Frequently Asked Questions - MSW | School of Social Work

The application process, for full-time and part-time entry in fall, opens on September 1 and closes on November 15. For those who apply by the deadline of mid-November, you have until December 1 to upload supporting documentation.

Applying for admission to the MSW program is a 2-step process:

First you must complete the online application, on the Graduate Studies website.
A few business days after completing the online application you will be provided with access to your QUEST student file at University of Waterloo where you will be directed to upload supporting documentation.

Detailed information and instructions for applying to the MSW program.

Do I need a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree for admission to the Master of Social (MSW) program at Renison?

Yes, a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, from an accredited social work program, is a mandatory entrance requirement for the MSW program at Renison. If you are currently completing a BSW degree at time of application to our MSW program, you must have completed the BSW degree and your final results must be known by JULY 1 of year of entry into our MSW Program. There are no exceptions.

If you do not have a BSW degree, there are several Schools of Social Work in Canada that offer MSW programs for applicants without a BSW degree. Please go to the Canadian Association for Social Work Education website to see a list of all social work programs in Canada, entrance requirements and contact information.

Alternatively, you may want to consider the completion of a BSW degree through Renison University College in order to be eligible to apply to the MSW program. We offer both full and part-time options for completion of our BSW program.

More information about the BSW program at Renison.

What are the degree requirements for this MSW?

Course requirements

One Year (Full-Time option) and Two Year (Part-Time option) MSW degree requirements:

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is a course-based curriculum, which includes eight courses:

Six core courses. Two of these courses are offered as intensive Summer Institutes. The beginning Summer Institute is offered as a week-long, on-campus course in August before the rest of the fall term courses start in September. The 5 on-campus days will be preceded by preparatory learning activities and an assignment, and followed by activities that will wrap up the course learning, essentially making it a 3-week intensive course with the on-campus component in the middle week. The final Summer Institute is offered as a three-week long intensive, online course with synchronous components in the second week, and is held in August at the end of the program. The remaining four core courses are completed as 12-week online, asynchronous courses.
Two online elective courses. Full-time students will take two electives during their 1-year program. Part-time students are expected to take ONE elective per year during their 2-year program.

And two Milestones:

462 hour practicum (see Field Education)
Field Integration Seminar (online) (see Field Education) and Masters Seminar Presentation (Capstone)

There is no research/thesis option. This program meets all University of Waterloo post-graduate degree requirements.

All University of Waterloo graduate students have to complete an Academic Integrity Module in their first academic term which is administered by the Office of Academic Integrity.

All students in the Full-time and Part-Time MSW degree must complete all credits at a minimum 75% overall average including the compulsory and elective credits required and the residence requirement of three terms (full-time) or six terms (part-time) in order to graduate from the program. A failing grade in any course will necessitate a review of the candidate's status by the School of Social Work, and may result in a candidate being required to withdraw from the program. The MSW Program adheres to adacemic regulations administered through Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) as indicated in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Course descriptions may be found at: Course Outlines

The field practicum courses are graded on a credit/non-credit basis.

Field Education requirements

The field program consists of one practicum and an Integration Seminar; each is worth one milestone degree requirement. The practicum and Integration Seminar are offered to students in the full-time program between September and June of each year. The practicum and Integration Seminar are offered to students in the part-time program between January of the first year of the program and June of the second year of the program. The Practicum and Integration Seminar are intended to provide students with opportunities to integrate learning in other courses into their practice through a supervised social work experience related to their learning objectives.

Students spend a minimum of 462 hours in the practicum, and receive supervision from an agency-based supervisor qualified at the MSW level. Students are expected to attend the practicum a minimum of two consecutive 7-hour days per week to reach the minimum requirement of 462 field practicum hours. Students may opt to complete their practicum two, three, four or five (7-hour) days per week. A minimum of one hour per two practicum days of educational supervision is required from the agency-based Field Instructor.

The location of the placement is determined through consultation and agreement among the student, the Field Education Coordinator, and the agency. The Field Education Coordinator is responsible for approving all practicums. Students can normally expect to undertake their field placement in their own community or region, subject to the availability of suitable placement agencies and supervisors. The student must successfully complete the practicum in order to meet the milestone degree requirement.

What are the other academic requirements for admission to the MSW program at Renison?

