Application information
Welcome to the School of Social Work. We offer three Master of Social Work programs, accredited by the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE).
Applicants must hold a BSW degree from an accredited Canadian program, or the equivalent, to be eligible for this program. Non-BSW holders: Please see the information the MSW Foundation program page.
The MSWI begins with a 1-week mandatory on-campus institute scheduled in late August/early September of each year. The remainder of the program is offered through distance education. For more information, please see the MSWI delivery method and course plan.
- MSWI Admission Guide
- Application process
- Notification of acceptance
- Contact information
- Advice on obtaining references
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While all prospective applicants are welcome to apply, the MSWI program prioritizes admission for Indigenous applicants in recognition of the continued barriers to equitable access to graduate education generally and Indigenous-specific graduate training in particular. Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission; applicants are assessed on their overall readiness and alignment with the MSWI program’s goals.
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Application process
Applications are now closed for our September 2026 intake. Applications for September 2028 will open in early October 2027.
Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted electronically through the My UVic Application service. Please do not send any documents to the School of Social Work directly.
- Deadline: November 30 at 11:59 PM PST.
- Important Note: Late or incomplete applications will not be considered; please ensure all required documents are ready to upload when you apply.
Please disregard the question on the My UVic Application portal asking you to provide the name of a supervisor. You are not required to select or contact a supervisor prior to admission.
For questions regarding the online application process, please contact Graduate Admissions and Records at garo@uvic.ca.
The following required documents must be submitted:
- Statement of Intent
Before completing the Statement of Intent please review the School's Mission Statement and the detailed program objectives of the MSWI program.
We strongly recommend completing the Self-Assessment exercise to evaluate whether you have the time and resources needed for graduate-level study.
The Statement of Intent provides an opportunity for you to outline degree of the compatibility between your background and interests, and our MSW program.
To complete your Statement of Intent correctly, you must use the provided form-fillable PDF and ensure you do not exceed the 1,000-word limit. To ensure your Statement of Intent is processed successfully, please only use Adobe Acrobat to open the file and input your information. Using other programs can cause technical compatibility issues, which may prevent us from opening/downloading your file completely. - Experience Summary
Do not include field placements, practicum placements, internships, or co-op work terms in this Experience Summary.
Indigenous applicants are required to have a minimum of 3,000 hours of human-services experience in an Indigenous social services setting, or a closely related field, as of the application deadline.
Non-Indigenous applicants are required to have a minimum of 6,000 hours of human-services experience in an Indigenous social services setting, or a closely related field, as of the application deadline.Qualifying experience is defined as paid employment or volunteer work in organized activities, programs and/or interventions that respond to, or ameliorate, conditions of inequality or disadvantage. This might include paid or volunteer work in a government, non-profit, social service agency, or involvement in social justice activism.
To complete your Experience Summary correctly, you use the provided form-fillable PDF and a detailed breakdown and total calculation of your field hours gained prior to the application deadline. To ensure your Experience Summary is processed successfully, please only use Adobe Acrobat to open the file and input your information. Using other programs can cause technical compatibility issues, which may prevent us from opening/downloading your file completely.
- Resume
The Faculty of Graduate Studies requires an updated CV or resume. Please ensure you outline your complete education, employment, and volunteer history, along with any relevant accomplishments and initiatives.
- References
Three references are required. These must include a mandatory Indigenous community-based reference, combined with either two academic references or one academic and one employer reference.
Community-based reference should be able to speak to the applicant’s experience creating culturally safe work environments. They should be able to provide examples of ways that the applicant has worked in solidarity with Indigenous people in their practice. The reference should provide examples of feedback or evaluations from Indigenous peoples or community that outline the applicant’s experience in creating a culturally safe environment.
Academic references must be from post-secondary instructors who have taught you in a graded course. Please note that practicum or field education instructors do not qualify.
Employer references must be from an individual in a professional setting who holds or has held a supervisory relationship with you.
The University of Victoria utilizes an electronic reference system. All references must be submitted through the Graduate Admissions and Records Office (GARO) portal. You will be asked to enter the names and email addresses of your referees as part of your My UVic Application. Once submitted, GARO will email each referee directly with instructions on how to complete the electronic form. Referees will also have the option to copy and paste a formal letter or additional comments. If a referee encounters technical difficulties, please ask them to contact GARO directly at 250-472-4657 or garo@uvic.ca.
Applicants are advised to choose referees who can comment on their ability to complete graduate-level academic work, specifically highlighting your writing and critical analysis skills. Crucially, referees must be able to submit a reference by the deadline. There is a two-week grace period following the November 30 application deadline for referees to submit their online forms. References received after this date will not be considered during the department's evaluation process.
Additional Advice:
Because references are submitted via a standardized electronic form, some employers may feel the format does not fully capture their experience with you. In these cases, we recommend that your referee attach a separate letter to the electronic form detailing your suitability for graduate studies. Instructions for attaching additional letters are included in the email sent to each referee. Please note that employment references must come from a current or former supervisor; references from colleagues are not accepted. We encourage you to contact prospective referees well in advance to ensure timely submission. Finally, we suggest confirming in advance that a prospective referee is prepared to provide a positive recommendation.
Been out of school for a while?
We recommend you contact the department or institution where you completed your previous degree to find out which of your former instructors are still there. You can then reach out to them directly to request a reference. If an instructor has moved to another university, ask for their updated contact information.
When contacting former instructors, it is often helpful to remind them of the courses you took, when you took them, your final grades, and any specific projects that might jog their memory. As a final option, if no former instructor is available, you may ask the department's director or dean to provide a general reference based on your official academic file.
- Post-secondary transcripts
Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded as PDF files at the time of application. If you are admitted, you will then be required to submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions to the Graduate Admissions and Records Office (GARO).
Notification of acceptance
Admission decisions for the MSW Indigenous Specialization are typically released by late March. Notifications will be posted directly to your My UVic Application profile and emailed to the address provided on your application. Please wait until this window has passed before contacting the department regarding your application status.
Contact information
Graduate Admissions and Records:
Front Counter: garo@uvic.ca
Inquiries regarding the MSW program:
MSW Program Assistant
Phone: 250-472-5622
Email: swgrad@uvic.ca