Program details
To earn your PhD, you must demonstrate an ability for independent investigation, original research or creative scholarship. You will be expected to write a thesis and you will be tested in an oral examination where you exhibit mastery of your field of study.
Expected duration: 4 to 6 years
Tuition and fees: Tuition fees are charged for terms one and two and terms four and five. A continuing fee is paid for term three, term six and each subsequent term. (Refer to Graduate tuition and fees.)
You must contract with an advisor upon admission. An advisory committee that includes your advisor and two additional members will be appointed to assist the you in developing a study plan and to supervise your research.
Course work
You must complete 24 credit hours of approved 7000 level course work beyond the Master of Social Work degree.
You will select your courses in consultation with your advisory committee to further your specialized program of study. We strongly recommend that you include courses focusing on both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The PhD Program Committee must approve your course selection.
Sample course offerings
- SWRK 8010: Perspectives on Knowledge for Social Work (3 credit hours)
- SWRK 8100: Social Work Past and Present: Trends, Institutions and Practices (3 credit hours)
- SWRK 8200: Indigenizing and Decolonizing the Global Academy: The Role of Social Work Education and Practice (3 credit hours)
For full course descriptions please visit the Academic Calendar.
This program is only available through in-person instruction. We do not offer graduate programs through distance delivery or online learning.
Candidacy examination
The candidacy examination should be taken within a year of completion of coursework. The candidacy examination consists of a major paper on a topic within your general area of study and an oral examination of the topic covered in the paper. A candidacy examination committee will be appointed when you begin to prepare for your candidacy examination. This three-person committee, which includes your advisor, is responsible for administering the candidacy examination.
Dissertation research
Your PhD advisory committee, chaired by your thesis advisor, provides advice and guidance in the development of the proposal for the dissertation and during the ongoing research phase. Normally, advisory committee members become members of the examining committee for the dissertation during the final examination for the PhD degree.
Admission requirements
To qualify for admission to the PhD in Social Work, you must:
- Have a Master of Social Work degree, or equivalent, from an accredited degree-granting university, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B)
- Demonstrate minimum research competency in both qualitative and quantitative methods equivalent to the level required for the Master of Social Work degree from the University of Manitoba, with a minimum grade of 3.0 (B) within the last 10 years
- Much of the evaluation of applicants’ admission to the program will be based on evaluation of each applicants’ research intent statement. The admission committee also evaluates past research or academic teaching experience. Be sure to emphasize any past research assistance work or thesis work as well as publications that includes peer review papers, research reports, and book chapters.
If you do not meet these entrance requirements, you may be recommended for conditional admission with the stipulation that you take the necessary course or courses. The course or courses will be an additional requirement beyond the 24 credit hours required for the program.
In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements for the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
How to apply
PhD admissions may be limited for the Fall 2027 intake due to minimal advisory resources.
The Social Work PhD program has only one application deadline per year, and applications are accepted for September entry only. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:
- Application fee (non-refundable)
- Unofficial copies of transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
- A CV that shows you have educational and professional experience and the capacity to undertake research-oriented postgraduate work.
- Proof of English language proficiency, if required
- A two-page summary of your proposal for the PhD program that includes:
- a rationale for the proposed research
- research questions
- a concise literature review of the topic
- a proposed methodology for the research
- the outline of a plan to complete the research
Potential applicants are encouraged to examine the area of expertise of Social Work faculty members to ensure that there are potential advisors that share their research interests.
Please read the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.
Application deadline
Learn more
Contact us
Admission and application inquiries
Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Room 500 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9377
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Program inquiries
Faculty of Social Work
Room 521 Tier Building
173 Dafoe Rd. W
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
social_work@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-7050
Fax: 204-474-7594