BSW - How To Apply to our Full-Time Program

Applications for fall 2024 are now CLOSED.

You will receive an acknowledgement e-mail from Undergraduate Admissions within 10 business days of submitting your on-line application to OUAC, with instructions for logging in to QUEST to complete your Admission Information Form (AIF), upload your application materials and supporting documentation. Your Waterloo ID (identification) number will be assigned and sent to you in this e-mail. You should check your junk mail folder for these e-mails as many e-mail programs put mass mailings in junk mail folders. The due date for your OUAC application is December 21, 2023.

Step 2: Upon receipt of your acknowledgement e-mail, your next step is to log in to QUEST to submit* your Social Work Admission Information Form (AIF), including contact details for your THREE referees** (1 academic and 2 professional). This should be done by the AIF deadline, but we encourage applicants to submit their AIF as early as they can in order to give their referees as much time as possible. The Social Work AIF form is due January 12, 2024.

*NOTE: you do not have to upload any documents when you submit your AIF.

**NOTE: The academic reference must be a post secondary instructor who has taught you in one or more courses. The professional references can be sought from any of the following: an employment supervisor; a volunteer supervisor; a helping professional (eg, social worker, religious leader, doctor, psychiatrist or similar community-based professional).

Step 3:Personal Statement for BSW Admission Application

Please tell us about your interest in social work (Required)

Social work practice is guided by seven values found in the Guidelines for Ethical Practice and Code of Ethics. We encourage you to review these documents to familiarize yourself with these values prior to answering these questions below. Please note that the information you provide will be confidential.

Central to social work practice is the pursuit of social justice for individuals, families, groups, and communities. Social workers promote social fairness and the equitable distribution of resources, and act to reduce barriers and expand choice for all persons, with special regard for those who are marginalized, disadvantaged, or vulnerable. Social workers oppose prejudice and discrimination against any person or group of persons, on any grounds, and specifically challenge views and actions that stereotype particular persons or groups (CASW, 2015).

The School of Social Work values diverse experiences, knowledges, and perspectives and recognizes that one’s passion for social work may be influenced by life experiences that are shaped by racism, anti-Black racism, xenophobia, anti-Indigenous racism and colonization, sexism and cissexism, homophobia and transphobia, classism, and ableism, among other forms of discrimination. In the questions below, we offer you the opportunity to tell us about yourself, your lived experiences, and interest in social work and social justice.

1. Thinking about social work’s commitment to the pursuit of social justice, what is one change that you want to see in the world? (500 word max.)
2. How could a degree in social work support your participation in this change? (500 word max.)
3. Tell us how your work and volunteer experiences, strengths, skills, and lived experiences influence your interest and participation in the profession of social work and/or pursuit of social justice. (500 word max.)

Your personal statement must be uploaded on Quest and saved as a PDF and be no larger than 3000KB*

For more information on uploading your document please see this link: https://uwaterloo.ca/quest/help/students/how-do-i/application-documents.

Step 4: Upload your application materials and supporting documentation including:

• Unofficial transcripts* (post-secondary) 
• Personal statement
• Resume

*If you requested your transcripts via OUAC, you do not have to upload additional copies. Check Quest to ensure we have received all your supporting documents.

• All supporting documentation including unofficial transcripts, personal statement, and resume are due by January 26, 2024
• Important note about transcripts*: University of Waterloo/Renison students do not have to submit their Waterloo transcripts, and high school transcripts are NOT required.

Helpful information can be found at Undergraduate Admissions.

If you're experiencing difficulties uploading your materials, or if you have any questions about how to upload your materials, please contact applicant.help@uwaterloo.ca

For all other BSW application enquiries, please contact  BSW admissions