Individuals interested in the BSW (Post-Degree) program must apply directly to the School of Social Work.

Enrolment in this program is limited. Eligibility is dependent upon completion of an undergraduate degree from a recognized university, including a total of six units of introductory Social Work or introductory Sociology and six additional units of introductory level courses from the Course List (or equivalent) Students who are interested in the BSW (post degree) are strongly encouraged to take both SOCWORK 1AA3 and SOCWORK 1BB3 during their first degree.

Students are also encouraged to take INDIGST 1A03 – Introduction to Indigenous Studies or INDIGST 1AA3 – Introduction to Contemporary Indigenous Studies in their first degree, as completion of this course will be required for completion of the BSW. To be considered for admission, students must normally have a minimum average of 6.0 on the most recent 30 units (five full credits) of university-level courses completed and evidence of personal suitability which may be evaluated by one or a combination of written statements, tests or interviews.

Volunteer/work experience including references (mandatory, not scored) – Applicants will be asked to submit details regarding previous volunteer, placement and/or work experience in social/human services.  As well, applicants will be asked to submit two references from a combination of their volunteer, social/human services work, and/or placement experience. Note – if a student has completed all hours within one organization, it is acceptable to submit two references from two different people at the same organization.

We require 100 hours of volunteer/work/placement experience. To provide flexibility, we will require 50 hours to be completed by April in the year of application and any remaining hours to be completed after admission to the program in the term before the student starts the first placement: SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B S. We will not grade this experience but rather ask for it to be documented and for references to be provided.

We welcome a wide variety of experience: work, placement, or volunteer experience in human services/social change. We welcome volunteer experience with one’s own faith-based or cultural community. More information on experience criteria can be found in our helpful guide.

For students who completed their secondary schooling in Ontario, the required hours required will be in addition to an applicant’s high school volunteer hours requirement, unless the high school volunteer hours were in human services/social change.

Admission Notes

1. Students who have successfully completed the two-year College of Applied Arts and Technology Social Services Diploma with a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (75%) are considered to have completed the equivalent of SOCWORK 1AA3 and SOCWORK 1BB3. Students who have successfully completed this diploma with a cumulative average of 3.4 – 4.0 (85%-100%) are not required to complete six additional units of introductory level courses from the Course List to be eligible for admission.
2. An applicant is required to complete the prerequisite undergraduate degree work by April of the year in which the application is made.
3. Indigenous students (includes First Nations, Métis & Inuit) may select an alternate application process. Please see section below for full details.
4. Enrolment in the BSW program is limited. Students who intend to apply to the BSW program must complete the Supplementary Application (see below). Applicants must also apply to the University.
5. All applications for admission to the School of Social Work are considered annually and must be made directly to the School well before February 1 for the Fall/Winter term.

Application Components

Admission scores are based 50% on results from the Personal Statement and 50% on a student’s GPA.

1. Personal Statement – value 50% In accordance with the evaluation criteria of the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, our admission procedures include assessment of personal suitability as well as academic capability. The Personal Statement is designed in an effort to draw on applicants’ personal and professional experiences.
2. Academic Record – value 50% Every candidate’s GPA is calculated on the most recent 30 units (5 full credits) of university-level work, whether taken at McMaster or elsewhere. If the applicant is currently registered in 30 units, then those are used; if they are registered in fewer units, then we will go to the previous session and select sufficient units to total 30 (taking the best grades from that session). If an applicant has received advanced credit based on community college work, we will use any university courses they have taken plus sufficient units from the community college advanced standing credit work.
3. Volunteer/work experience including references (mandatory, not scored – see above).

Mandatory Application Procedures

Individuals interested in the B.S.W. program must complete two application forms as follows:

General Application

1. If you have graduated from a University other than McMaster, you must complete the mandatory Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) 105 form on-line application form (with payment). Visit the OUAC website to confirm the January deadline date each year. If you are a McMaster graduate, complete the McMaster Returning Student Application.

Supplementary Application

1. 1. All applicants must complete the mandatory School of Social Work Supplementary Application by February 1 in the year of application. The Supplementary Application is now open for September 2025 applications. You can access the Supplementary Application within the McMaster Student Portal The application is due no later than February 1, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. To access the McMaster Student Portal you will require your Mac ID and password. Please note: If you are an internal applicant and receiving a “Not authorized” error screen, please contact Lorna O’Connell at oconnell@mcmaster.ca and provide your student number, and McMaster email address. We will get back to you within the next business day and your account will be given access to the supplemental application and personal statement.

1. • Personal Statement: Once you have completed the Supplementary Application you will have access to complete the Personal Statement within the McMaster Student Portal. The Personal Statement will close on February 1st, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. You have access to complete and edit until February 1st, 2025.

Application Materials

All written materials submitted in relation to application for undergraduate study in social work become the property of the School of Social Work, McMaster University and cannot be returned to the applicant regardless of the final decision regarding admission.

Documents submitted by applicants who are ACCEPTED will be kept on file until October 15th of the year in which application is made, at which time all materials except the application form, scoring sheets and transcripts will be destroyed. Prior to this date, written materials may be reviewed for administrative accuracy by the applicant in the presence of a Faculty Member or the Academic Department Manager, of the School of Social Work.

Documents submitted by applicants who are NOT ACCEPTED will be kept on file until July 15th of the year following application, at which time they will be destroyed. Prior to this date written materials may be reviewed for administrative accuracy by the applicant in the presence of a faculty member or the Academic Department Manager, of the School of Social Work.

Subsequent applications by individuals not accepted into the School of Social Work or by individuals who withdraw from the application process will require NEW applications and will require re-submission of ALL documents.

Application Withdrawal

Applicants who decide to discontinue their application at any point after submission are required to notify the School of Social Work in writing of their withdrawal. Those who have applied through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) must also cancel their previous acceptance of the offer through their OUAC accounts if applicable.

Notification of Acceptance

Normally, notification of final decisions will be mailed on or about June 15th. You must call the School of Social Work to confirm your acceptance within by the deadline provided in the offer letter date or your position will be forfeited. For those applicants who have also applied through the OUAC, an official letter of acceptance from the Admissions Office will be emailed to you and you must also accept your offer through your OUAC account by the deadline specified in your offer letter. Offers of acceptance cannot be deferred; students must complete a required social work Foundation course (SOCWORK 2A06, SOCWORK 2BB3, SOCWORK 2CC3, SOC WORK 3E03, SOCWORK 3F03) in the year of admission.

Advanced Standing

Advanced standing applications are considered only after formal acceptance has been issued. You are required to submit supporting transcripts and course outlines for those courses on which you wish advanced standing to be based and identify those courses in the School of Social Work for which advanced standing is sought. If you are including work experience as a factor in your request for advanced standing, please submit a detailed job description and an evaluation (form to be supplied by the School) completed by your immediate supervisor. Note that requests for advanced standing cannot solely be based on work experience. You will be notified in writing about the decision of the Advanced Standing Committee.

Appeal Procedure

The recommendation concerning admission of an applicant by the School of Social Work Admission Committee is final and is subject only to review for administrative correctness.