Two social work researchers stand at a desk together.
  • icon house

    Faculty

    • Faculty of Social Work

  • icon award

    Degree

    • Bachelor of Social Work

  • icon graduate

    Expected duration

    • 3+ years

  • icon pathway

    Program options

    • Flexible schedule

  • 1943

    Year the Faculty of Social Work was founded

  • 2

    Extension campuses

  • $55,000

    Value of entrance scholarships, bursaries and financial aid

  • 100

    Agencies that provide fieldwork experience

BSW program changes

The new BSW program curriculum commences in Fall 2024. Please refer to the new curriculum page for the latest updates on program revisions.

Program details

The Distance Delivery Bachelor of Social Work program is intended to make a Bachelor of Social Work degree accessible to individuals who are employed in the social services and living outside of Winnipeg, but who may not have had the opportunity to pursue professional social work education.

Expected duration: 3 to 9 years

  • Full time: 3 years (plus qualifying year)
  • Part time: up to 9 years

Students are required to complete 123 credit hours of study.

Distance Delivery allows people to achieve a Bachelor of Social Work through two approaches:

  1. To individuals by means of an online study program and
  2. To community-based groups using the cohort method.

How courses are delivered

The Distance Delivery program includes a combination of web conferences and online courses. 

All course examinations are scheduled and arranged by the university's Registrar’s Office to take place in the student's community.

Delivery of the program to the community-based cohorts involves face-to-face delivery with the option of a combination of face-to-face, web conferences, and online study.

Students must have access to a computer, high speed internet and a headset with microphone.

Sample course offerings

  • SWRK 1200 Introduction to Canadian Social Welfare
  • SWRK 1220 Social Justice, Diversity and Human Rights
  • SWRK 1240 Social Work and Professional Identity
  • SWRK 1250 Human Behaviour, Family and Community WellBeing: Theory and Practice
  • SWRK 2000 Anti-Racist Social Work Practice
  • SWRK 2010 Indigenization and Decolonization in Social Work
  • SWRK 2020 Community Development and Social Work
  • SWRK 2040 Social Welfare Policy: Analysis and Advocacy
  • SWRK 3160 Feminist Perspectives in Social Work practice and Social Welfare Policy
  • SWRK 3180 Social Work Practice with Immigrants and Refugees
  • SWRK 3200 Social Work Practice with 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities
  • SWRK 4254 Substance Use, Mental Health, and Social Work

For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar.

A large room filled with students visiting various booths during Field Info Day.

Field placements

Distance delivery students are expected to locate their own field practicums. Students may choose a practicum in any community agency or institution which offers social work services. Students, when eligible, can be granted permission to complete a practicum at their place of employment.

About field education

Admission requirements

The following are minimum requirement for entry into the Distance Delivery Bachelor of Social Work program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

The Bachelor of Social Work is an advanced entry program, which means that you must complete at least 30 credit hours of university-level study with a minimum GPA of 2.5 before you can be considered for admission. This requirement includes Educational Equity applicants. Of those 30 credit hours, students must take the following required courses and required course subjects: 

  • WOMN 1600 (3) 

  • FMLY 1010 (3) or **PSYC 1200 (6) 

  • INDG 1220(3) and INDG 1240 (3) or INDG 1200 (6) 

  • 6 credit hours from any Sociology, Political Studies, Economics, Labour Studies, or Global Political Economy courses 

  • 9-12** credit hours of non-social work electives 

**Applicants who have completed PSYC 1200 (6) will only require 9 credit hours of non-social work elective courses. 

Applicants to the Distance Delivery Bachelor of Social Work program must also:

  • Live outside of the city of Winnipeg.
  • Have a minimum of one year (1750 hours) of work experience, within the last 5 years, in the social services.

Note: For Fall 2023 admission term up until and including Fall 2025 admission term, students with 30 credit hours of university level experiences who are lacking as much as 9 credit hours of the outlined course admission requirements are still eligible for admission. This is to aid in the transition for students who were not aware of the new specified requirements. Fall 2026 and forward, students will be required to complete all of the outlined admission requirements to be admissible into the Faculty of Social Work, Distance Delivery campus.  

