Master of Social Work (Maitrise en travail social) — University of Ottawa

Program status: Active. CASWE-ACFTS fully accredited. Application deadline for Fall 2026 entry is December 15, 2025 (likely passed).

SpaceCat Fit Notes

1. CASPer: Not required. SpaceCat cannot leverage her high CASPer score here — Ottawa does not use CASPer. No GRE or interview either.

2. GPA window & upgrading strategy: The GPA calculation window is not specified — the requirement states a “B average” (~70%) but does not clarify whether this is cumulative, last 60 credits, or another measure. This must be confirmed directly with the School. The ambiguity makes it impossible to assess how effectively new courses would shift SpaceCat’s effective GPA. (Moot given the French barrier.)

3. Experiential / written advantage: If French were not a barrier, this program would favor SpaceCat’s profile. Experience is valued qualitatively (no rigid hours threshold), and the projet de formation (training project) requires articulating a research direction connected to practicum goals — SpaceCat’s shelter work in housing/violence would provide strong material. The holistic evaluation considers professional suitability alongside GPA. Practicum equivalencies are available for prior supervised social work experience. However, all written components must be in French, and all instruction, practica, and thesis work are conducted entirely in French.

4. Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - No explicit out-of-province quotas. The program’s mission focuses on serving Ontario’s francophone community, which may implicitly favor Ontario-based francophones, but no formal restriction is published. - uOttawa is an Ontario institution, so SpaceCat as an Ontario resident would pay Ontario-res

5. Overall assessment: Not viable — The entire program is delivered in French. All lectures, seminars, practica, and thesis supervision are in French. SpaceCat would need fluency sufficient to follow graduate-level instruction, write a thesis, and conduct professional practica in French, plus pass the OLBI French proficiency test at “Low Advanced” (F7) level. This would likely require 1-2+ years of intensive French study before applying. Without fluent French, this program is inaccessible regardless of how well SpaceCat’s experiential profile fits.

CRITICAL: This is a FRENCH-LANGUAGE program. All courses, practica, thesis supervision, and seminars are conducted entirely in French. SpaceCat does not speak French fluently, making this program effectively inaccessible without significant French language preparation. See French Language Requirement section below.

Quick Facts

• Institution: University of Ottawa (Universite d’Ottawa), Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Social Work (Ecole de service social)
• Program name: Master of Social Work / Maitrise en travail social (M.T.S.)
• Degree granted: M.T.S. (Maitrise en travail social)
• City, Province: Ottawa, Ontario
• Program type: Professional master’s (second-entry); accepts non-BSW applicants with a BA in social sciences, health sciences, or equivalent
• Language of instruction: French only. “La langue du programme, y compris celle de la supervision des memoires et des stages, est le francais.” Source
• Duration: 2 years full-time (60 credits); must complete all requirements within 4 years. Source
• Delivery format: In-person
• Full-time / Part-time: Normally full-time; part-time available with maximum 6 credits per term. Source
• Start date(s): September (Fall term only)
• Application deadline(s): December 15 (application via OUAC); all required documents must be complete by January 15. Source
• Application system: OUAC (Ontario Universities’ Application Centre) for graduate studies. After submitting through OUAC, applicants receive a student number and upload supporting documents via uoZone/uoDoc portal. Source
• Application code: Not confirmed from public sources.
• Program URL: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-social-sciences/social-work/graduate/masters
• Catalogue URL: https://catalogue.uottawa.ca/en/graduate/master-social-work/
• Intake frequency: Annual
• Accredited: Yes — CASWE-ACFTS (Canadian Association for Social Work Education) fully accredited. “L’Ecole est membre de l’Association canadienne pour la formation en travail social (ACFTS) et son programme de M.T.S. est agree de plein droit.” Source
• Citizenship restriction: Not explicitly stated for MSW; general uOttawa graduate admissions are open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students.

Admission Requirements

GPA

• Minimum GPA: B average (approximately 70% on uOttawa’s scale, or 7.0/10 on their internal scale). “Avoir maintenu une moyenne d’au moins B.” Source
• Competitive GPA (if known): Not publicly disclosed. The program mentions admission scholarships for students with an average of 8.0 or higher on uOttawa’s scale, suggesting 8.0+ is considered strong. [Source — inferred from faculty scholarship info]
• GPA calculated on: Not explicitly stated for MSW. uOttawa graduate admissions generally calculate GPA based on the overall undergraduate degree. The catalogue states a B average is required but does not specify a GPA window (e.g., last 60 credits vs. cumulative). This should be confirmed with the School.
• Number of credits in GPA window: Not stated. This is a significant gap — SpaceCat would need to confirm whether taking additional courses post-degree could improve her calculated GPA.
• GPA scale used: uOttawa uses a 10-point scale internally (10 = A+, 9 = A, 8 = A-, 7 = B+, 6 = B, etc.) but the catalogue states a “B” minimum, which on a percentage scale is approximately 70-73%.

