General Questions:

Q: When is the application deadline?

A:The deadline for application for admission to both the First and Second Degree programs is March 1 each year.

Please note that the BSW is not a direct entry program and students wishing to complete the prerequisites for the program should apply for general admission at Memorial University. There are multiple general admissions deadlines throughout the year. 

Q: How do I apply?

A: Information about the application process is updated annually and published under How to Apply.

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

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

Q: How are the applications scored?

A: The Admissions Committee scores applicants based on Admissions Criteria, which includes an academic component and experience component.

Q: When will applicants be notified of admissions decisions?

A: Applicants are notified of admission decisions by early June. Notification will be sent to the applicant's @mun.ca e-mail account.

Q: When does the program start?

A: Fall Semester (both First and Second Degree programs).

Q: What is the Educational Equity Initiative?

A: The School of Social Work strives to enrich its teaching, research and scholarship through the contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds with different attributes. However, for many applicants, institutional processes and cultural and racial differences exist which have presented barriers to learning. In keeping with the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE) Standards for Accreditation, the mission of Memorial University, and the mission, vision, and values of the School of Social Work, we have developed our Educational Equity Initiative. The intent of this initiative is to encourage applicants with diverse identities, experiences, and backgrounds to apply. Further, the Educational Equity Initiative aims to correct conditions of disadvantage in professional education. Therefore, the School offers a minimum of 20% of the seats in the BSW program to eligible applicants who have met the minimum requirements for admission and who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis (5% of seats), identify as a member of a racialized group (5% of seats), identify as having a disability (5% of seats), and/or as members of another equity group (5% of seats).

All applicants who wish to be considered for the Educational Equity Initiative must complete the appropriate section on the School of Social Work First Degree or Second Degree Application form. 

Academic Questions:

Q: What are the prerequisite courses required for admission?

A: The prerequisite courses for the First and Second Degree BSW programs are outlined in the University Calendar, under Admissions Requirements.

Q: What is the academic average required to be considered for admission?

A: For the First Degree program, applicants must achieve an average of at least 65% in the courses comprising the last 30 credit hours attempted by the end of the Winter semester for the year in which admission is being sought and for which a numeric grade has been assigned.

For the Second Degree program, applicants must achieve an average of at least 70% in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study attempted by the end of the Winter semester for the year in which admission is being sought and for which a numeric grade has been assigned.

Q: Will my application be considered if I do not achieve the minimum required academic average and grades?

A: Applications that do not meet the required minimum academic components will not be assessed for admission.

Q. Am I able to receive transfer credit for courses completed at other educational institutions?

A: To determine whether or not any of the credits attained previously from another educational institution can be credited towards your BSW degree, you will need to contact the Registrar's Office and request a transfer credit evaluation. Prior to requesting a transfer credit evaluation, students must first of all apply and be accepted for general admission to Memorial University. Questions regarding the transfer credit evaluation process should be directed to the Evaluations Officer in the Office of the Registrar by e-mail at transfer.credit@mun.ca or by phone at (709) 864-4423.

Q: What types of undergraduate degrees are accepted for the Second Degree Program?

A: There is no area of study recommended or specified.

Experience Questions:

Q: What types of volunteer, work or community involvement/experience is recommended?

A: We do not recommend a specific experience to applicants. Experience can include work/volunteer/community involvement experience in human services that relates to social work.

Q: Does my experience have to be volunteer work?

A: No. Applicants can include experiences that are unpaid or paid.

Q: How many verified hours are required for admission?

A: For the First Degree program, applicants must have a minimum of 60 hours of verified work/volunteer/community involvement experience in human services.

For the Second Degree program, applicants must have a minimum of 300 hours of verified work/volunteer/community involvement experience in human services.

Q: How does the Admissions Committee score my experience?

A: When assessing experience, the Committee considers a variety of factors, including: relevance, number of hours, and diversity.

Q: How are my hours verified and when is the deadline for verification?

A: For each experience, students must provide a current e-mail address and phone number of their Supervisor/Manager/Agency Representative/Mentor/Leader/Spiritual Leader. If correct contact information is not provided by March 1, this experience will not be considered. This person may be contacted for verification purposes.

Q: Is there is a personal statement or essay as part of the application?

A: As part of the application, you must prepare a statement (maximum of 500 words) indicating why you think you would be a suitable candidate for the BSW program at Memorial University. You may focus on your work experiences, volunteer experiences and/or community involvement; any training relevant to the field of social work, including awards or certificates earned; and your personal experiences, motivation, values, skills, interests, and critical reflection of social location.