This programme offers comprehensive academic and professional training to students who ultimately want to become registered social workers, and thereby make a difference in people's lives. This programme imparts essential values, knowledge, and skills that are necessary for a career in social work. To further enhance their practical learning experience, students are required to participate in two fieldwork placements. In addition, outside the classroom, the programme offers various schemes and talks to help students grow both personally and professionally, including agency exposure scheme, mentoring scheme, and practice sharing sessions.
Higher Diploma in Social Work
This programme is offered in both two-year full-time and three-year part-time modes. Graduates are qualified for registration as Registered Social Workers (RSWs) under the Social Workers Registration Ordinance. Graduates may articulate to bachelor’s programmes in Social Work, Gerontology and alike offered by local tertiary institutions. They are qualified for appointment as social work assistants and project coordinators.
FACULTY |
PROG. CODEHDSW |
CAMPUS |
QF LEVEL4 |
|---|---|---|---|
DURATION2 years FT 3 years PT
|
CREDIT POINTS74 CPS
|
AWARD TYPEHigher Diploma
|
|
Admission, entry requirements and fees
Applications can be submitted by the following methods:
- E-APP (for current year HKDSE only)
- Online Application (for all applicants with DSE/ other qualifications, or mature applicants)
- By Post / In Person (Application Form)
Click here for more information on admissions procedures.
Programme Specific entry requirements
- No programme specific entry requirements
Fees
Application Fee
$150
Application fee is payable when applicants are invited for interviews. Application fee can be paid by the following methods:
- By direct deposit at any branch of the Hang Seng Bank or ATM transfer (Bank Code: 024) (A/C number: 359-300001-004) OR
- By Octopus Card at the College Office
Tuition Fee
Associate Degree Programmes
HK$1,950 per credit x
63 Credits required for Programme Completion
= HK$122,850
Higher Diploma in Social Work
HK$2,650 per credit x 38 social work courses credit +
HK$1,950 per credit x 21 general Education credit +
HK$2,610 per credit x 15 fieldwork placement credit
= HK$180,800
Other Fees
A Graduation Fee of $400 will be charged upon enrolment in a programme.
Financial Assistance
Students enrolled in self-financing Bachelor/Associate Degree /Higher Diploma programmes are eligible to apply for financial assistance from the following sources:
- Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-Secondary Students (FASP)
Provides means-tested financial assistance to needy full-time students pursuing locally-accredited, self-financing post-secondary education programmes at the level of associate degree, higher diploma or degree. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to needy students so that no eligible students will be denied access to post-secondary education because of lack of means.
Enquiries: 2152 9000
Website: https://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/en/postsecondary/fasp/overview.htm
- Non-means Tested Loan Scheme for Post-Secondary Students (NLSPS)
The NLSPS is used to complement the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students (FASP) to provide loan(s) to eligible students to settle tuition fees of locally-accredited, self-financing full-time post-secondary education programmes at the level of associate degree, higher diploma or degree.
Enquiries: 2150 6222
Website: http://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/eng/schemes/nls3.htm
- Continuing Education Fund (CEF)
Some of the AD programmes or course(s) in the AD programmes are included in the list of reimbursable courses for CEF purposes.
The CEF subsidizes students with learning aspirations to pursue continuing education and training courses without age limit. Eligible applicants enrolling on courses after 1 August 2022 will be reimbursed 80% of their fees on the first $10,000 and 60% on the second $15,000, subject to a maximum sum of HK$25,000 (whichever is the less), upon successful completion of a reimbursable programme/course(s).
Prior to 1 August 2022, the following condition will apply:
The CEF subsidizes students over 18 years of age with learning aspirations to pursue continuing education and training courses. Eligible applicants enrolling on courses between 1 April 2019 and 31 July 2022 will be reimbursed 80% of their fees on the first $10,000 and 60% on the second $10,000, subject to a maximum sum of HK$20,000 (whichever is the less), upon successful completion of a reimbursable programme/course(s).