In order to be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following criteria:

The completion of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited Social Work program. If you are currently completing a BSW degree at time of application to our MSW program, you must have completed the BSW degree and your final results must be known by JULY 1 of year of entry into our MSW Program. If an applicant's BSW degree is from a country other than Canada, the applicant is required to show proof from the Canadian Association of Social Work (CASW) that their degree is recognized as being equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work Degree. There can be no exceptions. Further information can be obtained here: CASW: Assessment of International Credentials

Minimum 75% grade point average (GPA) in the final two years of study (equivalent to last 20 half-credit courses).

The successful completion of a university-level course in Research Methodology. There is no specific minimum mark requirement. NOTE: While the uWaterloo website indicates that a statistics course is required for admissions into the MSW program, the School of Social Work has waived this requirement.

See the Academic and Non-Academic Requirements for admission to the MSW program at Renison.

Social work practice experience, paid and unpaid, is considered in the admission process. The School of Social Work is interested in the experiences of applicants in any or all of the following areas: educational qualifications, practicum, employment experience, volunteer experience, social action and activism, membership in volunteer associations, membership in professional associations, supervisory experience, research activities, presentations given, publications, and additional skills, attributes or other information

How do I add my transcripts, resume, referees and supplementary information to my online application?

Transcripts

Resume

Social work practice experience, paid and unpaid, is considered in the admission process. The School of Social Work is interested in the experiences of applicants in any or all of the following areas: educational qualifications, practica, employment experience, volunteer experience, social action and activism, membership in volunteer associations, membership in professional associations, supervisory experience, research activities, presentations given, publications, and additional skills, attributes or other information

References

Supplementary Information

What references do you require?

Three letters of reference: one Academic and two Professional

If your degree was completed three or more years ago, and you are having difficulty obtaining an academic reference, you may submit a third professional reference.

An applicant selects three individuals who have current knowledge (preferably within the last two years) of the candidate’s potential for undertaking graduate studies in Social Work.

Academic Reference: must be from a course instructor with whom you have taken a class/classes within the last three to four years.

Professional Reference: must be from any of the following three sources:

Work source: Director, employment supervisor, practicum supervisor.
Voluntary source: A representative from a voluntary board, organization, or group with whom the applicant has volunteered
Professional source (from a professional perspective): Social worker, physician, nurse, psychologist, psychiatrist, chaplain, or similar community-based professional

While we would like to have professional references from individuals in different organizations, we understand that many applicants many only have worked in one agency/organization or it may be many years since you have worked in another agency/organization.

If you do get your professional references from individuals within the same agency/organization, please try to have them speak to different aspects of your suitability and capacity to undertake graduate level social work education. You will not be penalized in the application process for having references from individuals in the same agency/organization.

References are confidential, not available to applicants, used only for admission purposes, and are kept on file for those accepted.

Contact your referees before you apply online to confirm their availability and email address.
Your referees will receive an email from the Graduate Studies Office (GSO) within two to three business days after your application has been submitted
GSO will send your referees two email reminders to complete the form within 14 days of the due date listed on the form.
Reference forms do not expire but they are required to complete your application, and should be submitted by the application deadline for your program.
GSO only accept references submitted using their electronic form.
To change a referee, send an email to gradapply@uwaterloo.ca with the following information:

Subject Line: Referee change
Waterloo student ID number:
Program and application term:
Previous referee name:
New referee name:
New referee title:
New referee Institution:
Institution address (include city/country):
New referee telephone:
New referee email address:

To change a referee email address, send an email to gradapply@uwaterloo.ca with the following information:

Subject Line: Referee email address change
Waterloo student ID number:
Program and application term:
Referee name:
Previous referee email address:
New referee email address:

To have our reference email re-sent to your referee, send an email to gradapply@uwaterloo.ca with the following information:

Subject Line: Re-send referee email
Waterloo student ID number:
Program and application term:
Referee name:
Referee email address:

What are the English Language requirements of this program?

Go to the Graduate Studies English Language Proficiency web page for this information.

May I get my professional references from people who work in the same organization?

Yes. While we would like to have references from individuals in different organizations, we understand that many applicants many only have worked in one agency/organization or it may be any years since you have worked in another agency/organization.

Who can I contact if I have questions regarding the content of the information which needs to be uploaded onto Quest, in support of my application?

Questions, concerns, and inquiries related to the School of Social Work admission application process can be directed to:

School of Social Work, Renison University College
519-884-4404
renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca

Please be aware that Quest forms time out after 10 minutes inactivity. Prepare your answers in advance and then copy/paste them into the form.

