Social Work - Master of Social Work (MSW) (Online)
CanadaCourse at a Glance
- MasterDegree level
- 12 months (full-time); 24 months (part-time)Duration
- Online (no campus attendance published), CanadaLocation
- Faculty of HealthField of study
- EnglishLanguage of instruction
- Online (no campus attendance published)Campus
- Master of Social Work (MSW) (Online)Awards
- $40,992Fees
- AvailableScholarship
About this programme
Take a holistic approach to social work with Canada’s health-focused Master of Social Work program. You’ll advance your understanding of, and practice skills needed to be responsive to, the social and structural determinants of health in relation to individual, community, and global well-being.
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The program is delivered primarily online with one week of on-campus attendance in an intensive Summer Institute course. You can choose to study full-time or part-time, giving you the flexibility to continue to participate in family and community life while pursuing a graduate degree. A 462-hour practicum gives you hands-on real-world experience so that you can integrate your knowledge into practice. Develop competence through a supervised social work experience that’s related to your learning goals. You’ll be prepared for advanced social work practice and leadership roles in health-related practice areas including clinical, community, health promotion and advocacy, program evaluation, policy, and research settings. Your MSW degree will also allow you to pursue further research at the PhD level in social work, public health, health systems, and social justice education, among others.
Is this course right for you?
Our counsellors check your profile against this programme's entry criteria and tell you where you stand — before you pay anything.
What we look at
- Your subject background and grades
- Your English score, or how to get one
- Budget, including living costs
University & programme
Canada- Listed from the catalogueNot yet staff-verified — ask us to confirm the details.
- English requirementIELTS Overall 7.0
- Study modeFull-time, Part-time
Admissions checklist
Entry requirements
• Minimum 75% average in the final two years of study (equivalent to last 20 half-credit courses). || • Completion of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited Social Work program. If an applicant's BSW degree is from a country other than Canada, the applicant is required to show proof that their degree is recognized as being equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work Degree. || • Successful completion of a half credit in Research Methodology. There is no specific minimum mark requirement. || • Resume || • Program-specific questions (PSQ) || • These are questions specific to the program you’re applying to. They can be viewed once you’ve started an application and are completed through a form in the online application. || • Transcript(s) || • References || • Three references, two must be professional and the third may be academic or professional. || • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable || • TOEFL 4.5 (writing 5, speaking 5), IELTS 7.0 (writing 6.5, speaking 6.5) · English: IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.5) · English test waiver: Exempt from submitting an ELP test score if any one applies: three or more years of post-secondary education at a Canadian institution or university; a completed graduate degree at a Canadian university; three or more years of post-secondary education or a completed graduate degree in an exempt country (list includes Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, UK, USA and others); at least three years' employment in a position where English was the language of business in a listed country; or three or more years of post-secondary education / a graduate degree at a university where English is the only language of instruction per the IAU WHED (this WHED exemption expires two years after graduation). Letters from a university stating the medium of instruction is English do NOT satisfy the requirement. Source: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-graduate-students/admissions/admission-and-english-language-proficiency-requirements · Application fee: CAD 150.00 per program, non-refundable (Graduate Studies Applicant Portal)
The usual set for this level. Your counsellor confirms the exact list for this university.
- Academic transcripts
- English test score (IELTS/TOEFL)
- Passport copy
- Statement of purpose (optional)
- Recommendation letters (optional)
Cost & scholarships
- Tuition$40,992 CAD / year≈ $30,141 / year
- Living costsVary by city — see the destination guide.
- ScholarshipsCourse-based (coursework) program. Waterloo publishes that course-based programs "are typically self-funded, which means that you are expected to cover the costs of tuition and incidental fees associated with your program throughout the duration of your studies", that "some course-based programs offer entrance awards of varying value for full-time students based on academic merit and achievement" and that others "offer paid co-op or internship opportunities" - check with the program. Waterloo's guaranteed minimum funding, the International Master's Award of Excellence (IMAE - awarded to international master's students "normally entering a research-based graduate program") and the International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA - doctoral) are scoped to research-based programs. University-wide award open to course-based students: the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), CAD 5,000 per term to a maximum of CAD 15,000 - Waterloo states "OGS awards are open to applicants in all disciplines of academic study (research-based AND course-based programs)", but for the international competition "prospective graduate students are not eligible to apply and must be current graduate students"View scholarship page
Application timeline
Typical timings. Deadlines differ per university and intake.
