University of Manitoba social work admission requirements: start in University 1, then apply with 30 credit hours and a 2.5 GPA

UM's Fort Garry campus BSW is an advanced entry program. High school students cannot apply to it directly. You must first complete at least 30 credit hours of university study, including set courses, with an adjusted grade point average (AGPA) of 2.5 or more.

Most Grade 12 students start in University 1 or another first year faculty and take the required courses there. After the BSW admits you, the program takes two to three more years.

Ontario students need a 70% average over ENG4U, a 4U math and two more 4U or 4M courses, with at least 60% in each. Manitoba students need the same over English 40S, Mathematics 40S and two academic 40S courses.

UM's direct entry page lists August 1, 2026 for Fall 2026 and has not yet posted Fall 2027 dates. Check your average with our Top 6 average calculator, and compare dates on our Canadian deadlines page.

The 30 credit hours must include 3 credit hours of 1000 level Women's Studies, 6 credit hours of 1000 level Indigenous Studies, 12 credit hours of social science, humanities or family social science, and 9 credit hours of other electives.

Plan your first year timetable around this list. From Fall 2027, courses taken outside UM and used for admission must be finished within 10 years of the term you start.

About 60% of places, roughly 45 seats, go to the applicants with the highest AGPA. About 40%, roughly 30 seats, are set aside for the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID) category.

EDID covers Indigenous Peoples in Canada, racialized persons, refugees and immigrants, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ applicants and non Indigenous ACCESS students. UM's requirements page does not list a personal statement, references or resume. The 2.5 AGPA is a minimum, and UM does not publish the actual cut-off.

Your University 1 year is your BSW application. About 45 seats go to the highest AGPAs, so every first year grade counts. Remember the rule that no single grade can be below a C, even if your average is strong.

Fit the 3 credit hours of Women's Studies and the 6 credit hours of Indigenous Studies into your first 30 credit hours. Fill the 12 social science or humanities credit hours with subjects you do well in, such as sociology, psychology or history. Keep a backup program in mind in case you do not get a seat in your first try.

UM's route suits students who want a year of university before they commit, or who are still choosing between social work and another field. The trade off is uncertainty, because the BSW has a fixed number of seats.

If you want a firm place now, a direct entry school removes that risk. Many students apply to both kinds of program so they can choose in the spring. If you are an adult in Winnipeg who has faced barriers, the Inner City program is a real direct path.

UM's pages have not been updated for 2027 and they do not agree. The Social Work requirements page lists March 1, 2026 to apply, March 15, 2026 for transcripts, June 1, 2026 for final transcripts and decisions in late June. The Fort Garry program page lists May 1 for Fall 2026 advanced entry.

Plan for the earlier March 1 date and confirm with UM. A student who starts University 1 in Fall 2027 would apply to the BSW in early 2028 for Fall 2028.

The Inner City Social Work Program at the William Norrie Centre is designed for mature, low income students in Winnipeg who have faced systemic barriers. Applicants must be at least 21 and live or work in Winnipeg. Students admitted there go directly into a four year BSW and do not need prior university study. It runs full time over four years or part time over six.

UM also offers the BSW through a Northern program in Thompson, which needs at least six months of residence north of the 53rd parallel, and through Distance Delivery. Inner City applications are taken in person from October to February for full time study.

There is no co-op stream. Students gain practice through field placements. UM's program page mentions a network of more than 200 community agencies for the Fort Garry BSW.

UM's field page says students admitted after September 2023 attend field placement for a total of 390 hours. Since Summer 2024, four practice focused electives have replaced two older field courses.

UM charges by credit hour. For 2026-2027, Social Work is $194.19 per credit hour for Canadian students and $789.96 for international students. There are small extra fees per credit hour.

In University 1 you pay the rate of each course's teaching unit. Arts courses, for example, are $163.97 per credit hour for Canadian students.

UM's general entrance scholarships are $3,000 at 95%, $2,000 at 90% and $1,000 at 85%, based on your high school average. They apply to your first year program.

UM lists a March 1 consideration date for entrance scholarships. Confirm the 2027 date before you apply.

UM lists careers such as social worker, case manager, community outreach worker, child protection worker, policy analyst and program coordinator.

Compare other routes on our Dalhousie social work page and the University of Manitoba admissions overview.

Getting into University 1 does not guarantee a BSW seat. With about 75 places and 45 decided by AGPA, strong first year marks matter more than the 2.5 minimum suggests.

Help your child choose the required Women's Studies and Indigenous Studies courses in first year so they can apply on time. Watch the deadline closely too, since UM's own pages list different dates and late applications can cost a full year.