Social work can be a force for change. The International Federation of Social Workers defines “social work” as a “practice-based profession and academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people.”
Put simply: it’s about driving justice and improving lives.
Right now, the field is as relevant as ever. In a world marked by inequality, social workers step in where resources fall short the vulnerable and marginalised. The support they can give ranges from helping them navigate mental health challenges like depression and anxiety, to advocating for their rights. Many work to find solutions across “deep-rooted societal issues” like poverty, homelessness, and inequality. It’s all about trust, community — doing the right thing.
An impactful career starts with an equally impactful education. These three leading universities are preparing the next generation of social workers to shift the gears of society and build a more just world.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is the first university in Hong Kong to offer a degree in social work. Source: Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Since 1956, the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been training professionals to strengthen community welfare and drive social justice forward. Today, the Department of Social Work has produced approximately 9,000 graduates, most of whom are making an impact in their top administrative, middle management, and direct practice roles. Their success partly stems from the way CUHK offers a unique perspective: social work in the Asian and global context, with students contributing to the social development of Hong Kong.
In fact, CUHK is the pioneer in Hong Kong for academic training in social work, as the first university to offer such a programme in the region. The BSSc in Social Work is a professionally accredited programme that combines teaching, research, and service to nurture practitioners who are dedicated to social development, inclusion, and the empowerment of people. You will learn from a supportive multidisciplinary team of faculty and fieldwork staff, guest experts from around the world, and attend placements in local and international settings across Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, and Canada.
That same energy powers the MPhil-PhD Programme in Social Welfare. You’ll wield a shaper lens into real, urgent issues in Hong Kong and the region, like mental health, family research, school violence, child welfare, youth delinquency, ageing, disability, and social policy in various aspects, and conduct research that matters. With Hong Kong as your base and world-class mentors by your side, you’ll build the skills to shape policy, drive change, and lead with purpose.
In addition to the BSSc in Social Work and the MPhil-PhD Programme in Social Welfare, the Department of Social Work also offers a number of taught postgraduate programmes in specialized areas such as social work, family counselling, social policy, and social service management. Each programme combines rigorous academic training with practical insights, equipping graduates to meet evolving social challenges with competence.
As CUHK’s programmes bridge theory and practice, your education will be enriched with various academic learning and international exposure. Options are vast as this is the longest-running social work degree programme in Hong Kong. CUHK is well-supported by its community, alumni, and industry connections who offer no shortage of opportunities to students. These include exchange programmes with top institutions in the world, as well as many formal and informal learning activities with the field and the academic world.
With over HKD$2,000,000 (around US$257,220) offered in scholarships every year, the Department of Social Work is committed to support you from day one until graduation, upon which you’ll be eligible to become competent professionals and researchers in Hong Kong. Check out the CUHK Department of Social Work here.
The College Corps and Youth Equity Discovery Initiative are two hands-on social work opportunities you can participate in during your bachelor’s degree. Source: UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare/Facebook
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley Social Welfare is a small school with big ideas – and home to what’s arguably the most productive group of scholars in the country. They’re constantly generating revolutionary ideas that challenge assumptions and spark real reforms. Inspired by them, graduates often step into the world as agents of change, shaping society through direct practice, agency leadership, policymaking, and discoveries that tackle today’s toughest problems.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare trains them to do this well. Curriculum covers America’s social welfare problems and social policies within a social science context. Established even before the school’s existence, this programme explores the history and institutions of social work as a profession, while examining how the American government and its people can work together to make sure everyone’s basic necessities like health, education, and financial security are met.
Through experiences such as College Corps, these modules come to life. This is a volunteer programme where you will complete an in-person community placement on an issue you care about, whether it is food insecurity, climate action, K-12 education, or youth behavioural health. Doing this not only benefits communities across California, but also you as a student. In return for your work, the programme lets you graduate from college on time and with less debt.
The Social Work department is one of the oldest in the UK. Source: School of Social and Political Science at The University of Edinburgh/Facebook
University of Edinburgh
Within the University of Edinburgh‘s School of Social and Political Science, the department of Social Work stands out. Established in 1918, it is one of the oldest in the UK and has seen grown to be nationally ranked #4 today for its excellent teaching. Its approach is global, blending local expertise with international partnerships to give students a broader lens on social work.
That vision comes alive in the Social Work BSc (Hons). Faculty and guest lecturers who bring decades of field experience — social workers, organisation leaders, and researchers – ensure this. They know how theory translates into practice, and every pitfall and opportunity that stands in the way. With their guidance and mentorship, the programme is designed to make you creative, resourceful, practical, and people‑focused social workers — traits that give you the edge to make a difference.
This is, after all, Scotland’s top social work degree. Past graduates stand out for their communication skills, strong sense of professional ethics, and pursuit of social justice. With this BSc, you’ll be equipped with the same.
Real‑world placements across Edinburgh, the Lothians, the Scottish Borders, and Fife further ensure this. Whether in nursing homes, hospitals, or youth organisations, you’ll gain hands‑on experience that shapes your career and proves invaluable.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