- 1Prepare documents1–2 weeks
- 2Submit application1–3 weeks
- 3Receive offer letter2–6 weeks
- 4Apply for visa4–8 weeks
Application deadline: • November 15 (for admission in September of the following year) || Note: All relevant documents pertaining to your application must be uploaded by December 1. || APPLY NOW
Visa & support journey
- Offer letterFrom the university
- Visa guidanceExpert support
- Pre-departureAccommodation & travel
- Ongoing supportEven after you arrive
Student stories
Real students. Real results.
- Average rating
- 4.9
- Google reviews
- 360+
- Rated five stars
- 95%
Average rating
Google reviews
Rated five stars
“I would like to express my gratitude for the excellent assistance provided during my student visa process. The team was responsive, knowledgeable, and supportive at every stage, from document preparation to submission guidance. Their clear communication and professional approach made the process much easier and more efficient.”
1 / 8
Nihad K, 5 out of 5 stars
Every review below is a real Google review — see all of them
Frequently asked questions
How much does Social Work - Master of Social Work (MSW) (Online) cost?
CAD 40,992 / year.
What English score does it need?
IELTS 7.0 overall is the score listed for this programme.
How long is it?
12 months (full-time); 24 months (part-time), as listed by the university.
What are the entry requirements?
• Minimum 75% average in the final two years of study (equivalent to last 20 half-credit courses). || • Completion of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited Social Work program. If an applicant's BSW degree is from a country other than Canada, the applicant is required to show proof that their degree is recognized as being equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work Degree. || • Successful completion of a half credit in Research Methodology. There is no specific minimum mark requirement. || • Resume || • Program-specific questions (PSQ) || • These are questions specific to the program you’re applying to. They can be viewed once you’ve started an application and are completed through a form in the online application. || • Transcript(s) || • References || • Three references, two must be professional and the third may be academic or professional. || • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable || • TOEFL 4.5 (writing 5, speaking 5), IELTS 7.0 (writing 6.5, speaking 6.5) · English: IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.5) · English test waiver: Exempt from submitting an ELP test score if any one applies: three or more years of post-secondary education at a Canadian institution or university; a completed graduate degree at a Canadian university; three or more years of post-secondary education or a completed graduate degree in an exempt country (list includes Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, UK, USA and others); at least three years' employment in a position where English was the language of business in a listed country; or three or more years of post-secondary education / a graduate degree at a university where English is the only language of instruction per the IAU WHED (this WHED exemption expires two years after graduation). Letters from a university stating the medium of instruction is English do NOT satisfy the requirement. Source: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-graduate-students/admissions/admission-and-english-language-proficiency-requirements · Application fee: CAD 150.00 per program, non-refundable (Graduate Studies Applicant Portal)
Is there a scholarship?
Course-based (coursework) program. Waterloo publishes that course-based programs "are typically self-funded, which means that you are expected to cover the costs of tuition and incidental fees associated with your program throughout the duration of your studies", that "some course-based programs offer entrance awards of varying value for full-time students based on academic merit and achievement" and that others "offer paid co-op or internship opportunities" - check with the program. Waterloo's guaranteed minimum funding, the International Master's Award of Excellence (IMAE - awarded to international master's students "normally entering a research-based graduate program") and the International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA - doctoral) are scoped to research-based programs. University-wide award open to course-based students: the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), CAD 5,000 per term to a maximum of CAD 15,000 - Waterloo states "OGS awards are open to applicants in all disciplines of academic study (research-based AND course-based programs)", but for the international competition "prospective graduate students are not eligible to apply and must be current graduate students" View scholarship page
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…
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