Other application pieces

Transcripts, Reference Letters, Resumé, and Program Specific Questions

The application process, for entry into the MSW program in fall 2026, for both full-time and part-time applicants, is now open and willclose on November 15, 2025,11.59pm (Eastern).

Applications to our Master of Social Work program, for entry in fall 2026, must be submitted online through the University of Waterloo's Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs online submission system, by November 15, 2025, 11.59pm(Eastern).

Supporting documents must be uploaded into your QUEST account by the deadline of December 1, 2025, 11.59pm (Eastern), to complete applications which have been submitted by November 15, 2025,11.59pm (Eastern).

Transcripts

Reference letters

Curriculum vitae/resumé

Program Specific Questions

Evaluation Criteria

Other Application Pieces

Transcripts:

  • Unofficial transcripts (including awarding of degree/degree certificate) are accepted at the application stage. These can be scans of your official paper transcript(s) or a PDF of your academic record. Applicants are required to upload a copy of their transcript(s) in their Applicant Portal. Unofficial transcripts must be current dated. Should you receive an offer of admission, official final transcripts will be requested. Please do not send official documents to the University of Waterloo at time of application.
  • All post-secondary education from all past and present universities, colleges and post-secondary institutions attended, whether complete or incomplete must be declared on your online application. The chart clarifies the type of academic education that should be declared and uploaded. Your complete post-secondary education history is required by the academic program in the review and evaluation of your application. Failure to declare all education may delay your admission consideration. The discovery of any concealed information could invalidate your application. 
  • NOTE for University of Waterloo students/graduates: University of Waterloo transcripts are not required but all other transcripts must be uploaded. You must declare your University of Waterloo studies and any studies you have completed in other institutions.
  • Copies of transcripts that are uploaded must be current dated, and display your full name, academic program and the university's name along with transcript legends/keys/grading scales.
  • All courses and grades, along with the transcript legends/keys/grading scales and degree certificates, if applicable, must be included.
  • One file per institution can be uploaded (if you completed more than one degree at the same institution, both transcripts must be in a single file).
  • Maximum file size is 3500 kb, to reduce your file size, try using a lower resolution and scanning in black and white instead of colour. 
  • If the official language of instruction at your institution is not English, please include both the original language document and a certified English translation for the transcript and degree certificate/diploma. Remember to include a translation of the official grading scale or transcript legend.
  • No translation is required for transcripts issued in French by Canadian institutions.
    • We are an English teaching/speaking institution.
  • File names cannot include brackets ( ) or quotations ' ', and should be kept short.
  • A full set of materials must be submitted.
  • If you uploaded an incorrect document (ex. a test score instead of a transcript), send an email to gradapply@uwaterloo.ca (include your application reference number).
  • Further details may be found on the Graduate Studies Applications webpages 

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Reference letters:

Three letters of reference are required: One Academic and Two Professional.  

If your degree was completed three or more years ago (you have been out of school for 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.

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.

Your referees will be completing and submitting a confidential online reference form.

  • References are completed electronically by your referee.
  • Contact your referees before you apply online to confirm their availability and email address.
  • Your referees will receive an email from Waterloo with a link to the secure and confidential online reference form as soon as you send the request.
  • Two email reminders will be sent automatically prior to the application deadline.
  • You may send reminders to your referees from your Applicant Portal.

Need to change a referee after you apply?

  • Log in to your application, and in the Applicant Portal select Manage your Referees.
  • On the referee page, select the referee you want to exclude (remove from your application).
  • Add a new referee by clicking the “Add Referee Information” link. Enter the information on the form and then choose “send to recommender”.

Need to change a referee's email address?

  • Follow the instructions above to exclude the referee.
  • Add a new referee with the updated email address and send the request.

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Curriculum vitae/​resumé:

In PDF Format. Maximum file size for your resume is 3500 kb.

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, membership in volunteer associations, membership in professional associations, supervisory experience, research activities, presentations given, publications, and additional skills, attributes or other information. 

Content of res​umé

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

Applicants will be required to submit a detailed resumé, which lists separately, under the headings provided, and chronologically beginning with the most recent, their experiences in these areas: 

Employment experience: 

Under the following three sub-headings 'pre-BSW', 'during BSW', 'post- BSW', indicate clearly:

Dates, agencies/organizations, positions held, whether the positions were full-time or part-time, and a brief description of roles, duties and responsibilities. 

Volunteer exper​ience: 

Under the following three sub-headings 'pre-BSW', 'during BSW', 'post- BSW', indicate clearly:

Dates, agencies/organizations, positions held, and a brief description of roles, duties and responsibilities. 

Practica:

Indicate clearly:
Dates, agency/organization, field instructor’s name and title, and a brief description of roles, duties and responsibilities. 

Membership in professional associations: 

Indicate clearly:
Dates, associations and, if applicable, a brief description of roles, duties and responsibilities. Please include the specific professional and/or regulatory provincial/Canadian associations, or related organizations.

Community recognition:

Awards and other forms of recognition by the community.

Education and professional development: 

Degrees, certificates, diplomas, academic awards, workshops and conferences attended, ongoing professional development activities, and language skills (including sign language). 

Additional skills, attributes and information relevant to the Master of Social Work program:

These may include such things as research activities, presentations (conferences, workshops, staff development and training) and publications (both refereed and non-refereed).

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Program Specific Questions: 

Instructions for Completing Your MSW Application Questions

At Renison University College, the School of Social Work’s MSW program seeks applicants who bring thoughtfulness, self-awareness, and a deep commitment to social justice. These application questions are designed to help us understand your journey, values, and readiness for graduate-level social work education.

Please review the instructions below carefully before responding.

