Q: Is the MSW program accredited? 

A: The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs at the School of Social Work, Memorial University, are accredited by the Canadian Association of Social Work Education – Association Canadienne pour la Formation en Travail Social (CASWE-ACFTS). Accreditation applies to both distance and in-class programs.

Q: When is the application deadline?

A: The deadline date for applications for admission in September of each year is January 15. All supporting documents for the application should be received and admissions requirements completed by the application deadline.

Q: When will applicants be notified of admissions decisions?

A: Applicants can expect to be notified about decisions in mid-March.

Q: When does the program start?

A: Applicants are admitted to the program in the fall semester of each year and begin studies in September.

Q: What is Educational Equity?

A: The School of Social Work embraces equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Ten percent of seats each year will be allocated to persons of Indigenous ancestry who meet the admissions criteria. An additional 10 percent of seats will be allocated to persons from equity seeking groups (e.g. disability, social class, sexual orientation/gender identity (LGBTQ+), race, and ethnicity) who meet the admissions criteria.

Q: How can I apply to be considered under the provisions for Educational Equity?

A: Applicants can complete the MSW Educational Equity Form to identify as Indigenous or from an equity seeking group as described above.

Q: Will I be considered for admission if my application is late or incomplete?

A: Applications received after the deadline and incomplete applications will not be reviewed/considered.

Q: Is a BSW degree required for admission?

A: Applicants shall hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree (or an equivalent professional undergraduate degree in social work), with at least second class standing, and an average of at least 70% in the last 60 undergraduate credit hours.

Q: Is two years of post-BSW professional work experience required for admission?

A: All applicants are required to have completed two years of post-BSW employment in professional social work practice by the January 15 deadline in order to be considered for admission to the program.

Q: Will work completed in human services prior to the BSW be considered for admission?

A: Extensive relevant experience prior to the completion of the BSW may be recognized in full or partial fulfillment of this requirement. Applicants should indicate in their application the relevant employment experience they wish to be considered as part of their application.

Q: Are field internships and volunteer experience considered professional social work experience?

A: Field internships and volunteer experience are not considered professional social work experience.

Q: Can the MSW program be completed online?

A: The MSW program is completed online, however students must attend an on-campus institute component for three of the masters courses (SCWK 6313, 6314 and 6315) at Memorial University's St. John’s campus. An institute consists of six to eight days of intensive classroom instruction.

Q: Are the MSW institutes required?

A: Course-route students must complete all three institutes; thesis-route students must complete two of the institutes.

Q: Can I complete the field internship in my home community?

A: The field internship can be completed in the area where you reside, if appropriate supervision is available.

 Q: How much is the MSW program at Memorial University and how does the payment plan work?

A: The total MSW program cost for Canadian students is $12,000 CAD. Graduate students are also responsible for ancillary fees listed in the Minimum Expense form.

The masters payment plan at Memorial is set up to reflect how most masters degrees at the university are organized; most full-time masters programs are completed in two years (i.e. six semesters.) There are currently two payment plan options for masters programs: payment plan A is 6 payments over 6 semesters; payment plan B is 9 payments over 9 semesters. Full-time students are automatically placed on the 6-semester payment plan upon admission (Plan A), while part-time students are automatically placed on the 9-semester payment plan (Plan B). However, the full-time MSW program at Memorial is completed in one year (i.e. three semesters) and the part-time program can be completed in two years (i.e. six semesters) or three years (i.e. nine semesters). Therefore, the completion time for the MSW program does not align with Memorial's standard masters degree payment plan. As stated, full-time students are automatically placed on the 6-semester payment plan upon admission, while part-time students are automatically placed on the 9-semester payment plan. This sometimes leads to confusion and questions. Please see the document MSW Payment Plan FAQ for more detailed information on the payment plan for the MSW program.