Master of Social Work (MSW) — Memorial University of Newfoundland

SpaceCat Fit Notes

1. CASPer: Not required. Moot – SpaceCat is not eligible for this program.

2. GPA window & upgrading strategy: GPA is calculated on the last 60 undergraduate credit hours (70% minimum). Moot – SpaceCat does not hold a BSW and cannot meet the prior degree requirement regardless of GPA.

3. Experiential / written advantage: The Statement of Interest and resume/CV would normally allow SpaceCat to highlight shelter work, and Memorial notes that “extensive relevant experience prior to the completion of the BSW may be recognized” toward the 2-year post-BSW experience requirement. However, these components are moot without BSW eligibility.

4. Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - No published residency-based admission quotas or preferences for the MSW program. The admissions materials do not mention provincial residency as a factor in admission decisions

5. Overall assessment: Not viable — Memorial’s MSW explicitly requires a Bachelor of Social Work (or equivalent professional undergraduate social work degree). There is no non-BSW entry stream, no foundation year, and no alternative pathway. SpaceCat would need to first complete a BSW (2+ years) and then accumulate two years of post-BSW professional experience – a minimum 4-year pathway before MSW studies could begin. Do not pursue.

Quick Facts

• Institution: Memorial University of Newfoundland, School of Social Work
• Program name: Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Degree granted: MSW
• City, Province: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Program type: Post-BSW MSW (BSW required; no non-BSW entry stream exists)
• Duration: Full-time: 1 academic year (3 consecutive semesters, September to August). Part-time: 2 years (6 semesters) or 3 years (9 semesters). Thesis-route students may require additional semesters. Source
• Delivery format: Primarily online with mandatory in-person institutes
• Full-time / Part-time: Both options available. Program is delivered primarily online, but students must attend mandatory on-campus institutes in St. John’s for three courses (course route) or two courses (thesis route). Each institute consists of 6-8 days of intensive classroom instruction. Source
• Language of instruction: English
• Start date(s): September only
• Application deadline(s): November 1, 2026 (for September 2027 entry). All supporting documents must be received by this date; incomplete files will not be reviewed. Source
• Application system: Memorial University School of Graduate Studies online application portal
• Supplementary application portal: Documents submitted through the Graduate Studies application; referees submit letters directly
• Program URL: https://www.mun.ca/socialwork/programs/master-of-social-work-msw/
• Intake frequency: Annual
• Accredited: Yes — CASWE-ACFTS accredited. First accredited by CASSW in 1988. Source

Admission Requirements

GPA

• Minimum GPA: Second class standing with an average of at least 70% in the last 60 undergraduate credit hours. Source
• Competitive GPA (if known): Not published. Admission is described as “limited, selective, and competitive.” Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance. No data on average admitted GPA is publicly available.
• GPA calculated on: Last 60 undergraduate credit hours
• Number of credits in GPA window: 60 credit hours
• GPA scale used: Percentage (70% minimum). Memorial uses a percentage-based system for graduate admissions.

Prerequisites

A BSW degree is the prerequisite. No additional prerequisite courses (e.g., statistics, research methods) are listed beyond what would be included in a BSW program. Source

Prior Degree Requirement

• Minimum credits / degree required: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree or “equivalent professional undergraduate degree in social work.” Source
• Completed degree required? Yes
• Degree field restrictions: The program explicitly requires a BSW or equivalent professional social work undergraduate degree. A BA or other non-social-work degree does not qualify. There is no “non-BSW entry” or “foundation year” stream.

Work Experience Requirement

• Minimum: Two years of post-BSW employment in professional social work practice (or comparable human service discipline/activity) as of the November 1 deadline. Source
• Pre-BSW experience recognition: “Extensive relevant experience prior to the completion of the BSW may be recognized in full or partial fulfillment of this requirement.” Applicants should indicate relevant pre-BSW employment they wish considered. Source
• Exclusions: Field internships and volunteer work do not count toward the two-year requirement.

Supplementary Requirements

• CASPer: Not required
• GRE: Not required
• Interview: Not mentioned in admissions materials
• Resume / CV: Required (PDF). Must include work history with job titles, dates, employment type (full-time/part-time), hours per week, agency name, duties, and total years/months worked. Source
• References: Two letters of appraisal required. One must assess academic performance; the other must assess professional social work practice performance. Referees submit letters directly. Source
• Language proficiency: Standard Memorial University requirements for non-native English speakers. Not applicable to SpaceCat.
• Educational Equity Form: Optional MSW Educational Equity Form available for applicants from equity-deserving groups (must submit by November 1). Source

Written / Personal Components

Source

How Applications Are Evaluated

Admission is described as “limited, selective, and competitive.” No published weighting formula or specific evaluation criteria breakdown is available. The application components reviewed include academic standing, work experience, statement of interest, resume, and letters of appraisal. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Source

Out-of-Province Considerations

• Residency restrictions or quotas for MSW: No published residency-based admission quotas or preferences for the MSW program. The admissions materials do not mention provincial residency as a factor in admission decisions. Source
• NL residency tuition preference: Yes – Memorial University has a three-tier tuition structure for graduate programs. Newfoundland and Labrador residents pay the lowest rate, followed by other Canadian students, followed by international students. However, the difference for the MSW program between NL residents and other Canadian students appears to be minimal or identical ($2,000/semester for full-time in both categories based on available data). Source, Source
• Residency definition: Not detailed in MSW-specific materials. Generally determined by provincial residency at the time of application.

