MSW Admissions

The School of Social Work interviews many applicants to the MSW program each year who either request an interview themselves or are requested to interview by the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management. Not all applicants will have an interview as part of their admission process.

For more information, visit the MSW Admission Interview Information page.

Yes, you may request a change to your pathway of interest. Please complete and submit the pathway change request form.

Applicants that were complete with their application and supporting documents by December 1 receive notification of their status through the initial review by March 1. For most applicants this will be a final admission decision. For some applicants, the School will inform them by March 1 that a re-review of their application will be completed in May. Some applicants who have their applications re-reviewed in May will be admitted into the program, some will be denied admission, and others will be offered a position on an Alternate List. Some Alternate List members may be offered admission in

Some students can complete the MSW program in 12 months (full-time Advanced Standing, MicroMasters MSW, MasterTrack MSW, U-M Sociology & SW, and UM-Dearborn Human Services & SW). Students in our full-time four-term programs complete the program in either 16 months or 20 months. Part-time students have different options. Please visit our Program Length webpage for details.

Yes, we encourage prospective students to visit the School of Social Work. Prospective students are invited to attend one of our Prospective Student Group Sessions, which are held once or twice per month from September through April. The School can also arrange an individualized visit for prospective students, which includes attending a class, lunch with a current student, and a meeting with an admissions counselor. Contact the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management (734-936-0961) to sign up for a Prospective Student Group Session or schedule an individual appointment.

TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, or ECPE scores are required for applicants whose native language is not English regardless of their status when applying. Applicants are exempt from submitting a TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, or ECPE score if they have either 1) earned a degree from an institution where the language of instruction is exclusively English, regardless of country, within two years of applying to the MSW or MA in Social Impact Leadership (MSIL) or 2) studied in the US for two years or more within two years of applying to the MSW or MA in Social Impact Leadership (MSIL). Note that test scores are valid

Yes. Each year up to ten students can be admitted through our Non-Baccalaureate Admissions status. The goal of this provision is to provide an opportunity for individuals with extensive, successful experience in social work to obtain the MSW degree without first obtaining a bachelor's degree.

No, a BSW is not required for admission to the MSW program. Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds. The majority of our students hold a bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts discipline (psychology, sociology, etc.), but we also have students with backgrounds in business, engineering, law, etc.

Yes, the University of Michigan has a three term Advanced Standing program, where students typically complete 45 credits in 12 months. All BSW degree requirements must be completed by Fall Orientation at the end of August.

To qualify for the Advanced Standing program students must:

• Have at least a 3.5 GPA over the last 60 – 75 semester credit hours (90 - 105 quarter credit hours) based on their final BSW transcript.
• Have completed a BSW degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program.
• Be able to complete the MSW degree requirements within six years of receipt of

Yes. Please feel free to review details on our part-time options.