Transfer students who are applying with non-University of Manitoba credit can review our Transfer Credit Resource database to see if their courses have transferred as the outlined required courses for admission. Please note, for applicants external to the University of Manitoba, the following courses must have been completed at most, 10 years prior to admission to be eligible for transfer credit:

  • INDG 1220 and INDG 1240 OR INDG 1200
  • WOMN 1600
  • FMLY 1010
  • PSYC 1200

For more detailed information, please read through the applicant information bulletin linked below: 

How to apply

Domestic student application fee: $100
International student application fee: $120

Applications to the University of Manitoba are completed online. To begin your application, select the Start or continue your application button. The online application includes several parts, and you may be required to submit transcripts, proof of English Language proficiency, and other documents.

Apply now

Includes the Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geological Sciences and Physical Geography programs.

Includes Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Health Studies programs.

Includes Bachelor of Science degrees in Agribusiness, Agriculture, Agroecology, Food Science and Human Nutritional Sciences.

Direct entry students are current high school students or people who have already graduated from high school but who have completed fewer than 24 credit hours of post-secondary level study.

Advanced entry students are those who have already completed 24 or more credit hours of post-secondary level study.

Annual application deadlines - Canadian citizens & permanent residents

Term Type of entry Application opens Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October August 1
Winter (January) Direct entry Early May December 1
Summer (May) Direct entry Early September April 1

Annual application deadlines - International applicants

Term Type of entry Application opens Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October May 1
Winter (January) Direct entry Early May October 1
Summer (May) Direct entry Early September February 1

Start or continue your application 

Bachelor of Fine Art application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November March 1

Diploma in Fine Art application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November March 1

Start or continue your application for the BFA and diploma programs

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November May 1
Winter (January) Advanced entry Early May October 1

Admission to the winter term is on a space available basis only.

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Application opens Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November March 1

Start or continue your application

To apply to the Inner City Social Work program, attend an information session at the William Norrie Centre. You will receive an application form at the information session. All information sessions are held in Room 126, William Norrie Centre.

Room 126 William Norrie Centre
485 Selkirk Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R2W 2M6 Canada
204-668-8160
Fax: 204-663-8857

All applicants need approval from the Faculty of Social Work – Inner City Selection Coordinator, Carla Kirkpatrick who can be reached at carla.kirkpatrick@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-7364.

Admission requirements (PDF)

Annual application deadlines

Term Application deadline
Summer (May, part-time) February 1, 2024
Fall (September) March 1, 2024 

Annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Application opens Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November March 1

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October

January 15

Advanced entry Early November January 15

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November February 15

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November May 1
Winter (January) Advanced entry Early May October 1

Admission to the winter term is on a space available basis only.

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1 (International)
May 1 (Domestic)
Advanced entry Early November March 1 (International)
May 1 (Domestic)

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Program Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Bachelor of Environmental Design (BEnvD) Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November April 1
Environmental Design Architecture Master Preparation Option (ED AMP) Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November January 15

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November March 15

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November February 1

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November August 1
Winter (January) Advanced entry Early May December 1
Summer (May/July) Advanced entry Early November June 1

Students who wish to enrol in Summer courses that start in May should apply by April 1.

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November March 1

Start or continue your application

The Internationally-Educated Engineers Qualifications (IEEQ) program has been temporarily suspended until 2025
For further information or questions, please contact Engineering at eng.info@umanitoba.ca.

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry *Suspended *Suspended

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Early November August 1
Winter (January) Early May November 1
Summer (May) Early November April 1

Start or continue your application

Annual direct entry application deadlines

Term Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Early October March 1
Winter (January) Early May October 1
Summer (May) Early September February 1

Annual advanced entry application deadlines

Term Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September)

Domestic: Early November

International: Early November

Domestic: July 1

International: March 1

Winter (January)

Domestic: Early May

International: Early March

Domestic: October 1

International: July 1

Summer (May)*

Domestic: Early November

International: Early July

Domestic: March 1

International: November 1

*Summer 2024 application deadline for domestic and international applicants: March 1, 2024

 

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November March 1

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November June 1
Winter (January) Advanced entry Early May October 15

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November January 15

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Summer (May) Advanced entry – Track A Early November April 1
Advanced entry – Track B Early April August 1

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Annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Late August October 1

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Annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November April 1

Start or continue your application

Winnipeg annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry

Domestic: Early November

International: Early November

Domestic: April 1

International: February 1

Winter (January)

Advanced entry

Domestic: Early May

International: Early February

Domestic: August 1

International: June 1

Summer (May) Advanced entry

Domestic: Early September

International: Early July 

Domestic: December 1 Extended to December 15

International: October 1 Extended to December 15

 

The Pas and Thompson (UM/University College of the North) annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November

Domestic: April 1

International: February 1

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November April 1

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November March 1

Start or continue your application

Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November April 1

Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy: Degree Completion Program annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November May 1
Winter (January) Advanced entry Early May September 1
Summer (May) Advanced entry Early November January 15

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November May 1
Winter (January) Advanced entry Early May October 1

Admission to the Winter term is on a space available basis only.

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November April 1

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadline

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November April 1

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November April 1

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Direct entry Early October March 1
Advanced entry Early November May 1
Winter (January) Advanced entry Early May October 1

Admission to the Winter term is available on a space available basis only.

Start or continue your application

Annual direct entry application deadlines

Term Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Early October March 1
Winter (January) Early May October 1
Summer (May) Early September February 1

Annual advanced entry application deadlines

Term Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September)

Domestic: Early November

International: Early November

Domestic: June 1

International: March 1

Winter (January)

Domestic: Early May

International: Early March

Domestic: October 1

International: July 1

Summer (May)*

Domestic: Early November

International: Early July

Domestic: February 1

International: November 1

*Summer 2024 application deadline for domestic and international applicants: February 1, 2024

 

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Type of applicant Type of entry Term Applications open Application deadline
First year applicants Advanced entry Fall (September) Early September December 1
Upper year applicants Advanced entry Fall (September) Early November June 30

Start or continue your application 

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November August 1
Winter (January) Advanced entry Early May December 1
Summer (May) Advanced entry Early November June 15

Applicants are encouraged to apply early and check their course availability prior to applying.

Applicants applying to the Summer term are recommended to apply a minimum of one month prior to the start of their classes. Summer session offers a number of different start dates based on course offerings.

Start or continue your application

 Annual direct entry application deadlines 

Term Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Early October March 1
Winter (January) Early May October 1
Summer (May) Early September February 1

Annual advanced entry application deadlines 

 

Term Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September)

Domestic: Early November

International: Early November 

Domestic: June 1

International: March 1

Winter (January)

Domestic: Early May

International: Early March

Domestic: October 1

International: July 1

Summer (May)*

Domestic: Early September

International: Early July

Domestic: February 1

International: November 1

*Summer 2024 application deadline for domestic and international applicants: February 1, 2024

 

Start or continue your application

Annual application deadlines

Term Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Early November June 1
Winter (January) Early May October 1
Summer (May) Early November February 1

Start or continue your application

The BPRN program has been placed on a temporary suspension starting for the Fall 2019 intake.

Access students

Annual application deadline
Term Application deadline
Fall (September) March 1

Application form for Access students (PDF)

External students

Annual application deadline
Term Type of entry Application opens Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November March 1

Start or continue your external student application

Annual application deadlines

Term Type of entry Applications open Application deadline
Fall (September) Advanced entry Early November March 15

Start or continue your application

Learn more

Three social work students look at books in the library.

Explore other BSW delivery options

The Bachelor of Social Work program is offered at multiple locations and through multiple delivery methods to address the need for social workers from diverse backgrounds and educations.

Whether you are just graduating high school, live outside of Winnipeg or are having difficulty accessing post-secondary education, we have a delivery option that will help you achieve a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

Contact us

Admission and application inquiries

Mailing address
Undergraduate Admissions
424 UMSU University Centre
University of Manitoba
66 Chancellors Circle
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

Office location
Room 424 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)

Submit a question
Phone: 204-474-8808
Toll-free: 1-800-224-7713 ext 8808

Program inquiries

Faculty of Social Work - Distance Delivery 
Room 114A Isbister Building
183 Dafoe Rd W
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

Email: ddsocial.work@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-7912
Toll-free: 1-800-432-1960 ext. 7912 
Fax: 204-474-7594