Master of Social Work in Canada at UFV Canada

Program Overview for Master of Social Work in Canada:

UFV's two-year Advanced Master of Social Work (MSW) provides you with the knowledge and advanced practical skills you need to become a leader. The advanced MSW program involves five semesters, 30 credits and includes the required 450 hours of practice. Advanced MSW is planned to be provided every two years in even-numbered years. 

Graduates who do not have a Bachelor of Social Work can apply for our Master of Social Work Fundamentals. UFV's three-year Master of Social Work (MSW) involves a one-year undergraduate social work course, three semesters, 33 credits, and 450 hours of compulsory courses. 

Students will then enter the MSW program, which provides the advanced practical knowledge and skills you need to become a leader. The MSW portion of the program includes five semesters, 30 credits, and 450 hours of required practice. 

Please note: Internships (basic and advanced) in these projects are not open to PLAR or challenges. 

UFV’s Master of Social Work program builds on the success of the UFV’s Bachelor of Social Work program and draws on the professional knowledge of the school’s diverse and experienced faculty. Establishing strong relationships and consultation with community agencies in the Fraser Valley and Lower Continent has strengthened MSW delivery, especially internship and supervision arrangements. 

The CASWE-ACFTS accredits this program.

Goals of the program:

The program's goals include respect for indigenous self-determination and a commitment to cooperate with local indigenous communities. Similarly, the Master of Social Work encourages you to integrate anti-oppression and intercultural social work principles into your practice framework. 

The plan is also developed through practices and partnerships that respect ethnic, cultural diversity, research and collaborative community work, and social work education. 

These goals are consistent with the principles of inclusion and social justice and the mandates of the UFV, the College of Social Workers of British Columbia, and the Canadian Association for Social Work Education.

Career Expectations:

British Columbia's Labor Market Outlook 2025 identifies social work as a high-opportunity occupation with an excellent projected employment rate. After registering, social workers who have completed a master's degree will find more opportunities to enter leadership roles in this field. They may act as administrators, teachers, case managers, or program developers in human services.

They may also conduct research or work in the field of policymaking in society or government agencies. In fact, many graduates of the Master of Social Work program do exactly this and now hold leadership positions, private practice, or teaching positions in local and surrounding communities.

The eligibility for Master of Social Work in Canada for both domestic and international student is:

Option 1: Advanced (BSW) graduates

Note: The program is offered every two years. Please see the Social Work and Human Services website for the next intake date.

1. Bachelor of Social Work degree from a program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education — Association Canadienne pour la Formation en Travail Social with a minimum GPA of 3.00. GPA will be calculated on the most recently completed 30 credits (or equivalent) of upper-level university courses
2. Two years of volunteer work or paid employment (3,000 hours) in social services, social work, or a closely related field.
3. Applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and nature of social work and alignment with professional social work codes of ethics.
4. An interview with the MSW committee may be required.

Option 2: Foundational (Non-BSW) graduates

Note: For inquiries, email mswinfo@ufv.ca.

Upon admission to the MSW program, students will be required to take undergraduate courses as outlined in the Program outline section below to fulfill the qualifying requirements of the program.

1. Completing a three- or four-year Bachelor’s degree in an allied program (for example, Child and Youth Care, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, Education) from a recognized institution, with a minimum GPA of 3.00. GPA will be calculated on the most recently completed 30 credits (or equivalent) of upper-level university courses.
2. Two years of volunteer work or paid employment (3,000 hours) in social services or a closely related field.
3. Applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and nature of social work and their alignment with professional social work codes of ethics.
4. An interview with the MSW committee may be required.

How to apply

Applications must include the following items. Otherwise, they will be deemed incomplete and not considered for admission. Visit ufv.ca/swhs to find the forms needed.

1. UFV application for MSW Graduate Studies (including the application fee).
2. Official transcripts (or interim transcripts) from all post-secondary institutions attended showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements, including courses in progress. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see Official Transcript Guidelines for details.
3. Detailed personal résumé is organized chronologically, starting with most recent, including position title, name of the immediate supervisor, start and end dates, and whether the experience was full- or part-time. Please include research experience, publication lists, related interests, skills, etc.
4. Work hours summary sheet, clearly listing and totaling the number of hours worked in all relevant human/social service-related positions (paid and volunteer). This will determine applicant eligibility under the required 3,000 hours of related work experience.
5. Three professional letters of reference, including at least one from an academic referee, addressing the applicant's recent academic experience, and at least one from a supervisor, addressing the demonstrated skills and abilities in the applicant's recent related work experience. The third reference can be from an academic or professional referee. These letters must be on the official reference forms for the MSW available at ufv.ca/swhs/how-to-apply.
6. A personal statement (for more details, see the Additional documents section of this link), typed and doubled spaced, no more than 500 words per question.

These are the test eligibilities for the Master of Social Work to qualify.

The international student tuition fees and costs for Master of Social Work in Canada.

Questions can be sent to: