University of Windsor social work admission requirements: enter from high school, then apply again for years three and four

Windsor lets Grade 12 students apply straight to its Honours BSW on OUAC. First year admission follows the university's general rules. You start in the Pre Social Work years and take courses such as Meeting Human Needs through Social Welfare and Meeting Human Needs Through Social Work.

The catch is year two. In the fall of year two, students who want to stay in the BSW must formally apply to the Professional Years, which are years three and four. You must finish all Pre Social Work courses first. Windsor's page does not say how many spots there are, or that a place is guaranteed.

Ontario students need ENG4U and five more Grade 12 academic courses. There is no math or science requirement.

Pick courses you do well in. Your top six average decides the first step. Use our course planner to map your year.

Windsor lists a 70% minimum and a mean average of 80%, calculated over six Grade 12 academic courses. The mean is the average of admitted students, so many had more than 80%.

Windsor does not publish an acceptance rate for social work. Aim for 80% or more. Check where you stand with our Top 6 average calculator.

To apply to the Professional Years you need at least 70% in your social work courses. Combined degree students need a 70% combined average. Windsor also highly recommends a 70% cumulative average.

Windsor warns that these are only minimums. It says admission averages are usually 5% to 7% higher. In practice, plan for 75% to 77% or more in your social work courses during the first two years.

Treat first and second year as your real application. The marks that count most for the Professional Years are the ones in your social work courses, so give those courses your best effort from the first week.

Finish every Pre Social Work requirement on time. Windsor says you must complete them all before you apply in the fall of year two. If one is missing, you may have to wait a year. Meet an academic adviser early to check your plan, and keep a backup major in mind in case you are not admitted.

Windsor's 70% entry minimum is open to many students, which makes it a good way to start a BSW. The trade off is uncertainty. You will not know you have a place in years three and four until you are well into second year.

If you want a firmer path, compare a school that keeps you in the BSW from first year. Many students apply to both kinds of program so they have a choice in the spring.

Windsor offers a four year Honours BSW, plus combined Honours BSW degrees with Disability Studies or Women's Studies. All lead to the BSW, the recognized entry level social work degree in Ontario.

Graduates can register with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Windsor lists careers such as child welfare worker, community support worker, mental health counsellor, parole officer and human rights advocate. It reports a 95.4% employment rate within two years of graduation.

Windsor also runs two year BSW programs. University graduates need 70%, either overall or in their last 20 courses. Graduates of Ontario Child and Youth Worker (CYW) programs need a 3.0 GPA, not counting placement courses.

The Future Students page names this route Social Work for University Graduates or CAAT Diploma Holders. The School of Social Work page names only university and CYW graduates. If you hold a different college diploma, ask Windsor whether it counts.

BSW students complete at least 700 hours of supervised field practice in fourth year. Windsor describes placements at the micro (individual), meso (organization) and macro (policy or research) levels.

The Future Students page marks the program as co-op available. The School of Social Work pages we checked describe field placements but give no co-op details. Ask Windsor how co-op fits with the BSW before you count on it.

Windsor's deadline page has not been updated. It still lists January 15, 2024 as the OUAC date for Ontario high school students. Plan to apply on OUAC by mid January 2027 and confirm dates with Windsor.

The Professional Years application happens in the fall of your second year. See our Ontario deadlines page for other schools.

Windsor posts tuition through a fee estimator, not a printed table. The estimator shows the approved fees for the 2026-2027 academic year, per term. Choose Undergraduate, the social work program, full time and your fee category to see the amount.

Windsor suggests a budget of at least $1,000 a year for textbooks and materials.

For 2027-2028 entry, Windsor guarantees a minimum scholarship to Canadian students coming straight from high school. An 85% to 89.99% average earns $1,000. A 90% to 94.99% average earns $10,000 over 8 terms. A 95% or higher average earns $16,000 over 8 terms.

The renewable awards need an 85% average each year and full time study. With an 80% mean entry average, many social work students will sit just below the first band, so a strong final term in Grade 12 can be worth real money.

An offer from Windsor is the first step, not the whole degree. Your child must apply again in year two, and spots usually go to students 5% to 7% above the 70% minimum.

Encourage strong marks in first and second year social work courses. Also read our Windsor admissions overview and compare with a school that has no second step, such as our TMU social work page.