Please review all the information below before applying to the PhD in Social Work.
Students will bring to the PhD program critical perspectives on social work that are grounded in earlier studies and in experience in the field, as well as social research skills.
Eligibility
To be eligible for admission to the PhD program, applicants are normally required to have:
- A completed MSW degree with an average of at least an A–. Applicants with master’s degrees in other subjects must be able to demonstrate substantial knowledge of the social service/social welfare field and have experience of working in justice and equity-seeking services or organizations
- A completed graduate-level course in social research methods
- Demonstrated interest and experience in critical approaches to policies, practices, and knowledge-building in social work.
Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their qualifications and the alignment of their interests with the research interests and availability of faculty.
Students considering admission to the PhD program are strongly encouraged to explore doctoral funding opportunities available through the CIHR Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral or the SSHRC Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral. Deadlines for these funding applications occur in the Fall prior to September admission.
Please consult the School of Graduate Studies, Scholarships and Awards webpage for more details.
Application Materials
Please upload scanned copies of all of your documents. In order for your application to be considered complete, it must include the following items:
- Online Application Form and Fee
- Statement of Interest (applicant uploads pdf directly)
- Resumé (applicant uploads pdf directly)
- Referee Reports (referees complete online report directly using e-referencing system – due January 28th at 11:59pm.
- *Transcripts (applicant uploads unofficial transcript directly).
- Original transcripts must be sent directly from issuing institution.
- Copies of your two most recent papers, publications, presentations and/or agency reports (applicant uploads pdf directly)
- *English proficiency requirements, if applicable (applicant uploads unofficial copy; original sent directly from issuing institution)
- *Note: Official transcripts and English Proficiency documents must be sent directly from issuing institution(s) to:
Darlene Savoy, Director’s/Graduate Administrative Assistant
School of Social Work, McMaster University
1280 Main Street West, Kenneth Taylor Hall, Room 319
Hamilton ON L8S 4M4
dsavoy@mcmaster.ca
Timelines for Application
Deadline to Apply: January 14th at 11:59pm. Review of applications will begin in January and admissions will be made to outstanding candidates as early in the new year as possible. If possible, please upload an unofficial copy of your transcript(s) and English Language Proficiency (if applicable) so that we may expedite assessment of your qualifications. Offers of admission and financial assistance are normally sent out late January to end of April.
Application Form and Fee
The portal for September 2026 admissions is now open. Application forms must be completed online. Please read this webpage thoroughly before proceeding to the How to Apply instructions on the School of Graduate Studies website. A non-refundable $150 (CAN) application fee is applied to all applications. The fee can be paid on-line by valid debit or credit card.
On the application portal, first review the “Prepare your Application for September 2026” tab before proceeding to the “Application Instructions for September 2026” tab with detailed guide which will lead you through the online application process. Then proceed to the Start Your Application page. Please note the search criteria on application portal for “Filter by Faculty” is “Social Sciences”; then scroll down list of “Programs Open for Application” and click “Apply Now” button beside description “Social Work PhD”, then click on “Create an Account” link if you are a first-time user OR separate link for returning user. Note: Full-time option only for “Course Type”. In the “Upload Documents” section, in addition to your CV & Statement of Interest, please also upload Unofficial Transcript(s) and TOEFL (if applicable).
Transcripts
Applicants must provide one official transcript of university academic work completed to date, sent directly from the issuing institution to the School of Social Work (address above). Note: Original transcripts will be accepted after the application deadline.
Statement of Interest
Our PhD program takes as its central focus the fundamental tensions and challenges for social work practice and policy as they relate to social change and the enhancement of social justice. In articulating your interest in the program, please address the following (in a maximum of ten double-spaced pages):
How do you understand the relationship between social work and social justice?
In light of this understanding and the experience that you bring to the program, briefly describe your research interests and how you see your research unfolding. Using relevant literature, identify:
- Issues or questions that you want to explore.
- Their relationship to social justice concerns and the aims of the School’s program.
- Methodological approaches that you visualize using or exploring.
- Potential practice/policy implications of your research.
- An MSW is normally required for admission. If your master’s degree was in a field other than social work, describe how your academic, community, activist and/or professional background prepares you for doctoral studies in our PhD program (Maximum length of two pages).
Letters of Reference
A complete application includes three referee report recommendations, at least two of which should be from academic referees, that assess your potential for doctoral studies and your suitability for our PhD program in social work and social justice. Referees will be asked to comment on your background (for example, your accomplishments, critical analysis skills, or engagement with social justice issues). McMaster University uses the Electronic Referencing System.
You must enter the email addresses of your referees as part of the on-line application form. Your referees will receive an email message asking them to complete an eReference immediately after the ‘Send to Recommender’ button is clicked. You may wish to click on this button just before you submit the application.
If you need to change your reference or referee email address after submitting your application, you may do so through the Applicant Portal. Referees complete online report directly using e-referencing system – deadline is January 28th at 11:59pm.
English Proficiency Requirements
If applicable, an official copy of your TOEFL score, or other evidence of competency in English is required. A minimum TOEFL score of 580 (or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test) is needed.
Additional Information
Please complete our Pre-Application form so that we can verify your academic qualifications before you send a full application.
The School of Graduate Studies policy with regard to students with disabilities can be found in section 6.6 of the School of Graduate Studies Calendar. The full policy and further information may be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies or the Student Success Centre 905-525-9140 ext. 28652 or e-mail studentsuccess@mcmaster.ca. For further information, consult McMaster University’s Policy for Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities.
Apply for a PhD in Social Work Here