Study Masters in Social Work in Canada: Top Universities, Fees, Ranking, Eligibility, Admission Process, Scholarships, Placements

Looking to pursue social work masters programs in Canada? Learn everything you need to know about studying masters in social work in Canada through this article.

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Masters in Social Work in Canada (MSW) is a 1-2 year program for those interested in gaining an advanced understanding of the field of social work. It is an academic discipline that integrates theories from a wide range of fields, including medicine, economics, sociology, politics, philosophy, etc.

The key components of the program include coursework, field placement training, and research opportunities that allow students to acquire comprehensive knowledge about theoretical frameworks and empirical concepts in social work.

Canada boasts world-renowned universities offering masters programs in social work. Tabulated below are the best universities for masters in social work in Canada, along with their QS Rankings 2022.

University	World University Rankings 2022	National Rankings 2022
University of Toronto	#26	#1
McGill University	#27	#2
University of British Columbia	#46	#3
McMaster University	#140	#6
University of Waterloo	#149	#7
Western University	#170	#8
University of Calgary	#235	#10
Dalhousie University	#272	#12

The eligibility criteria for master's degree in social work in Canada differs from one institution to another. However, we have compiled a list of the eligibility requirements that is common across Canadian universities for master’s programs in social work:

Students must hold a bachelor’s degree in social work or a 4-year bachelor’s degree in any other field.
Applicants must meet the institute-specific GPA requirements for the undergraduate degree.
Few universities require candidates to have at least two years of work experience (full-time paid/volunteer work) in the area of human services.
Overseas students need to prove that they are proficient in the English language. Therefore, they must provide ELP test results of TOEFL or IELTS.

University-Specific Admission Requirements

Let us take a look at the university-specific requirements for admission into social work masters programs in Canada:

University	GPA	CV/Resume	LORs/References	SOPs	IELTS	TOEFL
University of British Columbia	-	Required	2	Required	93 iBT	6.5
McGill University	3.2/4.0	Required	3	Required	96 iBT	8.0
Western University	70%	Required	2-3	Recommended	100 iBT/600 PBT/ 250 CBT	7.0
University of Waterloo	75%	Required	3	Required	90 iBT	7.0
University of Calgary	3.0/4.0	Required	2	Required	97 iBT	7.0

The overall cost of pursuing masters in social work in Canada includes pre-arrival expenses, tuition fees, and living expenses. Here is a brief explanation of each of these costs.

Pre-Arrival Costs

Overseas students need to incur certain one-time costs before commencing their studies in Canada. Tabulated below are the various types of pre-arrival expenses:

Type of Expense	Cost (in USD)
Application Fee	70-120
Canada Study Permit	150
TOEFL Fee	160-250
IELTS Fee	185-190
Health Insurance	10,000
Biometric Fee	85

Tuition Fees

International students must refer to the table below to get an overview of the tuition fees charged by top Canadian universities for masters in social work in Canada:

University	Annual Tuition Fees (in USD)
University of Toronto	23,415
McGill University	13,583
University of British Columbia	18,751
Western University	9,123
University of Calgary	10,903
Dalhousie University	11,169

Cost of Living in Canada

Other than paying for the tuition fees, international students must have sufficient funds in order to stay in Canada for the duration of their studies. The average cost of living in Canada for overseas students comes up to CAD 10,000. Tabulated below are the estimated costs of different living expenses in Canada:

Type of Expense	Annual Costs (in USD)
Housing	190-570 (INR 15,165-45,496)
Food (Per Meal)	8-20 (INR 638-1,596)
Books and Supplies	230 (INR 18,358)
Transportation	70 (INR 5,587)
Other Expenses	55-115 (INR 4,390-9,179)

Canada offers immense opportunities for students looking to build a career in the social work field. As per the Canadian government, students who work as social workers typically earn between 19.20 CAD/ hour and 46.15 CAD/ hour. They are hired in different sectors of the economy, like welfare organizations, hospitals, social service agencies, school boards, correctional facilities, and the private sector.

Moreover, due to the shortage of social workers in the country, there is a high demand for this occupation. In Canadian cities and provinces like Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, the demand for social workers is currently skyrocketing.

Several scholarships and bursaries are available for students planning to pursue master's degrees in social work in Canada. Here we have discussed some of the most prominent MSW scholarships in Canada:

Joan Cummings Memorial Award
Lawrence T.Hancock Scholarship
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Joan Cummings Memorial Award

This award is given by Dalhousie University to students with disabilities who have been admitted to the bachelor’s or master’s degree program in social work. Applicants are required to provide evidence of disability by submitting supporting documents.

Lawrence T. Hancock Scholarship

Lawrence T. Hancock Scholarship is annually awarded by Dalhousie University to students who are enrolled in the MSW program and have exceptional academic records. Further, they must demonstrate qualities of leadership and service in order to be considered for the scholarship.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program provides financial support to meritorious students. Candidates are evaluated on three main parameters: academic excellence, leadership, and research potential. Under this program, students are awarded 50,000 CAD per year for a period of three years.

As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is expected that the overall employment of social workers across the globe will grow by 15% from 2016 to 2026. This indicates a faster job growth in comparison to most other occupations. Moreover, the demand for healthcare and social services has driven the growth in the employment of social workers. Shown below are the major job profiles and salaries available in this field:

Job Profile	Average Salary (USD)
Public Policy Social Worker	54,881
Social Science Researcher	63,561
Health Clinical Coordinator	55,619
Counselor	46,990

After completing masters in social work in Canada, students can also build their career through several opportunities like youth workers, advice workers, volunteers, policy analysts, probation officers, etc. Moreover, students can promote the quality of life by focusing on building policies against social injustice, poverty, harassment, unemployment, abuse, and violation of human rights.