Cost

• Tuition structure: Charged per semester on a program-fee basis (not per credit hour). The MSW is classified as a Master’s Course Based Program. Source
• Full-time track (6-semester payment plan, even if completed in 3 semesters):
• NL residents: $2,000/semester x 6 = $12,000 total program
• Other Canadian students: $2,000/semester x 6 = $12,000 total program
• International students: $2,600/semester x 6 = $15,600 total program
• Part-time track (9-semester payment plan):
• NL residents: $1,334/semester x 9 = $12,006 total program
• Other Canadian students: $1,334/semester x 9 = $12,006 total program
• International students: $1,734/semester x 9 = $15,606 total program
• Ancillary fees: Additional fees apply for student union, recreation, student services, campus renewal, health insurance, and dental insurance. Specific amounts not detailed on the MSW pages. Distance education may carry additional administrative fees.
• Continuance fee: If program extends beyond payment plan duration, 8.15% of total program fee per additional semester.
• Practicum funding: MSW students completing unpaid practicum may apply for $2,000 in support. Source
• Estimated total cost for Canadian student (SpaceCat): ~$12,000 CAD plus ancillary fees. This is among the lowest MSW tuition rates in Canada.
• Application fee: Standard Memorial School of Graduate Studies application fee (amount not confirmed on MSW pages).
• Financial aid notes:
• OSAP may be available for Ontario residents studying out of province – SpaceCat should confirm eligibility.
• External awards (SSHRC, provincial scholarships) may be available.
• Memorial generally offers among the lowest tuition in Canada for graduate programs.

Competitiveness

• Cohort size: Not published.
• Acceptance rate: Not published. Admission is described as “limited, selective, and competitive.”
• Number of applicants: Not published.
• Decision timeline: Not specified on available pages.

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

• Total required hours: 500 hours (SCWK 6917 Field Practicum). Source
• Placement format: Can be completed full-time over one semester or part-time over two consecutive semesters.
• Location flexibility: “The field internship can be completed in the area where you reside, if appropriate supervision is available.” This means students do not need to be in St. John’s for the practicum component. Source
• Placements guaranteed? Not explicitly stated.

Program Structure

Course Route (7 courses + practicum + Pathway)

Course route students must complete all three institutes (SCWK 6313, 6314, 6315).

Thesis Route (6 courses + practicum + Pathway + thesis)

Thesis route students complete two of the three institute courses (SCWK 6313 and either 6314 or 6315) plus an original research thesis.

Source, Source

Program Distinctive Features

• Primarily online delivery: The MSW is delivered online with mandatory on-campus institute components in St. John’s (6-8 days each, three times for course route, twice for thesis route). This is one of the most flexible MSW delivery formats in Canada.
• PATHWAY mentorship model: A distinctive feature unique to Memorial’s MSW. Students work closely with faculty members on individualized, concentrated scholarly work in a specialized practice area. This is described as a feature unique to MSW programs in Canada. Source
• Leadership focus: The 2011 curriculum redesign emphasizes “creative approaches to critical thinking for leadership in diverse social work practices,” with themes of social justice, diversity, anti-oppressive practice, community development, and social policy.
• Very low tuition: At ~$12,000 total program cost for Canadian students, this is among the most affordable MSW programs in the country.
• Practicum location flexibility: The 500-hour practicum can be completed where the student lives, provided supervision is available.

Licensing & Career Path

• Licensing: Graduates register with the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers (NLCSW) if practising in NL. In Ontario, graduates register with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) as a Registered Social Worker (RSW). A CASWE-accredited MSW is the standard credential for registration.
• Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes – a CASWE-accredited MSW is recognized across Canada, with each province having its own regulatory body and registration process.
• Any known issues with credential recognition? None. Memorial’s MSW has been CASWE-accredited since 1988.

Information Not Found

The following items could not be confirmed from public sources and should be verified directly with the program:

1. Whether any exceptions are ever made for non-BSW applicants – the published requirements are clear (BSW required), but it may be worth a direct inquiry to confirm there is absolutely no alternative pathway.
2. Exact ancillary fee amounts for the MSW program.
3. Cohort size and acceptance rate – neither is published.
4. Application fee amount – not confirmed on MSW-specific pages.
5. Decision timeline – when applicants are notified of admission decisions.
6. Whether the “equivalent professional undergraduate degree in social work” language could encompass any non-BSW credential – this likely refers to international social work degrees, but worth confirming.

Contact: gradsocialwork@mun.ca | School of Social Work, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL

Sources

Official program pages

• MSW program overview: https://www.mun.ca/socialwork/programs/master-of-social-work-msw/
• Prospective students / admission requirements: https://www.mun.ca/socialwork/programs/master-of-social-work-msw/prospective-students/
• FAQ: https://www.mun.ca/socialwork/programs/master-of-social-work-msw/prospective-students/frequently-asked-questions/
• Program of study: https://www.mun.ca/socialwork/programs/master-of-social-work-msw/current-students/program-of-study/
• MSW course descriptions: https://www.mun.ca/socialwork/programs/master-of-social-work-msw/current-students/msw-course-descriptions/
• Graduate programs — Social Work: https://www.mun.ca/become/graduate/programs-and-courses/social-work/

Official fee/tuition pages

• Graduate tuition and fees (Finance office): https://www.mun.ca/finance/graduate-student-tuition-and-fees/
• Graduate tuition and fees (Become a Student): https://www.mun.ca/become/graduate/tuition-fees-and-funding/