Social Work Foundation (MSWF)

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Social Work Foundation (MSWF) cost?

  CAD 8,571 / year.

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 6.5 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• How long is it?

  2 years, with a maximum of 5 years, as listed by the university.

• What are the entry requirements?

  Program specific requirements Applicants must have at least two years of full-time, or equivalent (approximately 3000 hours), paid or volunteer human services experience. This can include work in areas such as health, education, housing, income security, economic development, social justice, justice and public safety, community development and/or policy/advocacy work. Practicums, internships and co-op are not eligible. As part of your application, you must also submit: - Statement of intent. The form will be available on the School of Social Work MSW application page during the application period. - Experience summary. The form will be available on the School of Social Work MSW application page during the application period. - Updated CV. Please include education, employment, volunteer work and accomplishments or initiatives. - Names and email addresses of two references. These may be two academic references or one academic and one employer reference. - Post-secondary transcripts. Ensure you meet the minimum graduate school admission requirements . You must demonstrate English language proficiency to attend UVic. Learn about language requirements , including allowable exemptions and tests. IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no section less than 6.0 (Academic IELTS only, test centre or online; IELTS Academic One Skill Retake accepted); TOEFL iBT for tests taken after 21 January 2026: 4.5 overall with no section less than 4.0; for tests taken before 21 January 2026: 90 overall with no section less than 20 (iBT test centre or Home Edition; MyBest Scores accepted); PTE 65 with no skill less than 60; CAEL 70 with no component below 60; MET 64 with no section less than 60; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180 with no component below 170. Test scores more than two years old are not accepted. Individual departments may set a higher standard. (Source: UVic Graduate Admissions, Language proficiency.) · English: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 90; PTE Academic 65 · English test waiver: Requirement already met if English is your primary language, you hold a degree from a designated English-speaking country, or you hold a degree from a recognized institution at which the language of instruction is English. Applicants who cannot provide proof may still be considered and complete UVic's University Admission Preparation (UAP) course with a grade of at least 80%, provided the prospective academic unit is willing to admit on that condition; UAP is a 12-week program offered in January, April and September, and in an intensive four-week summer format. UVic does not accept university English preparation courses from other institutions. · Application fee: CAD 187.00 if any documents originate outside Canada; CAD 145.25 if all documents originate within Canada (payable online by credit card; the application is not processed until payment is received). Source: UVic Graduate Admissions, How to apply.

• Is there a scholarship?

  Graduate students admitted to a graduate degree programs are automatically considered for a fellowship, based on a qualifying GPA. Individual fellowship amounts may vary depending on the program. UVic Fellowships - Up to $20,000 per year (master's) Eligibility - The minimum requirement for UVic fellowship consideration is a B+ average on the last two years of course work - To receive your payment, UVic fellowship holders must be registered in a minimum of 1.5 units of graduate level courses - Full-time registration for students registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) is 1.5 units You can also join the co-op program or work as a research or teaching assistant . Funding opportunities

• Is it accredited?

  Social worker: Canadian Association for Social Work Education / Association canadienne pour la formation en travail social (CASWE-ACFTS), through its Commission on Accreditation (COA). CASWE-ACFTS accredits Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degree programmes and states plainly that it does NOT accredit individual practitioners. Accreditation cycles are usually 8 years and run against the Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Where a programme does not meet all…