Enquiries: 3142 2277
Website: https://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/cef/en/index.htm
Programme outcomes and structure
- Learning outcomes
- Main subject areas
- Programme structure (full-time mode)
- Programme structure (part-time mode)
- Articulation pathways
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Graduates’ sharing
- Programme enquiry
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes (PILOs) are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this programme will be able to:
| PILO | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. | Uphold social work values and ethics and apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice to working with individuals, groups and communities; |
| 2. | Apply knowledge of social welfare systems and social policies, human behavior and social environments, and social administration and management to social work practice and service delivery; |
| 3. | Exercise appropriate judgment and take responsibility for planning, implementing, and evaluating social work practice and programmes; |
| 4. | Examine major socio-political, cultural and economic issues and their implications for social policies, services and social work practice; |
| 5. | Communicate proficiently in professional and academic contexts; and |
| 6. | Apply interpersonal, information technology, critical thinking, problem-solving and self-directed lifelong learning skills to their personal and professional life. |
Main subject areas:
- Introduction to Social Work
- Self--understanding and Development Laboratory
- Social Policy and Social Welfare
- Psychology for Social Work Studies
- Basic Social Work Skills Laboratory
- Generalist Social Work Practice
- Understanding Human Behavior and Social Environment
- Administrative Practices and Programme Management
- Social Work Practice and Intervention I, II & III
- Understanding Research Studies in Social Work
- Integrative Social Work Practice Workshop
Electives:
- Social Work with Children and Families
- Social Work with Young People
- Social Work with Older Adults
- Social Work with the Mentally Challenged
- Contemporary Social Work Practice Approaches
- Poverty and Social Exclusion
- Social Innovation and Social Work
To qualify for this award, a candidate shall accrue an aggregate of at least 74 credit points by satisfactory completion of the following core courses.
(HDSW From 2025/26 and onwards)
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Semester A, Year 1 | ||
| CGE1000 (1500) | English for Academic Studies A or B | 3 |
| CGE25411 | Understanding Society | 3 |
| DSS10149 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| DSS19101 | Self-understanding & Development Laboratory | 3 |
| DSS19105 | Social Policy & Social Welfare | 3 |
| DSS19106 | Psychology for Social Work Studies | 3 |
| Semester B, Year 1 | ||
| CGE1200 | Practical Chinese | 3 |
| DSS19108 | Basic Social Work Skills Laboratory | 3 |
| DSS19109 | Generalist Social Work Practice | 3 |
| DSS20111 | Administrative Practices and Programme Management | 3 |
| DSS29101 | Understanding Human Behavior & Social Environment | 3 |
| Elective course: choose 1 course among the 4 below (Depending on the availability) | ||
| DSS20151 | Social Work with Children and Families | 3 |
| DSS20154 | Social Work with Young People | 3 |
| DSS20172 | Social Work with the Mentally Challenged | 3 |
| DSS29105 | Social Work with Older Adults | 3 |
| Summer Semester, Year 1 | ||
| DSS10190 | Fieldwork I | 6 |
| Semester A, Year 2 | ||
| CGE29001 | Ethics, Law and Society | 3 |
| DSS29102 | Social Work Practice and Intervention I | 3 |
| DSS29103 | Social Work Practice and Intervention II | 3 |
| DSS29104 | Social Work Practice and Intervention III | 3 |
| DSS29106 | Understanding Research Studies in Social Work | 3 |
| Elective course: choose 1 course among the 7 below (Depending on the availability) | ||
| DSS20151 | Social Work with Children and Families | 3 |
| DSS20154 | Social Work with Young People | 3 |
| DSS20172 | Social Work with the Mentally Challenged | 3 |
| DSS20188 | Contemporary Social Work Practice Approaches | 3 |
| DSS29105 | Social Work with Older Adults | 3 |
| DSS29107 | Poverty and Social Exclusion | 3 |
| DSS29108 | Social Innovation and Social Work | 3 |
| Semester B, Year 2 | ||
| CGE2002 | English Professional Communication Skills for Social Science | 3 |
| DSS29109 | Integrative Social Work Practice Workshop | 2 |
| DSS20191 | Fieldwork II | 9 |
To qualify for this award, a candidate shall accrue an aggregate of at least 74 credit points by satisfactory completion of the following core courses.
(HDSW From 2025/26 and onwards)
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Semester A, Year 1 | ||
| CGE1000 (1500) | English for Academic Studies A or B | 3 |
| DSS10149 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| DSS19102 | Self-development Laboratory I | 1 |
| DSS19106 | Psychology for Social Work Studies | 3 |
| Semester B, Year 1 | ||
| CGE25411 | Understanding Society | 3 |
| DSS19103 | Self-understanding and Development Laboratory II | 1 |
| DSS19105 | Social Policy and Social Welfare | 3 |
| DSS19109 | Generalist Social Work Practice | 3 |
| Summer Semester, Year 1 | ||
| DSS19108 | Basic Social Work Skills Laboratory | 3 |
| DSS29101 | Understanding Human Behavior and Social Environment | 3 |
| Semester A, Year 2 | ||
| CGE1200 | Practical Chinese | 3 |
| DSS19104 | Self-understanding and Development Laboratory III | 1 |
| DSS29102 | Social Work Practice and Intervention I | 3 |
| Elective course: choose 1 course among the 7 below (Depending on the availability) | ||
| DSS20151 | Social Work with Children and Families | 3 |
| DSS20154 | Social Work with Young People | 3 |
| DSS20172 | Social Work with the Mentally Challenged | 3 |
| DSS20188 | Contemporary Social Work Practice Approaches | 3 |
| DSS29105 | Social Work with Older Adults | 3 |
| DSS29107 | Poverty and Social Exclusion | 3 |
| DSS29108 | Social Innovation and Social Work | 3 |
| Semester B, Year 2 | ||
| DSS29103 | Social Work Practice and Intervention II | 3 |
| DSS29104 | Social Work Practice and Intervention III | 3 |
| Elective course: choose 1 course among the 7 below (Depending on the availability) | ||
| DSS20151 | Social Work with Children and Families | 3 |
| DSS20154 | Social Work with Young People | 3 |
| DSS20172 | Social Work with the Mentally Challenged | 3 |
| DSS20188 | Contemporary Social Work Practice Approaches | 3 |
| DSS29105 | Social Work with Older Adults | 3 |
| DSS29107 | Poverty and Social Exclusion | 3 |
| DSS29108 | Social Innovation and Social Work | 3 |
| Summer Semester, Year 2 | ||
| DSS20111 | Administrative Practices and Programme Management | 3 |
| CGE29001 | Ethics, Law and Society | 3 |
| Semester A, Year 3 | ||
| DSS10192 | Fieldwork I | 6 |
| Semester B, Year 3 | ||
| CGE2002 | English Professional Communication Skills for Social Science | 3 |
| DSS29106 | Understanding Research Studies in Social Work | 3 |
| DSS29109 | Integrative Social Work Practice Workshop | 2 |
| Summer Semester, Year 3 | ||
| DSS20193 | Fieldwork II | 9 |
50% graduates articulated to UGC-funded universities, including:
Hong Kong Baptist University
- Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Bachelor of Science in Gerontology
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Work
Graduates are qualified for registration as Registered Social Workers (RSWs) under the Social Workers Registration Ordinance.
- Social work assistants
- Project coordinators
Miss Lam Cheuk Yiu
(graduate of ASocScSW in 2022, Primary School Social Worker)
“The programme was a treasure for me which gave me many unforgettable memories and equipped me to achieve my dream of becoming a social worker. I am grateful for the opportunities, the guidance from my teachers and classmates, and the precious memories during these three years of learning at UOWCHK.
Throughout the programme, I explored a wide range of subjects, from human growth and needs to social welfare policies and community development. Apart from lectures and tutorials, the College provided many other ways to learn this trade and opportunities to enhance my understanding, critical thinking and practice in relevant subjects, for example, cooperating with NGOs on projects, services, and seminars. These let me have a deeper understanding of the latest situation of service provided to and the needs of people in Hong Kong.
After graduation, I feel blessed to be able to serve in a primary school as a Social Worker. The programme enabled me to become a social worker and set me up for a career in this field.”
Any enquiries relating to the ASocScSW programme should be directed to the Programme Leader, Dr. CHAN Tse Chiu.
The conversion of the programme from Associate Degree to Higher Diploma is subject to the approval of the Social Workers Registration Board. Please contact Faculty of Social Sciences for more information.
Faculty of Social Sciences
Telephone: (852) 2707 3223
Fax: (852) 2707 3224
E-mail: uowchk-fss@uow.edu.au
Address: 3/F, 18 Che Kung Miu Road, Tai Wai, New Territories, Hong Kong
(accessible via MTR Tai Wai Station Exit B)
College Office
Telephone: (852) 2707 3111
Fax: (852) 2707 3222
E-mail: uowchk-main@uow.edu.au
Address: 1/F, 18 Che Kung Miu Road, Tai Wai, New Territories, Hong Kong
(accessible via MTR Tai Wai Station Exit B)
