Top 10 Social Worker Courses in South Africa

The importance of Social Worker Courses in South Africa cannot be overemphasized, especially as the rise of domestic abuse in all forms continues to rise in our beloved Mzanzi.

These courses prepare prospective social workers for the critical task ahead of them, which is helping victims of abuse of any form and our elderly.

South Africa recorded 2407 cases of femicide in 2017, with 1033 of these being intimate partner femicide (Abrahams et al., 2022).

Furthermore, between April 2022 and March 2023, 53 498 sexual offences (including 42 780 rapes) were recorded nationally (South African Police Service, 2023).

In all of these cases and more, the victims are not only those that were attacked or killed; it could be children and or any other family members, and they all need the expertise of a social worker to pull through such unfortunate situations.

Our article will focus on Social Worker Courses in South Africa and their fee structures in 2024.

We will also examine the time it takes to become a social worker in South Africa, the skills you must possess to discharge your duties effectively, and much more.

What is Social Work?
Who is a social worker?
What is a Bachelor of Social Work?
Why Study Social Work in South Africa
- Where Does a Social Worker Work?
Top 10 Social Worker Courses in South Africa
#6.Statutory Work and Report Writing – BSW4806
Career Opportunities for Social Workers In South Africa
How much do Social Workers earn in South Africa?
Social Worker Courses in South Africa Fee Structure
What skills do I need as a Social Worker?
Is a Career in Social Work Right for Me?
Where To Study Social Work In South Afric
- 1 University of Pretoria
FAQ
Conclusion
Ref
Read Also

As a practice-based field, social work advocates for social growth, cohesiveness, and individual and community empowerment.

Understanding human behaviour and development and social, economic, and cultural structures and relationships is necessary for social work.

Through their work with families and institutions, social workers have significantly improved society in several areas, including:

Civil rights
Unemployment insurance
Disability pay
Workers’ compensation
Reduced mental health stigma
Medicaid and Medicare
Child abuse and neglect prevention

A social worker assists people in various settings, from mental health clinics to schools and hospitals.

They can work with individuals, organizations, or large communities. They assist with a variety of problems, from addiction to chronic illness and child support services.

Depending on their specialty, job title, and place of employment, a social worker may be required to participate in legislative processes that often result in the formation of social policies.

They lean on social work values, principles, and academic research to fulfill their responsibilities.

Social workers are educated and trained to address social injustices and barriers to their clients’ well-being. These include poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and lack of housing.

Social workers often fine-tune their practice by focusing on the level of interventions and types of communities they wish to serve.

A clinical social worker, for example, focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral issues.

Another social worker may focus on research and development for small—or large-scale programs, like Medicaid, that help communities.

A bachelor’s of social work degree provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for a professional career as a social worker.

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Bachelor of Art in Social Work (BASW) programs offer students a broad foundation for generalist social work practice.

Studying Social Work in South Africa is a great choice. Numerous universities offer this course as a short or full-time course.

Over 36,000 international students choose South Africa for their studies. This suggests you’ll enjoy a vibrant and culturally diverse learning experience and make friends worldwide.

There are 340 affordable part-time and full-time course degrees in South Africa, allowing you to access quality higher education without breaking the bank.

Social workers can be found in a variety of employment settings. Specializations often determine where and how they work. Some may spend time in an office, although visiting clients offsite is common.

Those in child, school, and family social worker roles may experience schedule changes and travel more than their healthcare counterparts.

Social workers are commonly employed by hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, prisons, military bases, senior centres, corporations, and public social agencies.

Licensed clinical social workers can also set up private practices where they work with clients to address relationship problems, personality disorders, or mental illnesses.

Like most Bachelor’s degrees, a National Senior Certificate is required, preferably with English as a first language, a second South African language, and mathematics (at least standard grade).

Remember that a degree can only teach you the skills; your natural aptitudes and passion will compensate for the rest.

Overall, School Social Workers help parents, students, and school staff identify needs that interfere with learning and work with students to get the needed services.

Social Workers work with general and special education students and their families to resolve social, emotional, and behavioural problems.

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs generally take four years. If you attend a full-time Master of Social Work (MSW) program, it should take two years. Part-time programs are available for undergrads and graduate students.

To practice as a social worker in South Africa, one needs to register with The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).

The SACSSP is a statutory body under which the Professional Board for Social Work and Child and Youth Care Work.

The Council, in conjunction with its Professional Boards, works to protect the integrity of the social service professionals and the public.

Below are some of the best Social Worker Courses in South Africa.

The 12-credit unit course Is an undergraduate course and one of the online social worker courses in South Africa.

This subject aims to provide students with an understanding of social work, social welfare policy, and social welfare in South Africa via a developmental lens.