I don't have a Research Methods qualification. What can I do?

If you don't have a Research Methods qualification, Renison can help!

In order to fulfill Criteria #3 above, MSW applicants can enrol in SDS251R, Social Research. You can check the schedule of classes to find out when this course is being offered.
If you intend to take this courses through Renison, please contact Renison Registrar for assistance in applying to 'post-degree studies'. The deadline to apply for post-degree studies, in order to take courses in the winter term, is the end of October each year.
Please let The Registrar's Office know you are an MSW applicant and require this course in order to be eligible for admission to our MSW program.
If you are offered admission to our MSW program, it will be conditional upon the successful completion of a Research Methods course. Final grades must be made available to the School of Social Work on or before July 1 in the year of entry to the MSW program.

When should I expect to hear if I have been offered a place on this MSW program?

Applicants to our MSW program will be notified in March as to whether or not they have been offered admission. This information will be posted to your QUEST account. The three categories are – offer of admission (ADMT); waitlist (WAIT); deny (DENY).

I've received an offer! What do I do next?

MSW Offer Procedures - next steps

If you have received an offer for entry in fall, please review the above 'next steps' carefully and complete the required information within 10 business days from the date on your offer letter (to be found on QUEST) to confirm your place. If we do not hear back from you within this deadline your place may be offered to the next applicant on our waitlist.

International FAQ

I am an international student - am I eligible to apply to this program?

International students are eligible to apply to the program. All applicants must live in Canada, with an international student visa or Canadian Citizenship/Permanent Residency, for the duration of the program, as field education placements must be completed in Canada. A BSW, or equivalent, as approved by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), is a mandatory admission requirement.

Full details for International Applicants.

Tuition FAQ

What funding is available for students in the MSW program?

Applicants who are accepted into the MSW program are not guaranteed funding.

We encourage students to investigate the possibility of scholarships, bursaries, or other awards for which they may be eligible at their home institution/organization or the appropriate government office.

All full-time MSW graduate students are urged to apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS), for any students enrolled in a graduate program at an Ontario university. Students should apply for this scholarship in the early Fall (September and October deadlines) for the following academic year.

President's Graduate Scholarship (PGS) is available for all OGS recipients.

Bursaries are available for students in financial need through the University of Waterloo Graduate Studies Officer. These are restricted to full-time students who are Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents.

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides various types of assistance based on financial need to eligible students.

The Faculty of Health also has an Emergency Loan Fund for graduate students experiencing short-term financial difficulties.

Maternity and Adoption Bursaries, as well as Day Care Bursaries are available through the Graduate Studies Office.

Other University of Waterloo and external scholarships are also available for graduate students. For more information see the University of Waterloo Graduate Studies.

Renison University College also has a number of awards and bursaries for MSW students:

Bishop Arthur Brown:

This award supports full or part-time Bachelor of Social Work and/or Master of Social Work students who have active experience in the community service or community care-giving.

Irene Kathleen Weatherhead Award:

This award is given to students in the Bachelor and Master of Social Work programs. Students must be in good academic standing and demonstrate financial need.

MSW Award of Excellence:

An annual award presented to the full-time and part-time student with the highest academic achievement graduating from the Master of Social Work program.

Norma Brown Award:

This award is given to a student in the Bachelor or Master of Social Work program. The student must have active experience in community service and caregiving and demonstrate financial need.

Paul Jeffery Mesbur Memorial Award:

This award is given to a student in the Bachelor or Master of Social Work program. The student must be in good academic standing and demonstrates financial need.

Town & Gown Society Award:

This award is given to a full-time Renison registered student in the Social Development Studies or the Bachelor or Master of Social Work programs. The part-time award is given to a part-time student in the Bachelor or Master of Social Work program. First consideration is given to students who entered university from a non-traditional route.

Please note:

please review the criteria of each award carefully
point form answers are preferred (please remain within the requested character count)
all applications will be checked to ensure accuracy
you may save your application as a draft, and complete it at a later time

Please note: To save time only apply to scholarships, awards or bursaries you meet the criteria for.

Renison University College Scholarships Awards and Bursaries

What are the fees per term for this MSW program?

Tuition fees for Master of Social Work Program

Tuition fees are assessed based on your domestic residency status or international immigration status. There are three residency statuses that impact tuition fees: Domestic Ontario, Domestic Out of Province and International. Additional information about residency is available at The Centre.

