Higher Diploma in Social Work

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.

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.

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

Social Sciences

 

PROG. CODE

HDSW

 

CAMPUS

Tai Wai

 

QF LEVEL

4

DURATION

2 years FT

3 years PT

 

CREDIT POINTS

74 CPS 

 

 

AWARD TYPE

Higher Diploma  

 

 

 

Admission, entry requirements and fees

Programme Specific entry requirements

  • No programme specific entry requirements

General 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:
  1. By direct deposit at any branch of the Hang Seng Bank or ATM transfer (Bank Code: 024) (A/C number: 359-300001-004)
  2. OR
  3. 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

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
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

 

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

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.

Contact Us

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)

Apply to UOWCHK

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