Prerequisites

Note: Unlike many MSW programs, uOttawa lists only one formal prerequisite course (research methods). The degree requirement and experience requirement serve as the other major gates.

Prereq source URL: https://catalogue.uottawa.ca/en/graduate/master-social-work/

Prior Degree Requirement

• Minimum: 4-year general bachelor’s degree OR specialized bachelor’s in social sciences, health sciences, or equivalent. “Detenir un baccalaureat general de 4 ans ou un baccalaureat specialise en sciences sociales, en sciences de la sante, ou l’equivalent.” Source
• Completed degree required? Yes — must hold a completed bachelor’s degree.
• Degree field restrictions: Social sciences, health sciences, or equivalent. A BA from Dalhousie would likely qualify as “social sciences or equivalent” depending on SpaceCat’s major. The program does not require a BSW specifically — this is explicitly a program that accepts non-BSW applicants.
• BSW holders: Those with a specialized BSW may receive course equivalencies (approximately first-year courses). BSW holders who achieved B+ or higher in similar graduate-level courses may receive up to 9 optional credits of equivalencies. Source

Experience Requirement

• Professional experience: Required. “Posseder une experience en service social ou en travail social ou connexe a la profession.” (Possess experience in social work/social services or a related profession.) Source
• Hours / duration specified: Not specified. The requirement is stated qualitatively, not quantitatively. No minimum number of hours or years is published.
• SpaceCat relevance: SpaceCat’s extensive shelter work experience would strongly satisfy this requirement. This is a qualitative assessment, not a checkbox.

Supplementary Requirements

• CASPer: Not required.
• GRE: Not required.
• Interview: Not mentioned in published materials.
• Resume / CV: Not explicitly listed, but likely part of the application package.
• References: Not specified in catalogue; typical for uOttawa graduate programs to require 2-3 references. Confirm with the School.
• Language proficiency: Must demonstrate ability to pursue graduate studies in French. “Demontrer son aptitude a poursuivre en francais des etudes superieures.” A language proficiency test may be required. Source
• Professional suitability: Must demonstrate suitability for professional studies. “Demontrer ses aptitudes aux etudes professionnelles.” Source

Written / Personal Components

Note: The projet de formation is a substantive written component that requires applicants to articulate a research direction and connect it to practicum goals. This is more than a generic personal statement — it requires familiarity with the program’s specializations and faculty research areas.

French Language Requirement

This is the single biggest barrier for SpaceCat.

The entire program is delivered in French — all courses, thesis supervision, practica, and seminars. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to pursue graduate-level studies in French.

• For anglophone applicants (SpaceCat’s situation): Must demonstrate French proficiency. The catalogue states a language proficiency test may be required. The OLBI (Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute) at uOttawa administers French proficiency tests for graduate programs. Source
• OLBI test details: The general graduate-level OLBI proficiency test requires a minimum score of “Low Advanced” (F7). The test includes listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and fill-in-the-blank components. Cost: $50. Duration: approximately 90 minutes. Source
• Practical requirement: Even if SpaceCat passed a proficiency test, she would need to follow graduate-level lectures, participate in seminar discussions, write a thesis, and conduct professional practica entirely in French for 2 years. This requires functional fluency well beyond test-passing ability.

Important for SpaceCat: As an anglophone from Ontario with a BA from Dalhousie (English), SpaceCat would need fluent French to succeed in this program. Unlike some bilingual programs where English is the primary language and French is supplementary, here French IS the language of instruction. This program is not viable without French fluency.

How Applications Are Evaluated

The evaluation process is not publicly described in detail. Based on published requirements, the assessment appears to be holistic, considering:

1. GPA (minimum B average)
2. Professional experience in social work or related field
3. Research methods coursework
4. French language proficiency
5. Projet de formation (training project / statement of intent)
6. Demonstrated aptitude for professional studies

There is no published formula or weighting system. The program has a “Statement of Proactive Policy on Admission” (Enonce de politique proactive en matiere d’admission) which guides admissions decisions, but its content is not publicly available. Source

Key implication for SpaceCat: The holistic evaluation and emphasis on professional experience (qualitative, not quantitative) would theoretically favor SpaceCat’s strong experiential background. The projet de formation is a written component where her shelter work narrative could shine. However, the French language requirement is an absolute barrier.

Out-of-Province Considerations

• Residency restrictions or quotas: No explicit out-of-province quotas. The program’s mission focuses on serving Ontario’s francophone community, which may implicitly favor Ontario-based francophones, but no formal restriction is published. Source
• Residency definition: Standard Ontario residency for tuition purposes (residing in Ontario).
• Out-of-province tuition differential: uOttawa is an Ontario institution, so SpaceCat as an Ontario resident would pay Ontario-resident tuition rates. There is no out-of-province differential within Ontario — the differential applies to Canadians residing outside Ontario. Source
• Equity / priority seats: The program has a “Statement of Proactive Policy on Admission” which may include equity provisions, but details are not publicly available. The program’s explicit focus on Franco-Ontarian communities suggests a commitment to francophone community development.

Cost

Tuition

• Fee structure: uOttawa charges a flat tuition fee per term for full-time graduate students (6+ credits). Part-time students pay per-credit fees. Source
• Estimated per-term tuition (Ontario resident, full-time master’s): Approximately $2,457/term based on 2022-2023 published estimates. Tuition for Ontario master’s students has been frozen or near-frozen in recent years. Source
• Estimated per-term total (including ancillary fees): Approximately $3,050-$3,080/term (tuition + U-Pass + health/dental insurance + sports + student association fees). Source
• Estimated annual total (3 terms): Approximately $9,200-$9,600/year for an Ontario resident. Source
• Estimated total program cost (2 years, tuition + ancillary): Approximately $18,400-$19,200 for an Ontario resident.
• Note: Fees for 2025-2026 are posted in late May each year. The figures above are based on 2022-2023 estimates and may have increased slightly. Confirm at the official fees page.

Financial Aid

• Graduate admission scholarships available for students with an average of 8.0/10 or higher on uOttawa’s scale. Source
• School-specific and faculty-wide scholarships available through uOttawa’s Online Scholarships Portal. Source
• Eligible for OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) as an Ontario institution.
• French-language program students may qualify for differential tuition fee exemptions (primarily relevant to international students). Source

Competitiveness

• Cohort size: Not publicly disclosed. The School of Social Work is relatively small within uOttawa’s Faculty of Social Sciences, and the French-only requirement limits the applicant pool significantly.
• Acceptance rate: Not publicly disclosed.
• Number of applicants: Not publicly disclosed. Likely modest given the French-only requirement — the pool of francophones with social work experience, a relevant bachelor’s degree, and interest in a research-oriented MSW is inherently limited.
• Competitive GPA: Not publicly disclosed. The B average (70%) minimum is the only published threshold.

Competitiveness assessment: The French language requirement dramatically narrows the applicant pool compared to English-language MSW programs. For a qualified francophone applicant, this program is likely less competitive than English-language Ontario MSW programs (Toronto, York, Carleton, etc.) which draw from much larger applicant pools. This is a meaningful advantage for any francophone applicant.

Program Structure

Year 1: 30 credits (21 mandatory + 9 elective)

Mandatory courses (21 credits): | Code | Course | Credits | |—|—|—| | TSO 5500 | Fondements theoriques du travail social (Theoretical Foundations) | 3 | | TSO 5510 | Analyse sociohistorique des politiques sociales (Sociohistorical Policy Analysis) | 3 | | TSO 5530 | Methodes d’intervention en travail social (Intervention Methods) | 3 | | TSO 5601 | Stage d’intervention en travail social (Intervention Practicum) | 6 | | TSO 5709 | Laboratoire preparatoire aux stages de maitrise (Practicum Preparation Lab) | 3 | | TSO 5710 | Seminaire d’integration theorie-pratique (Theory-Practice Integration Seminar) | 3 |

Elective courses (choose 9 credits from): - TSO 5501: Changement social et travail social (Social Change) - TSO 5502: Analyse des problemes sociaux (Social Problems Analysis) - TSO 5531: Intervention individuelle et familiale (Individual & Family Intervention) - TSO 5532: Intervention de groupe (Group Intervention) - TSO 5533: Intervention communautaire (Community Intervention) - TSO 5534: Intervention interculturelle (Intercultural Intervention) - TSO 5535: Intervention feministe (Feminist Intervention) - TSO 5536: Handicaps, capacitisme et travail social (Disabilities, Ableism & Social Work)

Source

Year 2: 30 credits (6 mandatory + 18 in specialization + 6 elective)

Mandatory courses (6 credits): | Code | Course | Credits | |—|—|—| | TSO 6530 | Seminaire d’integration recherche-intervention (Research-Intervention Integration) | 3 | | TSO 6515 | Preparation du memoire (Thesis Preparation) | 3 | | MRP 6999 | Memoire (Thesis) | — |

Specialization: Health Field (Champ Sante) — 18 credits: - TSO 6505: Methodologies pratique/recherche en sante (3 cr) - TSO 6715: Decolonisation, securisation culturelle et travail social avec les peuples autochtones (3 cr) - TSO 6601: Stage de recherche-intervention (Research-Intervention Practicum) (6 cr) - 6 credits of electives

Specialization: Family-Child Field (Champ Famille-Enfance) — 18 credits: - TSO 6507: Methodologies pratique/recherche famille-enfance (3 cr) - TSO 6715: Decolonisation, securisation culturelle et travail social avec les peuples autochtones (3 cr) - TSO 6601: Stage de recherche-intervention (Research-Intervention Practicum) (6 cr) - 6 credits of electives

Year 2 elective options include: - TSO 6501: Analyse de l’intervention sociale en sante (Social Intervention in Health) - TSO 6502: Politiques sociales en sante et famille-enfance (Health & Family-Child Policy) - TSO 6503: Sante mentale et societe (Mental Health & Society) - TSO 6504: Drogues, dependances et contexte social (Drugs, Dependencies & Social Context) - TSO 6701: Modeles de pratique contemporains famille-enfance (Contemporary Family-Child Practice) - TSO 6703: Gerontologie et travail social (Gerontology & Social Work) - TSO 6704: Enfance et jeunesse en difficulte (Children & Youth in Difficulty) - TSO 6705: Violence et intervention sociale (Violence & Social Intervention) - TSO 6706: Femmes, travail social et politique sociale (Women, Social Work & Social Policy) - TSO 6707: Etude avancee du travail social autochtone (Advanced Indigenous Social Work) - TSO 6708: Administration des services en sante et famille-enfance (Health & Family-Child Services Administration)

Source

Thesis Requirement

The program requires a memoire (thesis/major research paper) as the culmination of the master’s project. “Le memoire constitue l’aboutissement du projet de maitrise. Il vise a demontrer les capacites de recherche et d’intervention dans le champ d’etude choisi.” The thesis must be written in French. Source

Note: A “course pathway” option may exist for eligible students with prior intervention experience, but details are limited. This may reduce or modify the thesis requirement. Confirm with the School.

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

• Total practica: Two placements across the program.
• Year 1: TSO 5601 — Stage d’intervention en travail social (6 credits). Supervised social work intervention placement in capital region (Ottawa area) organizations. Source
• Year 2: TSO 6601 — Stage de recherche-intervention (6 credits). Research-intervention practicum in chosen specialization field (Health or Family-Child). Source
• Total required hours: Not explicitly stated in credits-to-hours conversion. Standard MSW practica in Canada range from 450-900 hours total.
• Placement settings: Ottawa-area social service organizations, health settings, family/child agencies. Placements are conducted in French given the program’s Franco-Ontarian mandate.
• Placements guaranteed? Not stated.
• Can placements be done out of province? Not stated, but unlikely given the Franco-Ontarian community focus.
• Practicum equivalencies: “Les personnes qui possedent une experience de travail social supervisee peuvent obtenir des equivalences du stage de premiere annee si les objectifs du stage sont clairement atteints par l’experience anterieure.” — Those with prior supervised social work experience may receive exemptions from the Year 1 practicum if objectives are clearly met. Source

SpaceCat relevance: SpaceCat’s shelter work experience could potentially earn an exemption from the Year 1 practicum — a significant advantage if the French barrier were overcome.

