Pathways to higher degrees in Education and Social Work

This page explains the entry requirements into higher research degrees in the Faculty of Education and Social Work. Depending on your level of qualifications and experience, you may be able to enter into the program you are interested in directly, or through various probationary modes (which may require you to undertake a different degree initially, or some coursework).

See below for the requirements for a student who wishes to continue to (or apply for) a

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Doctor of Education
• Doctor of Social Work
• Master of Philosophy
• another pathway to a research degree

If you have:

• a bachelors degree with 1st or 2nd class Honours in an appropriate area of study with a research thesis (See Note 1) which draws on primary data, or
• a masters degree by research in an appropriate area of study with a research thesis which draws on primary data, or
• a coursework masters degree in an appropriate area of study with a 12,000 to 15,000 word research thesis or dissertation which draws on primary data (A thesis or dissertation that is based solely on a review of the literature is not acceptable for admission to the PhD) with grade point average of 80% or above for the degree.

then you may be eligible for Direct Admission to a PhD in the Faculty.

If you have:

• a bachelors degree with 1st or 2nd class Honours in an appropriate area of study without a research thesis, or
• a master's degree by coursework (with no thesis or dissertation component) with a grade point average of at least 75% in an appropriate area of study and
• an amount of scholarly writing and/or research expertise - for example, published journal articles - which, in the opinion of the admissions committee, is equivalent to a masters research thesis.

then you may be eligible for Pathway A Admission into a PhD in the Faculty.

If you have:

• at least three years professional experience in education or a related field, and one of the following
• a Bachelor of Education (or related area of study) with first- or second-class (first division) honours, or
• a research Master of Education or equivalent published research-based work, or
• a coursework Master of Education awarded with merit, and which included a dissertation component of 12,000 - 15,000 with a grade point average of at least 80 per cent in the degree (a thesis or dissertation that is based solely on a review of the literature is not acceptable for admission to the EdD).

then you may be eligible for Direct Admission to a EdD in the Faculty.

If you have:

• at least three years professional experience in education or a related field and
• a grade-point average of at least 75 per cent obtained in a masters (coursework) degree (with no dissertation or thesis component) in an appropriate area of study and an amount of scholarly writing and/or research expertise for example, published journal articles which, in the opinion of the admissions committee, is equivalent to a masters research thesis. Copies of such writings must be submitted with the application.

then you may be eligible for Pathway A admission into the EdD in the Faculty.

If you have:

• at least three years professional experience in social work and one of the following
• a Bachelor of Social Work (or related area of study) with first or second-class (first division) honours, or
• a research Master of Social Work or equivalent published research-based work, or
• a Master of Social Work by coursework, awarded with merit, and which included a dissertation component of 12,000 15,000 words, with a grade point average of at least 80 per cent in the degree (candidacy provided their extended MPhil research plan is A thesis or dissertation that is based solely on a review of the literature is not acceptable for admission to the DSW).

then you may be eligible for Direct Admission to a DSW in the Faculty.

If you have:

• at least three years professional experience in social work or a related field, and both of the following:
• a Masters degree by coursework from the University of Sydney or equivalent institution, awarded with merit with a grade point average of at least 75%, with
• an amount of scholarly writing and/or research expertise which in the opinion of the Faculty, is equivalent to a research thesis or dissertation at a Masters level.

then you may be eligible for Pathway A admission into the DSW in the Faculty.

If you have:

• demonstrated professional leadership in the field in which the doctoral study is proposed and
• a four-year (or equivalent) degree in social work such as Bachelor of Social Work with a grade point average of at least 75%
• a completed relevant postgraduate qualification deemed by the faculty to be appropriate

then you may be eligible for Pathway B admission into the DSW in the Faculty.

If you have:

• either a three-year (pass) bachelor’s degree and four postgraduate level units in an appropriate area of study with a grade point average of at least 75 per cent, or
• a grade-point average of at least 75 per cent obtained in a master’s (coursework) degree

then you may DSW Prob then you may be eligible for admission to the Master of Philosophy in the Faculty.

In many cases, the Faculty is able to provide staged progression to a higher degree through the prior completion of previous undergraduate or postgraduate studies. Several of our Masters level programs are particularly aimed at prospective research students, including:

• The Master of Education (Research Methodology)*
• The Master of Education (Research)*
• The Master of Learning Science and Technology [research stream]

* these programs are also available at Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma level