To be considered for admission to UNC School of Social Work, you must provide documentation of the following in your UNC Graduate School application:
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, earned from an accredited four-year college or university (or the international equivalent of a bachelor’s degree)
- Academic background that encompasses knowledge and world views from a broad variety of disciplines
- Unofficial transcripts from each college and university attended
- Statement of Purpose (4-5 pages)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation (Email invitations will be sent to recommenders once you select ‘Save’ in the online application. You can also update recommender information and send reminder emails within the application.)
- Current resume or CV
- TOEFL or IELTS score within the past 2 years (international applicants only)
Interviews are required for all competitive international applicants. Applicants that respond “yes” to any Community Standards questions on the UNC Graduate School application may be asked to provide information for a criminal background check and participate in an interview as well.
Social work experience is not required. However, social work-related coursework and volunteer or professional experience are preferred.
For more information on the required application materials, please visit the UNC Graduate School website.
Additional Criteria — Advanced Standing Program Applicants
The Advanced Standing Program is an accelerated MSW program for BSW graduates. It is a 12-month program that begins in May. To be considered for admission to the Advanced Standing program, you must meet the following criteria:
- A completed Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree prior to enrollment that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- “B” (or higher) grade point average on the last 60 credit hours of your undergraduate degree
- “B” (or higher) grade on all required undergraduate social work courses
- Satisfactory completion of 400 hours in a direct service placement with a “B” (or higher) grade
- A letter of recommendation from a faculty member in your BSW program. Even if you have been out of school for several years, you are required to have a letter of recommendation from your social work department.
Additional Criteria — International Applicants
Our academic programs are enriched by students who represent a diverse range of cultural perspectives, and we encourage international students to apply. All competitive international applicants will be required to complete an interview for admissions consideration.
International applicants must provide a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score taken within the past two years. The required minimum total score on the exams are:
- The internet-based TOEFL exam = 90
- The IELTS exam = 7
The TOEFL/IELTS is not required if you meet one of the following criteria:
- Residency in a country where English is the language of instruction
- Bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution, and/or
- Bachelor’s degree from an institution where the sole language of instruction is English
The UNC Graduate School website provides more information for international students who wish to apply.
