Master of Social Work (MSW) — University of the Fraser Valley (UFV)

⚠️ Program status: Active. Foundational stream (for non-BSW applicants) runs every 2 years in odd years. Next Foundational intake: Fall 2027 (applications open October 1, 2026). (Source)

SpaceCat Fit Notes

1. CASPer: Not required. Interview “may be required” but not guaranteed. details

2. GPA window & upgrading: Full cumulative undergraduate record — hardest window to shift. Min 3.00/4.33. New courses dilute across entire transcript. Details

3. Experiential / written advantage: 3,000 hrs required (paid + volunteer accepted). Personal Statement (400-500 words/question). 3 references (1 academic, 1 supervisory, 1 additional). Equity declaration included. Details

4. Out-of-province: No quotas, no tuition differential. Details

5. Overall assessment: Moderate fit — 3,000-hr requirement (volunteer accepted) favors SpaceCat. Main barriers: cumulative GPA window, biennial intake (apply by Dec 1, 2026 or wait until 2029), “related field” degree requirement, 2 prereqs. Based in Abbotsford, BC.

Quick Facts

• Institution: University of the Fraser Valley (UFV)
• Program name: Master of Social Work (MSW) — Foundational Stream
• Degree granted: MSW
• City, Province: Abbotsford, BC
• Program type: Foundational (3-year program for non-BSW applicants); Advanced (2-year/5-semester for BSW holders)
• Duration: ~3 years for Foundational stream (1 year qualifying undergraduate SW courses + 5 semesters graduate MSW). Note: the program is described as part-time with a 7-year maximum completion window. (Source)
• Delivery format: Hybrid (online + evening/weekend classes)
• Full-time / Part-time: Part-time structure (5 semesters for the MSW component). Foundational year qualifying courses are full-time (5 courses per semester over 3 semesters). (Source)
• Language of instruction: English
• Start date(s): Fall (September) — Foundational stream in odd years only (2027, 2029, etc.); Advanced stream in even years (2026, 2028, etc.) (Source)
• Application deadline(s): December 1 for Fall admission. Applications open October 1. For the next Foundational intake (Fall 2027), applications open October 1, 2026. (Source; Source)
• Application system: Direct to UFV (apply via Office of the Registrar + submit additional documents to admissions@ufv.ca) (Source)
• Application code: Not specified
• Supplementary application portal: Additional documents submitted electronically to admissions@ufv.ca (Source)
• Program URL: https://www.ufv.ca/swhs/programs/master-of-social-work/
• Intake frequency: Biennial (Foundational stream in odd years; Advanced stream in even years)
• Accredited: Yes — CASWE-ACFTS nationally accredited. Graduates meet requirements to register with BC College of Social Workers (RSW). (Source)

Admission Requirements

GPA

• Minimum GPA: 3.00 cumulative GPA for Foundational stream.

“Completion of a bachelor’s degree in a related field from a recognized post-secondary institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.”

(Source) - Competitive GPA (if known): Not published.

“Admission to the MSW is on a competitive basis. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission”

(Source) - GPA calculated on: Cumulative GPA for Foundational stream (all undergraduate coursework). Note: the Advanced stream uses “final 60 credits of BSW degree” — but that applies only to BSW holders. (Source) - Number of credits in GPA window: Entire undergraduate degree (cumulative). This is a large window and harder to shift with new courses — SpaceCat’s full Dalhousie transcript would be in play. - GPA scale used: 4.33 scale (UFV uses A+ = 4.33). (Source)

Prerequisites

Confirmed online providers accepted: Not stated. The calendar says “or an equivalent course from another institution” for statistics — suggesting external courses are accepted, but no specific providers are named.

Prereq source URL: https://www.ufv.ca/calendar/current/GraduateStudies/MSW.htm

Prior Degree Requirement

• Minimum credits / degree required: Completed bachelor’s degree in a related field (Source)
• Completed degree required? Yes — must have graduated
• Degree field restrictions: “Related field” — no specific examples of qualifying fields were found on the calendar page or program page. A general BA may qualify depending on major/content; SpaceCat should confirm directly with the program. (Source)

CASPer

Not required

Supplementary Requirements

• GRE: Not required
• Interview: “An interview with the MSW committee may be required” — not guaranteed for all applicants (Source)
• Resume / CV: Required — “Detailed résumé organized chronologically, starting with most recent experience” (Source)
• References: 3 professional references on official MSW forms: 1 academic, 1 supervisory, 1 additional (supervisory or academic). Forms available at ufv.ca/swhs/how-to-apply/. (Source)
• Volunteer / work experience: Required — 3,000 hours of paid and/or voluntary work experience in social services or a related field for Foundational stream. Note: the Advanced stream requires 3,000 hours of paid employment only — the Foundational stream explicitly accepts voluntary hours. An experience hours summary sheet must be submitted.

“A combination of 3,000 paid and/or voluntary work experience in social services or a related field.”

