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MSW FAQs

1.  Do I need a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree for admission to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at King's?

Yes, a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree is an entrance requirement for the MSW program at King's.

If you do not have a BSW degree, there are several Schools of Social Work in Canada that offer MSW programs for applicants without a BSW degree.  Please go to www.caswe-acfts.ca and select "schools" then "universities" to see a list of all social work programs in Canada, entrance requirements and contact information.

2.  What are the other academic requirements for admission to the MSW program at King's?

In addition to a BSW degree, applicants must meet each of the following academic requirements:

• an overall average of 75% in the social work courses completed in the professional social work program
• the successful completion of one full-course equivalent in Research Methodology and Statistics; that is, a half course in Research Methodology and a half course in Statistics, or one full course which includes both.  There is no specific minimum mark requirement.
• In accordance with the requirements of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (UWO), "at least a 70% average in academic courses, as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, taken in the last two full-time years of the undergraduate degree." (Section 2, Admission Requirements, SGPS Calendar)

To see the Academic AND Non-Academic Requirements for admission to the MSW program at King's, click here.

3. What are the application and admission requirements if I am an International applicant?

International applicants must adhere to the academic and non-academic admission requirements listed here. >International students and applicants who obtained the Bachelor of Social Work degree from a country other than Canada must provide the School of Social Work with their BSW course outlines in English to determine equivalency. Documents must be forwarded to the MSW Practicum and Program Liaison in the School of Social Work at King’s University College by December 1.

• “Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language by a satisfactory achievement within the last two years in one of the following:

Applicants who are required to present proof of proficiency in English must make their own arrangements to write the TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, or CAEL and to have the official results sent directly to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at The University of Western Ontario by the testing agency. Other formal evidence of graduate level proficiency in English (as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies) may be considered in lieu of these test scores.” (Section 2.01, SGPS Calendar)

Additional information on the academic and non-academic admission requirements, including the required scores for English proficiency, is available in our online brochure. 

4. How do I apply for admission to the MSW program at King’s?

5. What is the deadline to apply for admission to the MSW program?

Please apply by December 1 for first-round consideration.  Applications submitted after December 1st may be considered for admission only if space is available.

UPDATE: The application submission deadline for 2nd Round admission consideration is MARCH 16, 2012.

6.   When does the program start?

7. How is the MSW program at King’s structured?

The MSW program at King’s is offered both Full-Time and Part-Time. Students complete a 500 hour Practicum and research paper. There is no thesis component to the MSW program.

The part-time component of the MSW program is structured to deliver graduate courses in a manner that is least disruptive to a student’s current employment. Courses are offered in the Fall, Winter, and Summer terms, and are sequenced. Social Work classes are scheduled in ways that should permit students to maintain full-time employment while studying for the degree. For example, Fall and Winter courses are typically offered one night a week from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., and Summer courses are typically offered one night a week for four hours. The practicum component is completed over the final 2 terms, three days per week from January to June. Block placements (5 days per week from January to April) may be arranged depending on community resources. Students complete the degree requirements in three calendar years and graduate at Fall Convocation of the year in which the program requirements are completed.

Information about program structure and courses is available on our MSW Courses page and in the online MSW Program Brochure.

8. Is the MSW program offered by Distance Education?

9.   What funding is available for students in the MSW program?

10. Who can I call if I am experiencing problems with my application?