Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 
The medium of instruction for classroom teaching (in all forms) at HKBU is English, except for those courses that are granted exemption.
Government Funded
September 2025
HK$44,500 (local); HK$175,000 (non-local) i
128
General Information
The Department of Social Work is one of the leading providers of social work training and education in Hong Kong. The four-year Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) Programme aims to develop student knowledge and professional values in social work so that graduates can effectively meet the social service needs of the community in a flexible, realistic, creative and professional yet critical manner.
In the four-year curriculum, students are required to study a total of 128 units, including 4 units for Social Sciences common core, 78 units for Social Work Major courses (including Honours Project and Major electives), 31 units of General Education courses and 15 units of Elective courses. The Social Work Major courses are structured into four areas, namely (a) Human Behaviour and Social Environment, (b) Social Work Theory and Practice, (c) Social Policy, Research and Administration, and (d) Fieldwork. Graduates of our Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) Programme are recognised by most social work professional bodies at the international level. They can register as Registered Social Workers (RSW) with the Social Workers Registration Board in Hong Kong.
Unique Features
Students are required to attend another 100 hours of non-credit bearing pre-placement activities, a growth group, and four levels of integrative tutorials over four years. Following the University’s internationalisation strategy, there are growing opportunities for student exchange, overseas placements, visits from overseas scholars and other related activities to substantiate experiential and academic learning.
Student Learning Experiences
All social work students are required to undertake two fieldwork placements in their Year 3 and Year 4 study. Each supervised fieldwork placement is of 400 hours.
All students are given an opportunity to consider applying for pursuing an exchange programme either in Year 2 or Year 3 study. Students may be able to finish the programme within four years if they pursue the exchange programme in Semester 2 of Year II study and follow through the study plan provided. If it lasts for two semesters, the eligible ones will need to finish the whole Programme in five years.
Career Opportunities
Graduates holding a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) degree are qualified to apply as Registered Social Workers (RSW) in Hong Kong according to the Social Workers Registration Ordinance 1997. They are eligible to be employed as Assistant Social Work Officers in the Social Welfare Department or non-governmental organisations in Hong Kong.
Remark:
We adopt a holistic approach in selecting applicants on individual merits. Applicants are required to meet the University entrance requirements, English Language requirements and Programme entrance requirements (if any).
Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma Students/ Holders
Local final year students or graduates of an Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma programme at an institution recognised by the University are eligible for publicly-funded senior year places.
Transfer Students
Transfer students who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree or higher degree programmes at a local or non-local university may apply.
Please note that according to the guidelines of the University Grants Committee (UGC) on inter-institutional transfer of students, repeating of UGC-funded undergraduate study across institutions, irrespective of whether there is a change of programme or discipline, is generally discouraged unless under very exceptional circumstances.