Additionally, the module will give students an understanding of the nature of ethical rules and their applicability to social work practice.

Additionally, it is an online 12-unit undergraduate course.

This module aims to give students extensive knowledge and comprehension of project management, administration, supervision, and management related to social work practice.

After completing this module, qualifying students can comprehend various management roles, styles, and talents regarding business staffing, organizing, planning, monitoring, and assessment.

Within the developmental method, this module aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of the nature and scope of the social work profession.

Upon completion, students will also learn about social work practice areas, primary and secondary social work methodologies, service delivery levels, and the helping process.

To identify, assess, plan, implement, evaluate, and terminate appropriate social work intervention processes with individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities under social work supervision in welfare practice settings, the module will provide students with advanced practical knowledge, skills, attitudes, and principles of social work practice.

This module introduces students to social work practice at the individual, family, group, organization, and community levels, as the professional code of ethics governs it.

Students who complete this module will be able to demonstrate their understanding of social work fundamentals and develop self-awareness by completing tasks in a workbook. They will also comprehend human variability, various service delivery tiers, and intervention techniques.

#6.Statutory Work and Report Writing – BSW4806

This social work course aims to provide students with an understanding of the various laws that concern children and families who need statutory intervention, as well as information and abilities in producing reports for legal requirements.

After completing this module, students will be able to critically evaluate the key passages relating to the social work interventions advocated in the various acts.

They will also be able to critically evaluate social work statutory reports and examine case studies provided when writing social work reports for legal requirements.

The module aims to provide students with the values, knowledge, and abilities necessary to assist in social work within a developmental framework. After completing this module, students can pinpoint, define, and provide examples of the social work assisting process’s skills within a social development paradigm.

This module aims to give students the tools to recognize, define, and discuss the various fields and areas of social work practice and justify their importance in South African social work practice.

Students who meet the requirements will be able to name specific social welfare laws and policies that apply to their fields of practice and address issues such as poverty, vulnerability, and other developmental obstacles that South Africans confront.

The module’s goal is to familiarize students with developing social welfare policies and help them understand how policy influences social work practice. After completing this module, students can describe the steps involved in developing policy and perform a fundamental critical analysis of an already-existing policy.

The module aims to give students a foundational understanding of administration, ethics, supervision, and social work management.

After completing this module, students can briefly describe the roles, responsibilities, and relevance of administration, management, and supervision in social work practice.

Additionally, they will be able to explain the basics of organizations in the context of social welfare and the function of interdisciplinary teams in diverse social work practice settings.

What you can expect

You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of:

A range of theories, approaches, perspectives, and intervention models relevant to social work, developmental social welfare, psychology, and other related social sciences.
The historical evolution of social work internationally, regionally, and within the South African context.
Global standards for social work training and practice.
Pertinent global, regional, and national declarations, policies, and legislation relevant to social welfare and social work.
The ability to apply and uphold the basic values and principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the S.A. Constitution about social work service delivery.
The importance of protecting the rights of vulnerable citizens through various legislations and policies to promote social justice, respect for the dignity and worth of the individual, and strengthening universal human rights to enhance human well-being and social functioning.
The importance of collaboration with National, Provincial, and Local structures for the delivery of developmental social welfare services through the role of social work in social welfare policy planning, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Course Highlights

A four-year professional degree.
Gain fieldwork experience from year one.
Leads to registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions as a Registered Social Worker.

Career Opportunities

After completing the program, you will be qualified to apply for further education programs in social work and related subjects both domestically and abroad and to be admitted to a master’s program in social work or a comparable discipline.

Social workers can potentially find employment in many different sectors, including:

Social development
Social policy
Community development
Family development and guidance
Violence and abuse
Social work intervention with children and youth
Foster care and adoption
Statutory services
Gerontology (old age, the process of aging, and the particular challenges faced by old people)
Crime prevention
Health and mental health
Substance abuse
People with disabilities
Employee assistance programs
Academia and research

According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a social worker in South Africa is R 14,677 per month, translating to R 176,124 per annum.

On average, tuition fees for a social work degree in South Africa can range from R20,000 to R50,000 per year.

This figure is not guaranteed as many universities offer social work courses and might charge fees different from those listed above.

Social Worker Courses in South Africa fee structure can also be influenced by the student’s nationality – schools will typically charge international students more than home students.

The fee structure for Social Work Courses in South Africa is one of the biggest issues prospective social workers face. However, if you are lucky, your school might offer some sort of scholarship to help reduce your overhead cost.

Social workers employ a diverse set of skills to do their work. However, certain skills are particularly useful in the field, such as:

Empathy.
Organization.
Communication.
Problem-solving.
Patience.

To thrive as a social worker in South Africa, you must be empathic toward those you will interact with while discharging your duties.

