Indigenous Student Application Program
Updated October 30, 2025
The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) is committed to building a community where learners experience a barrier free education from the point of admissions through to graduation as they enter the social work profession.
The Indigenous Student Application Program provides a dedicated admissions process for applicants Indigenous to Turtle Island (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples) who would like to apply through this option for the Two-Year MSW or Advanced Standing MSW programs. Applicants who submit their application through this program will follow the same admission requirements outlined in the admission requirement page of the MSW program.
All applications received through the Indigenous Student Application Program will undergo a review process that includes representation from Indigenous faculty, alumni or other community members.
Through this dedicated admissions process, we are affirming our intentional commitment to Indigenous student representation in the Faculty and decreasing barriers to accessing the program for our Indigenous applicants in alignment with Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action – University of Toronto.
How to Apply
Within GradApp, on the Graduate Unit Selection page, for Program of Study select either:
- Master of Social Work (Advanced Standing – Indigenous Student Application Program)
OR - Master of Social Work (2-Year MSW Program – Indigenous Student Application Program)
Once selected submit the required application documents for the Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing OR the Master of Social Work 2-Year MSW Program.
Application Support:
If you are an Indigenous student looking to apply through the ISAP pathway, and need support please reach out the Indigenous Student Access Project Administrator.
For writing support for your application, please check out the following resources:
- Registered University of Toronto students can also check out Writing Plus for their online workshops on application letters
- Guide to writing personal statements for further education
- If you are a current University of Toronto student, you can access your college writing centre for support
Indigenous Tuition Initiative
The University of Toronto has created a new Indigenous Tuition Initiative to foster and strengthen relationships between U of T and Indigenous communities in Ontario, across Canada, and in the United States. This initiative includes three programs:
- The U of T Indigenous Tuition Grant covers the cost of tuition for FIFSW students from the nine identified First Nations communities
- Indigenous students from the rest of Canada may be eligible for domestic Ontario tuition fee
ISAP Enhancement Program
FIFSW is increasing resources to enhance recruitment, retention, and success for Indigenous students with support from the Access Strategy and Partnerships Office (ASPO). This initiative offers application assistance, as well as academic, peer, and alumni mentorship specifically tailored to the needs of Indigenous students. The project engages prospective students before they apply, support them during their transition, and ensure continued engagement and success throughout their studies and beyond graduation.
Some activities that we have hosted so far include:
- Virtual Welcome Session – Held in the spring to greet incoming ISAP students and share important resources early in their journey.
- Welcome Breakfast & Campus Tour – An opportunity to connect with peers, staff, and support services. The tour included key locations such as the FIFSW building, OISE, First Nations House, and the TCard Office to help students get familiar with campus and obtain their TCards.
- Orientation Dinner – A community-building event that brought together students, faculty, staff, and the on-site Elder.
- Elder’s Lunch – A casual lunch providing students with the opportunity to connect with the on-site Elder in a smaller setting.
- Beading Circle for Truth and Reconciliation Day – A reflective gathering focused on cultural connection and healing through art.
- Monthly Online Gatherings – Virtual check-ins to discuss courses, practicum experiences, and overall program progress in a supportive space.
Indigenous Faculty Advisor
Each student is assigned a Faculty Advisor, the ISAP/Indigenous Student Advisor provides academic guidance and support to Indigenous MSW students throughout their program. Advisors are a resource for discussing academic progress and direct students to appropriate contacts for issues such as course withdrawals, leaves of absence, and coursework extensions. Faculty Advisors are also available to support students facing challenges or in distress by connecting them with appropriate services.
FIFSW Indigenous Student Ambassador
The Indigenous Student Ambassador offers peer-to-peer insight into both the academic and community experience at U of T. They are available to answer questions about the application process, student life, support services, and what it’s like to be part of the community on campus. They can also help students navigate course planning using tools like Degree Explorer, the Course Planner, and academic timetables. Whether you’re looking for guidance or support — the Indigenous Student Ambassador is here to help you feel welcomed, informed, and connected from the very beginning.
Contact Paige, the Indigenous student ambassador here.
Elder Support
As part of the ISAP Enhancement Project, we have recently established a meaningful partnership with Grandmother Shirley Gillis-Kendall who has come on board to offer cultural, spiritual, and emotional support to ISAP students during their time as graduate students.
Baedahben Nemki Kwe (Shirley) is Turtle Clan and a Citizen of Alderville First Nation. Her mother was born into her father’s Anishnawbe family. Shirley was born on reserve and was brought into the world through the love and kindness of an old traditional midwife. Her rich maternal ancestral legacy is through Six Nations, Tyendenaga and Oneida to which she attributes her capacity to thrive post sixties scoop.
Shirley has worked within the community for several decades specific to program development, governance and implementation to honour and support one’s journey of reclamation of the ‘Good Mind’ as the foundation for a life of Joy and Peace. She holds in her heart bundle an immense love for all familial and community circles.
Shades of Our Sisters Launch at FIFSW
To ground our enhancement project, we partnered with Joyce Carpenter, Co-Founder of Shades of Our Sisters, an impactful exhibit created by families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse+ peoples (MMIWG2S+). The exhibit honors their loved ones and highlights the enduring impact of their loss.
This collaboration underscores the role of Social Work in advocating for change, raising awareness, and addressing systemic injustices affecting Indigenous communities. It serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to support MMIWG2S+ families and combat systemic oppression.
The launch was not only a beautiful tribute to MMIWG2S+ and those impacted, but also a way to set a strong foundation for this project, ensuring we move with intention and remain grounded in the history and lived experiences of Indigenous people today.
Future Plans for ISAP Enhancement Project
Our next steps for the ISAP Enhancement Project involve gaining a deeper understanding of the barriers to access. To do this, we invited current and former Indigenous students to participate in group discussions and surveys, where they shared their experiences before and during the application process. This helped us identify and begin addressing real barriers to access.
These consultations directly inform the development of strategies to improve recruitment and admissions. We are committed to providing ongoing support to new students in the program and initiating proactive recruitment efforts for Indigenous students through the ISAP stream. Our goal was to ensure continuous engagement and create a supportive environment throughout their time in the program.
If you are an Indigenous student and would like to share ideas or feedback on the ISAP Enhancement Project, please reach out to Lauren Akbar, Indigenous Student Access Project Administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applying through this process ensures that a member of the Indigenous community will participate in your application review process. Additionally, the Faculty is committed to building designated resources for Indigenous students. Identifying that you are an Indigenous applicant allows the Faculty to connect you with current and future resources, available scholarships, and awards, and the opportunity to engage with Indigenous faculty and/or students, early in the program.
This application process is completely optional.
This optional process does not guarantee admission, nor will it disadvantage applicants.
The goal of this program is to offer the opportunity to have qualifications assessed through a file review process that includes representation from the Indigenous community who can contribute community-based/specific knowledge to the assessment of qualifications.
This program is meant to enrich the application process and pay attention to the specific histories of both social work and large educational institutions such as the University of Toronto and their relationships with Indigenous peoples.
The field of Social Work has a history that confers unique accountabilities and responsibilities in contributing to Truth and Reconciliation. The inclusion of Indigenous learners in Social Work is important for diversifying and enriching the perspectives in our learning environment and for building capacity in the field more broadly. This application program allows us to be intentional in the goals of telling the truth about our histories and in moving towards healing and reconciliation.
Applicants who self-identify as Indigenous are eligible for this application program without any additional documents.
While we welcome the perspectives and experiences of all peoples, this dedicated ISAP pathway are for those who are specifically Indigenous to Turtle Island: First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.