Effective fall 2023, any student who is not international (Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person) or who does not qualify as an Ontario resident will be considered a Domestic Out of Province student.

Please find information about our tuition fees (charged per term, not per course), on the:

Graduate Finance Fees web page

Search by: term - Domestic Ontario/Domestic Out of Province/International - Online Professional Graduate Programs - Faculty of Health - Master of Social Work

CanLearn - is the source for interactive information and tools designed to help you save, plan and pay for post-secondary education.

Incidental Fees - Graduate students enrolled in online programs (e.g., our MSW program) may be eligible for supplementary health and dental insurance. Please connect directly with the General Manager of the Graduate Student Association.

You will be asked to go through a self-enrollment process at the beginning of each term and will pay on a term by term basis.

General FAQ

Is the MSW program at Renison offered Online?

Yes - except for ONE course which is offered as week-long, on-campus, intensive 'Summer Institute' in August before the start of the fall term for all incoming students.

This on-campus week is preceded by online assignments and activities, and further online assignments and activities follow after the on-campus week, essentially making it a 3-week intensive course.

Both full-time and part-time students must attend the Summer Institute course in order to graduate from the program.

Is this MSW program considered 'clinical'?

On the About the School of Social Work webpage, in the information about the Master of Social Work, you will note it says: “The MSW program views health holistically which means that students are challenged to consider how social, cultural, personal, physiological, structural, and political implications shape individual, community, and global health experiences. Students are challenged to explore interventions that take multiple forms to address health inequities including individual, organizational, community, and policy levels.”

Our health-focused MSW program applies an integrated approach in advancing the knowledge, skills and values of Social Work practitioners. Through the program, students engage in micro, mezzo and macro level theoretical frameworks and interventions as they critically examine individual, community and societal health and wellbeing. Students who may be interested in developing their clinical skills may be able to do so through the materials and resources provided in the class as well as through their field education experience. They may do the same if they are interested in enhancing their macro level practice skills. We strive for students to acquire the required SW competencies and gain a balanced, critical and relevant understanding of SW practice focused on health and wellbeing.

Can I do my practicum in the same agency as where I currently work?

Practicums must be carried out in agencies in Canada, only. Students enrolled in the Master of Social Work program will play an important role in the planning of their practicum experience of 462 hours (minimum two 7-hour days per week).

If a student is employed while enrolled in the MSW program, it is strongly recommended that he/she select a practicum in an agency/organization different from their regular work. However, in some exceptional circumstances, the School will consider a practicum within the current work setting, providing the practicum meets the criteria for this option (refer to the MSW Practicum Manual, the section on Field Placement in the Current Place of Employment).

The following are questions a student should ponder when considering a practicum in his/her current place of employment:

How will this placement offer me significant new learning experiences consistent with graduate level expectations?
Would I be interested in this placement if it were not convenient for me?
How will this placement help me meet my long-term career goals?

To assist a student in preparing for a practicum in a different organization, the School, at the time of acceptance, requires students to inform employers of the structure of the MSW program. This will facilitate a joint planning process and the student’s ability to negotiate time away from work for classes and practicum.

Some of the arrangements that may be negotiated are:

arranging a 'job exchange' with another related agency
providing suitable 'leave time'
allowing for flex time

When does the program start and finish?

Program starts:

For full-time and part-time students starting their studies in the fall, the dates of the first Summer Institute, SWK 600R Health, Equity and Social Justice, will be ON-CAMPUS at Renison University College, Monday to Friday inclusive, August 18-22, 2025.

The 5 on-campus days will be preceded by preparatory learning activities and an assignment, and followed by activities that will wrap up the course learning.

The rest of the fall term courses start online, in September.

We will be following Public Health Guidelines regarding COVID restrictions, if any are still in place by then. Please watch for updates.

NOTE: Advanced Reading assignments may be required. Further assignments are due during August/September, after the course has concluded. Real time interactions that are components of the Summer Institute (e.g., closing exercise), if any, will be announced well in advance.

Further details will be available in due course.

Program finishes:

In August 2025 graduating full-time and part-time MSW students will attend their final Summer Institute course SWK 603R: Social Work Leadership in Health Care as a three-week, online intensive course, August 1-21 (with daily synchronous sessions during the middle week - August 11-15).

How is the MSW program at Renison structured?

