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Home > Study in Canada > Seneca Polytechnic - Seneca at York Campus > Diploma in Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (Accelerated)

Diploma in Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (Accelerated) Seneca Polytechnic - Seneca at York Campus Seneca Polytechnic - Seneca at York Campus, Canada

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CAD 25743

Annual Tuition Fee

!
*Subject to change and other fees
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CAD 90 Waived

Application Fee

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12 months

Duration

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6

IELTS

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80

TOEFL

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60%

Min GPA

Program Overview

The SSIA program is the first of its kind in Ontario, offering an in-depth understanding of the evolving landscape of newcomer reception and support in Canada. This one-year accelerated option allows you to build on your current credentials, upgrading your education or choosing a career specialization. This program consists of a seven-week summer semester starting in early May, followed by a regular academic year starting the day after Labour Day and concluding in mid-April.


Learning through a critical and anti-oppressive lens, you will graduate prepared to support immigrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds. The program, which is grounded in equity, social justice, and anti-oppression principles, provides insights into pre-migration conditions and how to offer meaningful support to individuals and families throughout the migration and integration process. 


You will gain knowledge and skills required for social service work with a specific focus on settlement counselling and case management aligned with the experiences of those newly arrived in Canada or undergoing the settlement process. Community development is highlighted with a focus on co-creation and co-design with citizens of the community to identify and respond to gaps in service. Additionally, you will develop advocacy skills to represent clients' needs, fundraising and proposal writing to secure resources, and program planning, development and evaluation to create and assess effective support programs.  Success in this program is measured by your ability to grow, challenge personal beliefs, and promote social justice, human dignity, and equality.


Skills
Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

  • Trauma-informed settlement counselling and practice across the lifespan
  • Case management
  • Community development and program planning
  • Fundraising and proposal writing
  • Referrals, intakes, assessment and evaluation
  • Interpersonal communication and interviewing
  • Group dynamics and facilitation
  • Advocacy, system navigation and familiarity of international and national migration policies
Read more

Additional Information

Program Level UG Certificate / Diploma

College/University Processing Time 25 Days

Program Format Full-Time

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) work permit

Program Intake

Open

May 2026

Closed

Jan 2026, Sep 2026

General Admission Requirement

  • IELTS
    • Minimum Overall Score - 6.0 - With No Band Less Than - 5.5
  • TOEFL
    • Minimum Overall Score - 80.0  Minimum Listening - 20.0  Minimum Reading - 20.0  Minimum Writing - 20.0  Minimum Speaking - 20.0  
  • PTE
    • Minimum Overall Score - 58
  • DUOLINGO
    • Minimum Overall Score - 105.0  

Academic Requirement

Minimum Level of Education Required: To be accepted into this program, applicants must have an Ontario university or college degree or equivalent, or an Ontario college diploma or equivalent.

Note: Applicants with at least two years of successful completion of postsecondary credits may also be considered. If you are a high school applicant or have not previously studied at a postsecondary institution, explore our Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (SSWI) program.

6 IELTS Score
80 TOEFL Score Minimum Overall Score
58 PTE Score Minimum Overall Score
105 Duolingo Minimum Overall Score
60% CGPA Minimum Overall Score

Similar Programs

Tuition Fee

The values given below are estimated figures, excluding extra charges like material fee, student activity fees, athletic fees, health care, etc., for courses. To know more, please visit the page.

Average Tuition Fee Per Year

25743

Tuition Fee
(CAD)

CAD 90 Waived

Application Fee
(CAD)

20600 Per year

Average Cost of Living
(CAD)

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The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

for more information about funding options.

Scholarships

Entrance Scholarship of up to $5,000 for All International Students*

Study in Canada at Seneca Polytechnic to get up to $5,000 in an entrance scholarship* when you start a new program in January 2026, May 2026 or September 2026.


You can also receive an application fee credit.
*Entrance scholarship amounts will be based on the number of years of study.

Am I eligible?

You are eligible if you are an international applicant either currently in or outside Canada who is applying to a full-time postsecondary program and confirm your Seneca program choice.

