About Master’s Program,
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.
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 you can integrate your knowledge into practice and 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 to pursue further research at the PhD level in social work, public health, health systems, and social justice education, among others.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
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.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
Pursuing graduate studies can be a significant investment. Depending on your unique circumstances and the type of program you’re pursuing, there may be several options available to assist in financing your degree.
With millions of dollars given out every year, Waterloo is known for our top-notch financial support of graduate students, and we’re here to help you navigate the many funding opportunities available.
Funding for graduate studies at the University of Waterloo depends on the type of program in which you’re enrolled: a research-based program or a course-based program.
Application Requirement,
Resume
Supplementary information form (SIF)
The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enrol and your experience in that field. Review the application documents web page for more information about this requirement
If a statement or letter is required by your program, review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion
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 90 (writing 25, speaking 25), IELTS 7.0 (writing 6.5, speaking 6.5)
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2026
Application Fee,
Please refer official website