International applicants will require ALL of the following:
- International students must live in Canada for the duration of the program, as field placements must be completed in Canada. The University will require proof of eligibility to stay legally in Canada during the program such as a study permit/visa, proof of Canadian citizenship/permanent resident status and/or work permit for practicum.
- Proof that your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree is equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work Degree, from the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW). Further information can be obtained here: CASW: Assessment of International Credentials.
- ALL international degrees must have been obtained at accredited universities which are recognized by the University of Waterloo. See the World Higher Education Database (WHED) to find out if your University is listed.
- Applicants must meet the University of Waterloo’s minimum academic requirements for admission to a Master’s program. Please visit these web pages for more details on minimum academic requirements, including international admission equivalencies, and English language proficiency requirements for graduate studies.
You may check the University website and resources for more information for international students, including immigration consulting and related policies. Please direct all inquiries on immigration processes and government policies to these University resources.
A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, or equivalency as approved by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), is a mandatory admission requirement. There are NO exceptions.
If your BSW degree is from a country other than Canada, you are required to show proof from the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) that your 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.
ALL international degrees must have been obtained at universities which are recognized by the University of Waterloo. See the World Higher Education Database (WHED) to find out if your University is listed.
Applicants with international credentials must have a minimum of 75% grade point average (GPA) in the final two years of their Honour’s Bachelor’s degree (last 20 half-credit courses) or equivalent educational qualifications. Information about international equivalency by location, degree and GPA can be found in the International admission equivalencies website.
The official language of instruction at the University of Waterloo is English. If English is not your first language you may need to include official English proficiency test scores with your application. Go to the English language proficiency requirements website to find out the criteria for exemptions, and which tests and scores are acceptable for admission. The School adheres to the general Graduate Studies accepted examinations and required scores.
Did you complete your BSW in the United States?
On the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), Commission on Accreditation website it states:
"There is a current agreement between the Council on Social Work Education in the USA and the CASWE-ACFTS on the mutual recognition of accredited degrees whereby any CSWR or CASWE-ACFTS accredited MSW or BSW is accepted as equivalent.”
Therefore, as long as the USA school where you completed your BSW is accredited by CSWE, your BSW degree is accepted as equivalent to a Canadian BSW and you are eligible to apply to our MSW program - provided you fulfil ALL our admissions criteria.