You are also eligible if you are an international student who is:

  • paying international tuition fees
  • currently studying in Canada and interested in a second program or starting one of our bundled programs
  • obtaining or in the process of obtaining your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
  • currently studying in Canada in an eligible English pathway program
  • currently studying at Seneca and applying for a new program
Is my program eligible?
  • The entrance scholarship is valid for all full-time postsecondary programs that start in January 2026, May 2026 or September 2026.
  • If you confirm your Seneca program choice for a bundled program or second program, the scholarship will be awarded for each new program.
  • If you are interested in a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), please ensure you understand .
How do I start?

You automatically qualify for this entrance scholarship if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Here is what you need to do:

  • Confirm your offer of admission to a full-time program at Seneca through our .
  • You will pay the $90 CAD application fee when you apply and the amount will be credited to your student account after Day 10 of the term, should you confirm your offer, pay your fees and enroll. Note—If you are working with an agent, please connect with your agent for an application promo code.
  • Upload a valid study permit or Letter of Introduction (LOI) at the time of application, if you are applying within Canada
  • Confirm your offer of admission and pay a minimum $2,000 tuition deposit and you will receive a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and Provincial Attestation Letter (if applicable) from Seneca.
  • Pay your fees by the due date in the fee notice to secure your spot
  • Complete any  at Seneca
How do I get the scholarship?

You will receive an entrance scholarship and prioritized admission when you start a new program at Seneca. The amount of the scholarship will be based on the length of the program.

  • One-year program—$2,000 (when you confirm your program)
  • Two-year program—$3,000 ($2,000 when you confirm your program, $1,000 in year two)
  • Three-year program—$4,000 ($2,000 when you confirm your program, $1,000 in years two and three)
  • Four-year program—$5,000 ($2,000 when you confirm program, $1,000 in years two, three and four)

The entrance scholarship will be deposited directly to your  account shortly after day 10 of the term once you’ve provided your Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) or International Tax Number (ITN) on Student Home. Any remaining entrance scholarship that you may be eligible for, based on the length of the program, will be deposited after Day 10 of each subsequent year of the program, where relevant.

The Seneca Entrance Scholarship is non-refundable. If this award results in an overpayment of fees, the excess funds will be automatically applied to the fees for the next semester.

If you choose to defer your admission to a future term, you may still be eligible to receive the $2,000 tuition credit of the Seneca Entrance Scholarship, provided you defer to an eligible term.

  • No cash alternative or substitution will be provided
  • You will need to provide your Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) or International Tax Number (ITN) on Student Home - after your arrival in Canada - to receive the scholarship after Day 10 of the term

 



Renewable Degree Scholarships

Students in degree programs
Full-time students starting in any of Seneca’s full-time bachelor’s degree or master’s degree programs can qualify for a renewable scholarship for one credential. Eligibility is determined based on Grade 12 grades or grades from a previous postsecondary program.


Grade requirements
To qualify for the scholarship, you must achieve and maintain the required GPA listed below. The amount awarded each year is based on your academic performance.

Annual GPA requirements and award amounts:

  • 70% or 3.0 GPA+ – $500 per year
  • 75% or 3.3 GPA+ – $750 per year
  • 80% or 3.6 GPA+ – $1,000 per year


Duration of awards

  • Students in a four-year bachelor’s degree program may receive up to four annual scholarships
  • Students in a three-year bachelor’s degree program may receive up to three annual scholarships
  • Students in a master’s degree program may receive up to two annual scholarships


Scholarships are renewable based on academic performance in subsequent years of study. Students must maintain full-time enrolment and meet the required GPA each year to continue receiving the award.
Note: International applicants in any of Seneca’s degree programs, including three and four-year bachelor's degrees and master's degrees, may qualify for both the renewable degree scholarship and the  for international students.


Renewable degree scholarships and diploma-to-degree scholarships are open to students starting in the fall, winter and summer terms.

  • For the fall term, application opens July 15
  • For the winter term, application opens Dec. 1
  • For the summer term, application opens May 1

The application deadline is the 10th day of classes in the term for which you are applying.  After the deadline to drop classes, we will assess your application to ensure you meet the awards criteria.

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