SSW FAQ

No. While you can submit GRE scores, they are no longer required to apply or to be accepted into the program.

No. You must be registered as a full-time student studying on campus to receive our funding package. Students are expected to devote full time to their studies and are supported financially to enable them to do that.

Admitted students are assigned a faculty advisor. Faculty advisor assignments are determined based on availability, research fit, and the student’s preference as indicated on the application.

Yes, you are eligible for the funding package described here. You are not eligible for certain fellowships and scholarships offered at the University of Michigan, or for training grants supported by the federal government.

• TOEFL (iBT, including the Home Edition and Paper Edition): 100 range with section scores 23+ in listening & reading and 21+ in speaking and writing.
• TOEFL Essentials: 10 range with section scores 10+
• IELTS / IELTS Indicator: 7.0 range with section scores 6.5+
• ECPE: Certificate with all sections at least a C
• CAE (C1 Advanced): 185 with no less than 180+ in all sections (CEFR C1)
• CPE (C2 Proficiency): Pass with B (CEFR C1)
• PTE Academic: 68 with all sections equally strong
• MET: 64 with section scores of 59+ (4-skill MET-digital)

No. Unlike the Joint Program, to apply and be accepted into the Social Work and Social Welfare program you must already have your MSW degree.

We expect Social Work and Social Welfare PhD program graduates to experience success on the job market given the high ranking of the School of Social Work and its highly respected faculty body.

The best thing you can do is begin planning early to submit a complete and high-quality application. This means doing research about faculty in the School of Social Work, identifying faculty you are interested in working with, and thinking about how their interests line up with yours. You should take the time to reach out to them by email and tell them something about yourself and why you are interested in working with them. Also, if you are an international student, prepare well for the TOEFL test and leave yourself enough time for a retest if you feel you have not done your very best.

In this same vein, contact current and previous universities and colleges about submitting grade transcripts well in advance of the application deadline. We cannot consider your application without them. Finally, think about who you will ask to write letters of recommendation for you. Try to get at least two of the letters from a current or former professor. If possible, talk with the people who will be writing letters for you about your plans to apply. It is important for them to know what your career goals are and why you are applying to a doctoral program. The recommendations that are most valuable are those from people who have worked with you academically or as an employer. These types of recommenders can speak directly to how you work in different settings. 

When submitting your application, it is crucial to write a clear, concise personal statement outlining your professional, intellectual, and research interests and career goals and how they connect to the professional and intellectual commitments of social work. Take time in preparing this statement and include an assessment of how your interests connect to the interests of social work faculty. Also, indicate what sets you apart, why you are passionate about your area of research, and why you are a good fit with the University of Michigan, the School of Social Work, and the Social Work and Social Welfare PhD program.

The program will accept 5 students and place a few on the waitlist to yield a cohort size of approximately 5 each academic year.

It is November 18, 2024.