General Guidelines

  • Be authentic. There are no “right” answers — we want to hear your unique voice, story, and perspective.
  • Reflect deeply. These questions invite personal insight, critical reflection, and connection to your values. Take your time.
  • Be specific. Draw from real experiences when possible. Use examples that demonstrate your growth, actions, and learning.
  • Be concise. Each response should be approximately 250 words. Write clearly and avoid jargon.
  • Focus on connection. We are interested in how your experiences connect to social work values, practice, and learning.
  • Proofread your responses to ensure clarity and coherence.

We appreciate the care and thoughtfulness you bring to these questions, and we look forward to learning more about you.

Program Requirement

All applicants must have successfully completed a university-level Research Methods course (no specific minimum grade required).

Have you completed a research methods course?

  • Yes — Please provide:
    • Course number and name
    • University
    • Credit earned
       
  • No – You must meet this requirement by enrolling in a Research Methods course. Final grades must be submitted to the School of Social Work by July 1 of your entry year. Please indicate:
    • Planned completion date(s)

Required Disclosure

Use of Digital Writing Assistants and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

Applicants may use digital writing assistants (e.g., Grammarly) and AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) in a limited, supportive role — for example, to help with grammar, structure, or clarity. However, all original ideas, examples, and content must come from you. AI tools must not be used to generate responses, ideas, or examples. Your submission should reflect your own voice, experiences, and critical thinking.

Disclosure (Required)

Please briefly describe if and how you used any digital writing assistant or AI tool while preparing your responses. There is no penalty for appropriate, limited use — we ask for transparency to uphold academic and professional integrity.

Examples:

  • “I used Grammarly to check grammar and spelling.”
  • “I used ChatGPT to rephrase a few sentences for clarity, but all ideas and content are my own.”
  • “I did not use AI tools.”

Question #1: Critical Reflection and Personal Growth

Social work requires ongoing reflection, humility, and a willingness to grow — especially when it comes to recognizing privilege, unlearning assumptions, and receiving feedback.

  • Describe a time when you became aware of your own privilege, bias, or assumption. How did this impact your understanding of social justice and your relationships with others?
  • Share an experience where you received difficult feedback or encountered discomfort in a learning environment. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself?

(Maximum 250 words)

Question #2: Commitment to Social Justice in Action

At the heart of social work is a commitment to equity and justice — not just in belief, but through action in everyday life. Given our program’s health focus, we are especially interested in how you have addressed health-related inequities or barriers.

  • Please describe a situation where you took action to challenge a social injustice, barrier, or inequity — whether formally or informally, personally or professionally.
  • What guided your decision to act, and what did you learn about yourself, others, or the systems involved?

 (Maximum 250 words)

Question #3: Lived Experience and Motivation for Social Work

Social work calls on us to draw from both our formal education and the lived experiences that have shaped who we are. Many people are drawn to the profession through personal, community, or cultural experiences that inform their values and commitments.

  • Please share an experience in which you navigated a challenging or unfamiliar environment due to aspects of your identity, background, or circumstances — including, if relevant, experiences in online or remote contexts.
  • What personal strengths did you develop through that experience, and how do you see those strengths informing your studies and future practice?
     

(Maximum 200 words)

Question #4: Practicum Interests and Learning Goals

Your practicum will be a central part of your MSW journey—a key opportunity to apply your learning, integrate theory with practice, and grow through real-world experience.

  • Please describe the practicum settings, populations, or practice areas you’re most interested in, and how they align with your professional goals.
  • What skills or knowledge do you hope to build, and how will you contribute to your placement as a developing social work professional?

(Maximum 200 words)

Question #5: Truth and Reconciliation Engagement

Social workers have a responsibility to engage meaningfully with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and with Indigenous knowledge, histories, and communities — particularly in relation to health and well-being.

  • Please describe your current relationship to this work.
  • What have you done to learn, unlearn, or contribute — and what commitments do you hold moving forward?

(Maximum 250 words)

Question #6: Optional Question: Contextual Insight

We recognize that every applicant’s journey is different — and invite you to share any additional context that helps us understand yours. Is there anything else you would like the admissions committee to know about you? This may include gaps in your academic history, challenges you've overcome, or other aspects of your story that help explain your path.

(Maximum 150 words)

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Program Specific Questions Evaluation Criteria

Program specific questions of all applicants who meet the standard admission criteria will be rated by two independent assessors. This provides consistency in the evaluation process and provides an effective way to evaluate a large number of applications.

Each answer will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Writing style: the ability to communicate clearly, including use of language, organization and comprehensibility
  • Demonstrated analytic ability: including evidence of scholarship
  • Creativity and originality
  • Completeness of answers​

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Other application pieces

  • Proof of Permanent Resident/Landed Immigrant status if necessary
  • 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 Certification website to find out the criteria for exemptions, and which tests and scores are acceptable for admission (note: not the "Alternative" scores). 

Graduate Studies accepted examinations and required scores

Table of Graduate Studies accepted examinations and required scores
Internet-based 
TOEFL (iBT)		 IELTS 
(Academic)		 Cambridge English test
(C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)		 CAEL PTE 
(Academic)		 EFAS
90;
writing 25;
speaking 25		 7.0;
writing 6.5;
speaking 6.5		 185;
minimum 176 in each area		 70;
60 per band;
70 writing;
70 speaking		 63;
writing 65;
speaking 65		 75%
overall in level 400 with at least 75% in writing, oral and academic skills

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Information from the Graduate Studies & Post-Doctoral Affairs regarding types of acceptable documents which can be uploaded into QUEST 

All applications are submitted online so you will not be able to include any additional materials with your submission.

For more information, please contact:

Keri Raif Sura, Administration and Student Services Manager
School of Social Work, Renison University College
519-884-4404, ext. 28698
renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca

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