MSW Abroad: Full Form, Top Colleges, Courses, Jobs

MSW Abroad is a specialised 1-2 year-long course offered across top countries for international students. Social Work master’s offers education to students based on their key interest areas across 5+ specialisations. Pursuing MSW abroad comes with various benefits and good job opportunities for the future as well.

MSW falls in the broader category of Social Sciences and those who are already pursuing courses in Social Sciences or Sociology can opt for MSW courses abroad. This article will throw light on MSW abroad, along with all the major details corresponding to the course which are relevant in context with the international students.

MSW Degree Full Form

The full form of the MSW course is a Master’s in Social Work. This degree is a postgraduate degree offering Social Work as the major subject of study abroad. Usually, MSW in abroad is around two years long. MSW full form is standard across all countries and is an MA (Master of Arts) degree and not an MS (Master of Science) degree. 

Why Study MSW Abroad?

There are various reasons which make MSW an attractive postgraduation course option in abroad. Some of the key reasons are as follows:

• In almost all fields of education, government, healthcare, technology and others, the need for social workers with higher education levels is important.
• MSW in abroad is one of the highest-paid grads, irrespective of the university and country of their study.
• For those looking for leadership and management-level roles, MSW can be a beneficial option for them in the long run.
• Lastly, the scope of those with an MSW degree is very high, hence there will always be lucrative options to look out for at any stage of the applicant’s life.

MSW courses abroad are not only helpful for areas where social work is needed, but it is also a symbol of self-fulfilment by engaging in social work activities. 

Which Country is the Best for MSW?

Usually, USA and UK are the most popular countries for offering MSW in abroad. There are two reasons why:

1. These are bigger countries and the scope for Social Workers is usually higher.
2. The social workers with MSW from these countries are some of the highest-paid professionals. 

But, these two universities offer MSW at an exorbitant price, hence, there is one more option which is India, where the tuition is cheap and some of the top-ranked universities offer this specialised course. 

Thus, USA and UK including India are the best to pursue an MSW degree, however working in different countries and earning even better depends on the kind of opportunity the applicants get. 

Top MSW Colleges for International Students

International students who wish to pursue MSW courses in abroad can choose from the following top colleges for MSW: 

Top MSW Colleges Abroad	1st Year Tuition Fee
MSW Colleges in USA
University of Michigan (MSW: Full-time & Part-time)	USD 41,209
University of Columbia (MSW: Full time and Online)	USD 64,936
University of Texas (MSW)	USD 48,200
University of Pennsylvania (MSW)	USD 45,400
New York University (MSW)	USD 45,202
MSW Colleges in UK
University of Edinburgh (MSW)	£28,800
University of Nottingham (MSW)	£22,600
University of Manchester (MSW)	£25,500
University of Birmingham (MSW)	£23,310
University of Sussex (MSW)	£21,500
MSW Colleges in Canada
University of Toronto (MSW)	CDN 41,010
University of British Columbia (MSW)	CDN 31,007.88
McGill University (MSW)	CDN 17,960
Western University (MSW)	CDN 13,904

These above-given MSW colleges are some of the top colleges for pursuing a master’s in Social Work as an international student. 

MSW Course Details

The following areas of study are covered in the MSW course, year wise in abroad:

MSW Course Details or Year 1	MSW Course Details for Year 2
Social Work & Social Welfare Foundations	Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Social Welfare Policies	Medical Health Disorders & Diagnosis
Social Work Research	Child Welfare Policy
Diversity And Social Justice	Motivational Interviewing Technique
Human Behavior	Substance Use Policy
Human Development	Advanced Social Welfare Policy

These are the broad topics covered in the syllabus of MSW programs offered abroad, including the specialisation the applicants go for. 

MSW in Abroad Specialisations

There are a couple of specialisations for those pursuing a Master’s in Social Work abroad and they are:

1. Family & Children’s Social Work
2. Social Work in Schools
3. Substance Abuse & Mental Health
4. Social Work in Criminal Justice
5. Social & Community Work

MSW Abroad Admission Criteria

The admission criteria for pursuing a Social Work master’s in abroad is more or less the same for all major countries. Some of the admission criteria that must be fulfilled are as follows:

• Get 50% and above in BSW or a related course to apply for MSW in abroad.
• Applicants will also have the option to submit any other humanities or social science degree where they have studied something similar to social work.
• Applicants in some cases might have to submit work experience also. 

Documents Required for MSW Courses Abroad

Unlike any other course admissions, those applying for MSW courses abroad will have to attach the following documents:

• Passport
• Bachelor’s degree scores
• Transcripts
• Statement of purpose (SOP)
• Letters of recommendation (LOR)
• Admission essays
• Resume if attaching work experience

MSW Salary Abroad

The salary of MSW grads abroad varies between countries. Let us look at the country-wise comparison for salary data drawn by MSW grads:

• USA: USD 40,000 to USD 90,000
• Canada: CDN 45,000 to CDN 90,000
• UK: £25,000 to £60,000
• Australia: AUD 50,000 - AUD 95,000

Thus, social workers holding a Master’s in Social Work are likely to earn the highest in the USA and UK followed by Australia and Canada. Thus, international applicants applying for MSW abroad programs can keep this data in mind for a prospective career in this field. 

MSW Jobs Abroad

The following are some of the most popular job roles after an MSW degree in abroad:

MSW Job Opportunities Abroad
Child And Family Therapist Child Welfare Specialist Homeless Case Manager	Grant Writer Activist Military Social Worker	Immigration Specialist Crisis Interventionist Domestic Violence Court Advocate
Hospital Social Worker Bilingual Case Worker Geriatric Social Worker	Entrepreneur Trauma-Informed Therapist Foundation And Grant Executive	Program Director/Director Mental Health Blogger Substance Abuse Counselor
Lobbyist For Mental Health Policy Mental Health App Consultant Criminal Justice Advocate	Climate Change Coordinator Hiv/Aids Case Manager Food Pantry Supervisor	Foster Care Specialist Community Organizer Coalition Builder

Top Employers After MSW in Abroad

Some of the well-known employers which hire MSW degree holders are mostly NGOs. A few of them have been mentioned below for reference:

• United Nations (UN)
• International Rescue Committee
• Save the Children
• Women for Women International
• World Health Organization
• International Justice Mission
• Food for the Hungry International
• Danish Refugee Council
• Oxfam International Secretariat
• HelpAge International

Thus, we can conclude by saying that MSW in abroad is a good option for those looking for Social Work related career. The career is high-paying and jobs are usually with reputable industries or fields. Plus, there is enough financial aid available which can be used for pursuing a degree in Social Work at the master’s level. 

For admission-related queries, sign up for free counselling at Shiksha Abroad Counselling. Or write to us in the comments below.