BSW International Applicants Information
The School of Social Work seeks to reflect a diverse student population and welcomes applications from qualified individuals of all ages, gender identities, cultural, racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, and abilities.
If you are an international enquirer wishing to apply to our Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, please note these special requirements for international applicants:
English Language Requirements:
International applicants will need to demonstrate English language proficiency if their first language is not English AND their 4 most recent years of full-time education were not in an English-language school system.
The University of Waterloo has a list of acceptable English Language proficiency test options.
International Credentials – Bachelor’s Degree requirement:
Obtaining an educational credential assessment is necessary in order to determine equivalency of international qualifications to those earned in Canada.
In order to be eligible for the BSW program, an applicant’s combined academic credentials must be equivalent to at least a 3-year Bachelor’s degree awarded in Canada, obtained with a minimum 70% average.
The applicant must have studied at an accredited university which is recognized by the University of Waterloo. (Enquirers can enter their country of study into this search page to find out what educational qualifications are required.)
Transcripts will be evaluated for equivalency once the BSW application is submitted. If you wish to have a credential assessment report completed prior to your BSW application, there are a number of professional organizations that perform this service for a fee, including:
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), Guelph
- World Education Services (WES), Toronto
- Comparative Education Service (CES), Toronto
International Credentials – BSW prerequisite course requirements:
Assessment of previous course work for possible equivalency to the ten BSW prerequisite courses can be requested prior to applying to the BSW program, and initiating the process early on is strongly encouraged. To request a review, submit a copy of your transcript to Renison admissions BSW Admission, along with detailed course syllabi for any courses that are potential matches to the Renison prerequisites.
See our list of the seven BSW prerequisite courses offered at Renison for further information.
International Student Fees:
See the University of Waterloo's most recent International Students' Fee Schedule for further information. (Click Tuition and Fees; Fees Schedule; Year and Term (e.g. Fall 2022). For the Program Type, select ARTS, then select 'Regular' to see each term's fees.)
University of Waterloo links for International Students' further information:
University of Waterloo prospective International students
International Student Experience (ISE) team
Study Permit?
If you're not a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident, you must have a Study Permit to attend university in Canada.
If you are an international enquirer and have further questions about:
- the English Language requirements of our BSW program
- how to have your international education credentials evaluated
- how to enroll in the prerequisite courses
- fee payments
please contact:
BSW Admissions or Renison Registrar's Office
Telephone number: 519-884-4404 x 28627