Licensing & Career Path

OCSWSSW Registration (Ontario)

• Regulatory body: Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Source
• Registration requirements: Graduates of a CASWE-accredited MSW program meet the academic requirements for registration as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in Ontario. Source
• Language requirement for OCSWSSW: Must be able to “speak and write either English or French with reasonable fluency.” SpaceCat as a native English speaker would satisfy this regardless. Source
• Upcoming licensing exam: As of 2021, OCSWSSW passed a motion to approve entry-to-practice exams for social workers. Implementation is anticipated for 2027. This would affect all MSW graduates seeking registration in Ontario, regardless of program. Source
• Vulnerable sector check: As of October 1, 2025, a vulnerable sector check is required for OCSWSSW registration. Source
• Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes — CASWE-accredited MSW is recognized across Canada for social work registration. Each province has its own regulatory body, but CASWE accreditation is the standard credential.

French-Language Degree and Career Implications

A French-language MSW from uOttawa would make the graduate particularly employable in: - Franco-Ontarian social service agencies - Federal government social work positions (bilingualism is an asset) - Bilingual health and social service settings in Ottawa/Eastern Ontario - Any setting serving francophone minority communities across Canada

The degree is fully recognized for OCSWSSW registration — the language of instruction does not affect credential recognition in Ontario.

Reputation & Notes

• Franco-Ontarian focus: The program’s mission is explicitly tied to serving Ontario’s francophone community. The Faculty page states it provides “professional training focused on the analysis of social inequalities” with particular attention to “minority contexts” and “the needs and characteristics of Ontario’s francophone population.” Source
• Small program, tight community: As a French-only MSW in Ontario, the cohort is likely small, which means more faculty attention and stronger peer relationships, but fewer course section options.
• Research-oriented: The thesis requirement makes this more research-heavy than many course-based MSW programs. Students are expected to develop research-intervention capacity, not just clinical skills.
• Decolonization & Indigenous content: Both specializations include a mandatory course on decolonization, cultural safety, and social work with Indigenous peoples (TSO 6715), reflecting current CASWE accreditation standards.
• Specialization options: Health and Family-Child are the two fields. These align well with shelter work experience (Family-Child in particular), and the elective in Violence & Social Intervention (TSO 6705) would be directly relevant to SpaceCat’s shelter background.

Information Not Found

The following could not be confirmed from public sources:

1. GPA calculation window — Whether uOttawa calculates GPA on cumulative degree average, last 60 credits, or another window. This is critical for determining whether SpaceCat could improve her effective GPA.
2. Competitive/average admitted GPA — Only the B (70%) minimum is published.
3. Exact cohort size — Not disclosed.
4. Number of applicants per year — Not disclosed.
5. OLBI French test specifics for MSW — Whether the MSW program uses the general OLBI graduate test (Low Advanced / F7 minimum) or has program-specific requirements. The catalogue says “un test de competence linguistique pourrait etre exige” (a language proficiency test may be required) without specifying the test.
6. Reference letter requirements — Not specified in the catalogue. Typical for uOttawa graduate programs to require 2-3 references.
7. Exact practicum hours — Total hours for the two practica (TSO 5601 and TSO 6601) not stated.
8. Whether the “course pathway” option eliminates the thesis — Mentioned briefly but not detailed.
9. Exact 2025-2026 tuition fees — Fee tables posted in late May each year; only 2022-2023 estimates are publicly available.
10. Whether Fall 2026 applications are still open — The December 15 deadline likely refers to December 2025 for Fall 2026 entry, meaning the deadline has passed. Confirm whether late applications are accepted.
11. Application code — OUAC code for this program not found.

Contact for verification: - School of Social Work: socwork@uottawa.ca - Phone: 613-562-5494 - Location: Social Sciences Building, Room 12002, 120 University Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 - Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:45 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1-4:30 p.m. (closed 3:30 p.m. June-August) - Source

Sources

Official program pages: - MSW — Faculty of Social Sciences (English) - MSW — University Catalogue (English) - Maitrise en travail social — University Catalogue (French) - Graduate Studies — School of Social Work - Programs — School of Social Work

Admissions & application: - How to Apply — Graduate Studies - Admission Deadlines — Canadian Students — Faculty of Social Sciences

Language requirements: - OLBI — Language Requirements for Graduate Programs - Academic Regulation A-1 — Bilingualism

Tuition & fees: - University Fees — uOttawa - Tuition — Canadians Residing in Ontario - Estimating Total University Fees - Scholarships & Awards

Licensing & registration: - OCSWSSW — Register as a Social Worker - OCSWSSW — Registration Requirements - OCSWSSW — List of Social Work Programs Ontario - Ontario Social Workers Will Soon Require a Licensing Exam