(Source) - Language proficiency: English language proficiency required (degree/diploma level). (Source) - Criminal record check: Required for practicum eligibility. “Criminal record check clearance letter issued by the Criminal Records Review Program.” (Source) - Educational equity declaration: Required as part of application. (Source) - Other: Immunization records may be required by placement agencies; students cover Health Authority orientation costs. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions required. (Source)

Written / Personal Components

How Applications Are Evaluated

Not published in detail. “Admission to the MSW is on a competitive basis.” The educational equity declaration suggests some equity-based consideration. No weighting formula is disclosed. (Source)

Out-of-Province Considerations

• Residency restrictions or quotas: None found. No mention of provincial residency requirements or quotas on program or calendar pages. (Source)
• Residency definition (if applicable): N/A — no residency-based restrictions found.
• Out-of-province tuition differential: No differential. UFV’s domestic graduate tuition is a single rate ($593.79/credit) with no provincial distinction. BC public universities do not charge out-of-province differentials for domestic students at the graduate level. (Source; Source)
• Equity / priority seats: Educational equity declaration is part of the application, suggesting some equity consideration. UFV also offers a separate Indigenous Focus MSW stream. (Source)

Cost

• Tuition (total program, approximate):
• Foundational stream total: Qualifying year (~33 credits) + MSW component (~30 credits) = ~63 credits × $593.79/credit = ~$37,409 tuition (over ~3 years)
• Note: Qualifying year courses are undergraduate-level (300/400) and may have a different per-credit rate. The $593.79 rate is for 700-level graduate courses. Undergraduate rates would be lower.
• Advanced stream only: 30 credits × $593.79 = ~$17,814
• In-province vs out-of-province: No differential for domestic Canadian students. (Source)
• Additional fees: Ancillary fee ($16.66/credit) + Experiential Learning & Wellness fee ($3.33/credit) = $20/credit extra. Semester-based fees include Health & Dental, student union fees, BC transit pass. (Source)
• Application fee: Not specified on the pages reviewed. Check with admissions@ufv.ca.
• Financial aid notes: Listed as financial aid eligible. Ontario Learn and Stay Grant would not apply (BC institution). Standard federal and BC student aid may be available.

Competitiveness

• Cohort size: Not published. Contact mswinfo@ufv.ca. (Searched but not found)
• Acceptance rate (if known): Not published.
• Number of applicants (if known): Not published.

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

• Placements guaranteed? Not stated explicitly, but the calendar describes an application process: MSW Field Application Request submission, resume/cover letter, Field Education Coordinator interview. (Source)
• Total required hours:
• Foundational stream practicum: 450 hours — “takes place four days (28 hours) per week” over one or more semesters. (Source)
• Advanced/MSW component practicum: 450 hours — “takes place two days (14 hours) per week over two semesters.” (Source)
• Total for Foundational students: 900 hours (450 qualifying + 450 MSW)
• Placement settings / locations: “UFV’s partner community organizations” in the Fraser Valley region. (Source)
• Practicum eligibility requirements: Minimum 3.00 program GPA, prerequisites completed with B- or better, criminal record check clearance. (Source)
• Can placements be done out of province? Not stated.

Licensing & Career Path

• Licensing exam: No national licensing exam. Graduates register with relevant provincial college — BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW) for RSW designation in BC, or OCSWSSW if returning to Ontario. (Source)
• Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes — MSW from CASWE-accredited program is recognized nationally. Provincial registration requirements vary.
• Any known issues with credential recognition? None — CASWE accreditation ensures national portability.

Reputation & Notes

• UFV is a smaller, teaching-focused university in the Fraser Valley. The School of Social Work and Human Services has a community-oriented reputation.
• The MSW program emphasizes anti-oppressive and cross-cultural practice, supervision and leadership, social policy, and advanced assessment techniques. (Source)
• Elective specializations available in Health, Children and Families, or Mental Health. (Source)
• Capstone involves a major paper or project (SOWK 799, 3 credits) rather than a thesis. (Source)
• Transfer credits: Maximum 2 courses (25%) may transfer from other institutions. Practicum and major paper must be completed at UFV. At least 75% of courses must be taken at UFV. (Source)
• Abbotsford is in the Fraser Valley, ~75 km east of Vancouver. Lower cost of living than Vancouver but still in the Metro Vancouver commuter zone.
• The biennial intake for Foundational stream means limited opportunities — missing a cycle means a 2-year wait.
• UFV also offers an Indigenous Focus MSW as a separate stream. (Source)

Foundational Year Course Requirements

Qualifying courses (undergraduate level) that Foundational students complete in Year 1:

(Source)

Information Not Found

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

• Exact cohort size (Foundational stream specifically)
• Competitive GPA — what GPA realistically gets admitted
• Exact personal statement prompts — “400–500 words per question” is stated but the actual questions are only available when the application package opens (October 1, 2026)
• Application fee amount
• Whether a general BA (not in a listed “related field”) qualifies — the examples given are Child and Youth Care, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, Education
• Undergraduate per-credit rate for the qualifying year courses (may differ from the $593.79 graduate rate)
• Whether placements can be done outside Fraser Valley or out of province
• Exact GPA scale interpretation — how UFV converts grades from other institutions (Dalhousie uses a different scale)
• How the educational equity declaration factors into admission decisions

Contact: mswinfo@ufv.ca; 604-504-7441 ext. 4279; schoolofswhs@ufv.ca

Sources

Official program pages: - https://www.ufv.ca/swhs/programs/master-of-social-work/ - https://www.ufv.ca/calendar/current/GraduateStudies/MSW.htm - https://www.ufv.ca/swhs/how-to-apply/ - https://www.ufv.ca/programs/social-work-master/ - https://www.ufv.ca/swhs/programs/indigenous-focus-master/

Official fee/tuition pages: - https://www.ufv.ca/swhs/fees-and-costs-graduate/ - https://www.ufv.ca/admissions/fees-and-payments/tuition-and-fees/

Policy documents: - None referenced

Third-party / forum sources: - None found with UFV MSW-specific data