Are you interested in becoming an MSW student at Memorial?

To be considered for admission, an applicant 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. In addition to the stated academic requirements, the applicant must have completed, subsequent to obtaining the BSW degree, at least two years employment in professional social work practice or in a comparable human service discipline or activity, as of the January 15 application deadline. Admission to the MSW program is limited, selective, and competitive. Meeting the minimum criteria for admission does not guarantee acceptance to the program.

Applicants wishing to be considered for admission to the MSW program must complete an online application to the School of Graduate Studies at Memorial University, as well as a Supplementary Information Form. Please note, in addition to the application, candidates are required to submit the Supplementary Information Form which can be found here: www.mun.ca/become/graduate/apply-to-memorial/additional-forms.

If you are applying from outside of Canada, please see the IRCC website for information about study permits. 

The next application deadline date for the MSW Program is January 15, 2025, with classes beginning in September 2025. All supporting documents for the application should be received and program admission requirements completed by the application deadline date of January 15, 2025.

Incomplete files will not be reviewed.

Tips for applying:

Application form: Please ensure all questions are answered on the online application. The online application and all supporting documents must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies gradapply@mun.ca (not to the School of Social Work) on or before January 15. For more information on the application process, please visit www.mun.ca/become/graduate/.

Statement of Interest: The School of Graduate Studies online application requires a Statement of Interest indicating your reasons for wanting to enter the School of Graduate Studies at this University and stating your research interests and objectives. Please upload this statement in PDF format.

The Statement of Interest is an opportunity to discuss why you are interested in completing an MSW at this time at Memorial University, what you bring to the MSW program, and what you hope to take from the program. You may wish to comment on your social work practice and learning opportunities/professional development since completing your BSW. If you have identified as Indigenous or as a member of an equity seeking group, you might describe how this has shaped the unique circumstances for which you require equity consideration in the admission process. Keep in mind that you are shaping an impression of who you are. Be sure to “paint” an informative picture.

Finally, if you are interested in the course route, please discuss your practice focus interest. If you are interested in the thesis route, please discuss your proposed topic for research.

Resume: Please upload your resume in the online application in PDF format.

Your resume should include work experience, educational background, field internships, research projects, professional development, volunteer experience, certifications, awards, affiliations, publications, and other information you consider relevant. In the section pertaining to paid employment history, please include for each position: Title(s) of Position, Date of Employment, Type of Employment (full-time, part-time, and number of hours per week), Agency/Organization, Description of Professional Duties, and Total Number of Years/Months worked.

Please keep in mind that your resume tells the Admissions Committee members who you are. Ensure it conveys the impression you wish to make.

Letters of Appraisal: As part of the online application, the School of Graduate Studies will email appraisal forms directly to the referee after an application is submitted and processed. 

Applicants must provide two letters of appraisal. One referee must assess the applicant's previous academic performance and one must assess the applicant's professional social work practice performance.

Letters of appraisal are submitted directly to the School of Graduate Studies via email by the referees.

It is strongly recommended that applicants ask referees, particularly those assessing professional social work practice performance, to include in their letter of reference an assessment of the applicant’s suitability to undertake graduate education. This should include ability, motivation, strengths, areas needing improvement, ability to cope with stress, ability to work collegially and to communicate effectively, reflecting values as relevant to the profession, as well as, any additional comments.

As with your resume and personal statement, referees help give the Admissions Committee a picture of your background and the quality of your experience. You need to keep this in mind as you choose your referees.