The Steve Hicks School of Social Work welcomes applications from international students to the MSSW program. The school encourages international students to complete the Master of Science in Social Work degree in three years of extended study.

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School and the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL-iBT) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

International students who hold bachelor’s degrees from a U.S. institution or from an institution in another English-only speaking country may receive a waiver.

Please note that TOEFL scores over two years old will not be accepted. Please also note that TOEFL/IELTS standards for admission to the Steve Hicks School of Social Work are higher than those for The University of Texas at Austin Graduate School:

• • A score of 25 or better on each section is preferred for the TOEFL-iBT.
  • An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination of the IELTS is considered the minimum acceptable for admission

Applicants with a bachelor’s in social work from a program outside the United States, must have an International Social Work Degree Recognition letter from the Council on Social Work Education to be eligible to apply for the Post-BSW Program.

Upon acceptance to the Steve Hicks School of Social Work and arrival at The University of Texas at Austin, all students for whom English is a second language will be assessed for English language proficiency. Based on this assessment, students may be required to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses before enrolling in social work courses or participating in a field placement. Additional ESL work may delay a student’s completion of the MSSW program in two full-time years. The student is responsible for the cost of ESL courses, which are not included in estimated tuition and fees.

International applicants should contact the International Office for information concerning I-20s, visas, and other immigration matters.

As the world gets more interconnected, social workers are increasingly bringing their unique skills, flexible approaches to problem solving, and values of social justice and empowerment to international settings. The Steve Hicks School of Social Work ensures that undergraduate (BSW) and graduate (MSSW) students experience this international dimension by offering study abroad, internships, summer programs, and service-learning opportunities outside the United States.

Study Abroad by Major – for BSW students only –

Get exposure to international social issues and learn through diverse human interactions while studying abroad as a social work major at UT Austin-approved programs on six continents. See this brochure with a recommended list of programs for social work majors (pdf). When considering the cost of studying abroad take into account these funding opportunities.  To help you plan ahead and graduate on time, search the Texas Global “My Credit Abroad” database of over 15,000 pre-approved courses with the university equivalents.

Still have questions? Contact the undergraduate program coordinator at BSWadvising@austin.utexas.edu or (512) 471-5457.

International Internships – for  MSSW students only –

From South Africa to India and Costa Rica, the Field Program offers a number of international internships for master’s students. In addition to the integration of theory and practice that is at the core of any field experience, master’s students get fully immersed in a different culture and learn to navigate systems sometimes radically different from those at home.

Read about recent student experiences in international field placements here.

Questions? Contact the Field Office, ssw-field@austin.utexas.edu.

Summer programs Abroad  led by social work faculty – for BSW and MSSW students –

London, England  Maymester – Roots of Social and Economic Justice

Faculty directors: Barbara Anderson and Lauren Gulbas

Through immersion into London city life, students deepen their understanding of social justice, experience the diversity and multicultural landscape of London, and explore the historical roots of social welfare and social work. Students’ learning culminates through an in-depth project exploring a contemporary social justice issue in conjunction with local social service agencies. Find out more about the London Maymester.

Projects with  Underserved Communities (PUC)  – For BSW and MSSW students –

A unique service-learning collaboration through which engineering and social work students team up to design and implement sustainable-development projects in communities across the globe. Launched in 2010, PUC uses an innovative yearlong course sequence to hone students’ leadership skills and cultural competency—both vital when competing in an increasingly global job market—while providing much-needed services to communities across the world. Read about social work students’ PUC experiences in Nicaragua, Tanzania, and India.

Find out more about PUC.