You must also know how to communicate appropriately and effectively so your client understands you.

It would be best if you were organized and ready to help solve the immediate problems of your clients and patients to the best of your abilities.

It might be. Whether in social work or a comparable field, ensure it fits your interests, special skills, and career objectives before choosing a career. To determine whether a career in social work is suited for you, think about these questions:

Does diversity drive you or is your cultural competence what draws others to you?
Do you currently spend your spare time mentoring disadvantaged youth or supporting children and adolescents who have experienced trauma or abuse because of family members?
Are you emotionally resilient, and do you seek out challenges in the workplace, always proposing new solutions?
Are you praised for your patience, professionalism, and ability to read people?

If your answer to the question above is yes, you might be a good social worker.

1 University of Pretoria

A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program and many postgraduate programs in Social Work and Criminology are available at the University of Pretoria.

Criminology and social work disciplines focus on studying social problems resulting from people’s interactions with their surroundings.

2. Wits University

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program at Wits University is a four-year professional degree program. Throughout the four years of study, you will learn about research methodologies, the legal framework, various intervention models, professional ethics and procedures in social work, and the ideas and concepts supporting the field.

3. Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University offers a four-year Bachelor’s Degree, accredited by the South African Council for Higher Education, and Master’s (minimum one-year registration) and PhD (minimum two-year registration) programs entailing research projects.

4. University of Johannesburg UJ

The Auckland Park Campus offers a four-year, full-time program. Students majoring in social work (at the fourth year level), psychology, and sociology (up to the third year level) must register for particular courses within the Faculty of Humanities.

5. Unisa

A maximum of 140 hours of work-integrated learning in a practical context at an authorized organization, overseen by a registered social worker, are included in BSW2605. Full-time BSW students can register for up to 144 credits annually to account for the practical work.

6. University of Zululand

The University of Zululand is one of the best public colleges in South Africa that offers social work courses. It offers a Bachelor of Social Work Code, Master of Social Work, and Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work.

7. University Of Western Cape

In addition to doing all four social work modules, students can study two social science modules and four psychology modules, or vice versa, depending on the major subject they want to study.

8. Nelson Mandela University

This program consists of required basic and core modules and an elective selection that allows students to tailor their education to their interests. In the second year of the degree program, practical work is mandatory. Graduates can register with the Council for Social Service Professions as social workers.

9. University Of The Free State

The Department of Social Work, University of the Free State, offers a BSW degree and Masters in Social Work MSW

10. North-West University

North-West University offers the four-year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program.

Admission to a Master of Social Work program is contingent upon program completion success, the subject group’s capability, and the selection process results.

FAQ

How much does a social worker make?

The salary of a social workerExternal link:open_in_new can vary depending on the field, tenure, and education achieved. According to the BLS, the median annual pay for a social worker in 2022 was $55,350, with the highest 10% of social workers earning more than $87,300.

How many social workers are there in the south Africa?

The South African Council for Social Services Professions (SACSSP) reported that the Council has registered 60,000 social service professionals in South Africa. There are 48,000 fully qualified social service professionals, about 31,000 social workers, and about 10,000 child and youth care workers.

Who do social workers work with?

A social worker assists people in various settings, from mental health clinics to schools and hospitals. Social workers can work with individuals, organizations, or large communities and assist with a variety of problems, from addiction to chronic illness and child support services.

Why are social workers important?

Social workers do more than go into the field to work with needy people. From promoting core values of empathy and compassion to framing research within their discipline and informing policy, social workers address and advocate for human rights and social justice. They work to strengthen individuals and communities.

Are there online social worker courses in South Africa?

Yes, some schools in South Africa allow you to take social work courses online.

Conclusion

Social workers are very important workers in society. Their relevant work holds the fabric of our society together, especially in Mzanzi, where there is an apparent need for their services.

You must be qualified to become a social worker, help make Mzanzi better, and contribute to the crucial work social workers do. To be qualified, you must go through Social Worker Courses in South Africa relevant to the kind of social work you want.

We have listed some of these social works and outlined their purposes, so feel free to get started with any Social Worker Courses in South Africa that catch your fancy.

Some of these Social Worker Courses can be undertaken through a part-time system and online, which enables you to learn at your own pace and time to a considerable extent.

Ref

www.sacap.edu.za – Bachelor of Social Work
socialworklicensemap.com – What Is Social Work?
uni24.co.za – List Of Social Worker Schools In South Africa 2024-2025
www.unisa.ac.za – SOCIAL WORK
goldenkey.org.za – How Much Does It Cost to Study Social Worker in South Africa

Top 10 Social Worker Courses in South Africa | 2024 Fee Structure

Table of contents

#6.Statutory Work and Report Writing – BSW4806

What you can expect