The MSW program at Renison is offered in Full-Time and Part-Time options.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is a course-based curriculum, which includes eight courses:

Six core courses. Two of these courses are offered as intensive Summer Institutes. The beginning Summer Institute is offered as a 5-day, on-campus course in August before the rest of the fall term courses start in September. The 5 days will be preceded by preparatory learning activities and an assignment, and followed by activities that will wrap up the course learning. The final Summer Institute is offered as a three-week long intensive, online course with daily synchronous components in the second week, and is held in August at the end of the program. The remaining four core courses are completed as 12-week online, asynchronous courses.
Two online elective courses.

And two Milestones:

462 hour practicum (see Field Education)
Field Integration Seminar (online) (see Field Education) and Masters Seminar Presentation (Capstone)

There is no research/thesis option. This program meets all University of Waterloo post-graduate degree requirements.

All students in the Full-Time and Part-Time MSW degree must complete all credits at a minimum 75% overall average including the compulsory and elective credits required in order to graduate from the program.

Full-time option

The full-time component of the MSW program is structured to deliver graduate courses in three academic terms: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Full-time students complete degree requirements in 12 months and students graduate at Fall Convocation in October.

Layout of Full-time Courses

Part-time option

The part-time component of the MSW program is structured to deliver graduate courses in a manner that allows flexibility to a student's life responsibility's and wellbeing. Courses are offered in the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms, and are sequenced. Part-time students complete one elective course per year during the two-year program. Students may complete the degree requirements in two calendar years (six academic terms) and graduate at Fall Convocation of the year in which the program requirements are completed.

Layout of Part-time Courses

Is the MSW program offered on the Renison Campus?

The MSW program is primarily delivered online through distance education, with the exception of ONE mandatory on-campus Summer Institute course of 5-days duration, with pre- and post-course assignments, held at Renison University College in August for all incoming students, before the rest of the fall term classes start online in September.

What are the field education requirements (Practicum/Integration Seminar) of the MSW program?

Field education is considered a central component of social work education because the integration of knowledge, values, and skills in the context of field education is a critical and distinctive aspect of social work education.

The field education program consists of one Practicum and an Integration Seminar; each is worth one milestone degree requirement. Milestones are required components of the program that must be passed to satisfy degree requirements. The Practicum and Integration Seminar are offered to students in the full-time program between September and June of each year. The practicum and Integration Seminar are offered to students in the part-time program between January of the first year of the program and June of the second year of the program.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) field education program provides students with opportunities for:

462 hours (at a minimum of two 7-hour days per week)* in an approved practicum in their own community or region (normally other than the student's place of employment), subject to the availability of suitable placement agencies/organizations and field instructors.

*462 hours of practicum, carried out at the minimum two 7-hour days per week, equates to 33 weeks, or around 8 months. Full time students may undertake their practicum 2-3 days a week, while part time students may undertake their practicum 2-5 days a week, for approval by the Field Education Coordinator.

supervision from an agency-based field instructor qualified at the MSW level
regular online Integration Seminars, attended by students concurrently with practicum
flexibility in the organization of practicum hours, depending upon the agreement of the agency/organization

As this is mainly an online program, students are required to make contact with potential field agencies, explore interests, opportunities and availability for supervision with agency personnel, and then communicate with the Field Education Coordinator the relevant contact information and planning that has occurred well in advance of the anticipated beginning of the practicum. Securing placements could be highly competitive so close communication with the Field Education Coordinator is important to support the student’s planning process, learn about guidelines and timelines of particular agencies, or health authorities and work on a few options to complete the practicum milestone.

Is the MSW program accredited?

Accreditation of professional social work education Programs in Canada is a function of the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), a national association of university and college faculties, schools, departments, modules, and individuals offering professional education in social work at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.

Our MSW program is accredited by CASWE

I'm new to on-line learning: What level of computer literacy is required - and do I need access to a high-speed Internet connection?

Both full-time and part-time students learn though interactive online courses featuring a variety of rich media and opportunities for engagement. Online delivery is provided by the Centre for Extended Learning (CEL).

Access to reliable high-speed internet service, and good computer/internet literacy, is essential in order to have the best experience with our online courses.

Are you ready for online learning? We understand - online learning is not for everyone. Try this short Quiz which could help you decide:

Readiness for Online Learning

I require Academic Accommodations. What do I do?

Students who have accepted their offer onto the MSW Program requiring academic accommodations are strongly encouraged to connect with AccessAbility Office (access@uwaterloo.ca) prior to attending the Summer Institute to ensure they are prepared and equipped for success in their graduate program. Please visit the AccessAbility Office website for more information.