleeve for this).
Successfully complete the internal selection process. (The degree is not open entry).

English language entry requirement

Students need to meet SWRB requirements:

Admission criteria will require that all students who do not have English, Māori or New Zealand sign language as their primary language demonstrate either:

An IELTS academic score of 6.5 academic no band score lower than 6.5, OR
A TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) score of 85 or higher with a writing score of 22.

These tests must have been completed in one sitting within the previous two years.

Internal Selection Process

If the written application is successful then the applicant is required to participate in an internal selection process. This is the first step to ensure the graduating social service worker has the qualities and dispositions which enable them to meet the criteria of the relevant professional bodies and the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB).

The selection process consists of an either a group or individual interview.

The interview will be conducted in an equitable, professional manner with every endeavour to make applicants feel at ease. Areas considered by the interviewers are:

Personal and interpersonal qualities
Professional qualities
Other work and community experience

Entry with credit

You may already have some knowledge or skills that can be recognised as part of your intended study. This may take a number of different forms including study while at high school, study at a private training establishment, workplace training, other tertiary study, life experiences or voluntary work. If you think you may qualify, you may want to apply for Cross Credit or Recognition of Prior Learning.

Cross Credit is based on the equivalency of courses or qualifications. You would apply for Cross Credit if you have passed a very similar course at the same level. There are a number of considerations applied, significantly, confirmation that a minimum of 80% of learning outcomes match and that the course was completed within the last five years. Practicum completed at another institution cannot be cross credited to the Bachelor of Social Work.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is based on the assessment of your current knowledge and skills. You would apply for RPL if you had gained the relevant knowledge and skills through life experiences and informal learning situations.

You will be asked to provide details of anything that you would like to be considered as credit toward your intended programme of study, as part of your application. An original transcript or notice of results from the institute at which you previously studied (or verified copies) will be required for all applications.

You must apply for RPL and Cross Credit prior to enrolment. RPL and Cross Credit cannot be awarded for a course if you are already enrolled in that course.

For further information please contact the BSW Programme Co-ordinator, Raema Merchant on (06) 830 1537.

This qualification has been approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

This programme leads to the award of a nationally approved qualification. Similar qualifications may be delivered at a number of other tertiary institutes around New Zealand. If you were to transfer to one of those other institutes you may be granted academic credit for some of the courses completed but this is at the discretion of the other institute.

Please note: Fees are not transferable between institutes


International entry requirements

HEALTH AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENT

All applicants are required to provide a Police Clearance Certificate and a Personal Declaration Form (these forms are included in the appendices).

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

– Be free from criminal convictions which would preclude them from working with vulnerable clients.
– Provide evidence of the personal and professional qualities appropriate for undertaking a Bachelor of Applied Social Science by furnishing two references from persons who are not related to the applicant, using prescribed Referee Forms. One of the referees must be someone who has observed the applicant interacting with other people.
– Provide a brief CV (no more than 3 pages) outlining past education and work and voluntary experiences.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

All applicants who do not have English are required to have attained an acceptable level of English language fluency. This must be demonstrated by a band score of IELTS 6.5 (academic) in all bands or equivalent. You will also be required to submit evidence that you have no criminal convictions that would preclude you from working with vulnerable clients. A skype interview and references will also be required.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

IELTS 6.5 (academic) in all bands or equivalent. You will also be required to submit evidence that you have no criminal convictions that would preclude you from working with vulnerable clients. A skype interview and references will also be required.

INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS

Upon the application satisfying eligibility to apply requirements, the applicants are then required to participate in an internal selection process. This is the first step to ensure the graduating social service worker has the qualities and dispositions which enable them to meet the criteria of the relevant professional bodies and the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB).

A panel conducts these.

The selection process consists of an individual Skype interview.

The interview will be conducted in an equitable, professional manner with every endeavour to make applicants feel at ease. Areas considered by the interviewers are:

– Personal and interpersonal qualities.
– Professional qualities.
– Other work and community experience.

ENTRY WITH CREDIT

You may already have some knowledge or skills that can be recognised as part of your intended study. This may take a number of different forms including study while at high school, study at a private training establishment, workplace training, other tertiary study, life experiences or voluntary work. If you think you may qualify, you may want to apply for Cross Credit or Recognition of Prior Learning.

Cross Credit is based on the equivalency of courses or qualifications. You would apply for Cross Credit if you have passed a very similar course at the same level. There are a number of considerations applied, significantly, confirmation that a minimum of 80% of learning outcomes match and that the course was completed within the last five years.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is based on the assessment of your current knowledge and skills. You would apply for RPL if you had gained the relevant knowledge and skills through life experiences and informal learning situations.

You will be asked to provide details of anything that you would like to be considered as credit toward your intended programme of study, as part of your application. An original transcript or notice of results from the institute at which you previously studied (or verified copies) will be required for all applications.

You must apply prior to enrolment. RPL and Cross Credit cannot be awarded for a course if you are already enrolled in that course.

For further information and enquiries about RPL and Cross Credit please contact [email protected]

About the provider

The Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) offers you over 160 qualifications from certificate and diploma, to degree and postgraduate level at campuses in Hawke's Bay, Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and Auckland.

Or learn at one of our Regional Learning Centres situated in Hastings, Maraenui, Ruatoria, Waipukurau and Wairoa.

EIT Hawke's Bay is one of New Zealand's most attractive campuses with superb architecture and shaded outdoor areas for study on warm days. EIT Tairāwhiti two campuses are located in the heart of Gisborne, near the Taruheru River, and you can get more central than EIT Auckland location on Queen Street!

When you choose to study at EIT you'll get the kind of experiences that will help you gain the knowledge and skills to get ahead, whether you want to break into your chosen career or change direction in life.

Video