Home
Programs
Canada
Durham College
Diploma
Diploma in Social Service Worker

Diploma in Social Service Worker

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Official program page (opens in a new tab)

Diploma in Social Service Worker is a diploma in Social & Cultural Studies programme offered by Durham College in Oshawa, Canada. The programme runs for 4 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 15,965 per year (CAD 3,252 per year for local students).

At a glance

Degree: Diploma

Field: Social & Cultural Studies

Duration: 4 semesters

Delivery: On Campus

Language: English

Local tuition: CAD 3,252 / year

International tuition: CAD 15,965 / year

Last checked September 2026 · Source: durhamcollege.ca ·

Program details

Overview

The Social Service Worker diploma combines academic study with practical experience, building the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to work across community and social services. Coursework emphasizes front-line interviewing and counselling skills for work with individuals and groups across settings such as services for seniors, employment programs, addiction and mental health facilities, women's shelters, and group homes. Graduates may apply to the Community Mental Health – Honours Bachelor degree through its transfer pathway, which allows students to complete their Ontario College Diploma alongside an Honours Bachelor's degree within four years.

Requirements

Admission Requirements: Admission requires an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or Mature Student Status plus Grade 12 English at the C or U level; the programme may be designated highly competitive, in which case Durham College's admission-process page applies its standard ranking rules. The page states no minimum average and no language-test scores of its own, so English-language proficiency follows Durham College's institution-wide requirement for certificate and diploma programs: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall with no section below 4.5, PTE Academic 53 with no section below 49, CAEL 60 with no section below 60, or Duolingo English Test 110.

Application Details

Start Date: Three intakes a year - September, January and May. Current cycle class starts: 8 September 2026, 11 January 2027 and 3 May 2027.

Application Deadline: Domestic (apply at ontariocolleges.ca): equal-consideration date 1 February 2026 for September 2026 entry, 1 October 2026 for January 2027 entry and 1 February 2027 for May 2027 entry - Durham's standing rule is 1 February for a September start, 1 October for a January start and 1 February for a May start. Applications completed after the equal-consideration date are still accepted and assessed while seats remain. International: apply through Durham College's own international application, not ontariocolleges.ca; Durham publishes no general international closing date and directs applicants to the Intakes and Availability table on the program page.

About Durham College

Type: College

Campus setting: Suburban

Founded: 1967

Students: 13,000

Programs: 156

Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

View the full Durham College profile

Similar programs in Canada

Social Justice Studies Diploma

University of Victoria · Victoria · 15 months · On Campus

Diploma in Community and Justice Services

Centennial College · Toronto · 4 semesters · On Campus

Diploma in Community Development Work

Centennial College · Toronto · 4 semesters · On Campus

Diploma in Developmental Services Worker

Fanshawe College · London · 60 weeks · On Campus

Diploma in Developmental Services Worker

Centennial College · Toronto · 4 semesters · On Campus

Diploma in Developmental Services Worker - Accelerated

Confederation College · Thunder Bay · 1 year · On Campus

More programs at Durham College

HD in Child and Youth Care

6 semesters · On Campus

Cert in Community Integration Through Co-Operative Education

4 semesters · On Campus

Diploma in Developmental Services Worker

4 semesters · On Campus

Diploma in 9-1-1 Emergency and Call Centre Communications

4 semesters · On Campus

Diploma in Accounting - Business

4 semesters · On Campus

Accounting - Business - Transfer to Ontario Tech University Bachelor of Commerce (Hons)

4 semesters · On Campus

HD in Accounting - Business Administration

6 semesters · On Campus

Addictions and Mental Health (graduate certificate)

3 semesters · On Campus

Diploma in Advertising and Marketing Communications

4 semesters · On Campus

Cert in Animal Care

2 semesters · On Campus

Other universities in Canada

Ontario Tech University

Oshawa · THE 2026 #801-1000

University of Toronto

Toronto · QS 2027 #32

The University of British Columbia

Vancouver

McGill University

Montréal · QS 2027 #30

University of Alberta

Edmonton · QS 2027 #96

University of Calgary

Calgary · QS 2027 #249

Scholarships in Canada

Degree Entrance Award — CAD 3,000
Global Entrance Scholarship — CAD 3,000
Indigenous Student Bursary — CAD 3,500
Ontario First Generation Bursary — CAD 3,500
Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship — CAD 10,000

Frequently asked questions

What degree does Diploma in Social Service Worker award?

Durham College awards a Diploma in the field of Social & Cultural Studies on completion of this programme.

How long does Diploma in Social Service Worker take?

The programme runs for 4 semesters.

How much does Diploma in Social Service Worker cost?

Tuition for international students is CAD 15,965 per year (CAD 3,252 per year for local students).

Can Diploma in Social Service Worker be studied online?

No — the programme is taught on campus at Durham College.

What language is Diploma in Social Service Worker taught in?

The programme is taught in English.

Career Planning Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit: Field-of-Study Rules and Eligibility for ASEAN Graduates

Money & Budgeting Part-Time Work Rules and Realistic Earnings for ASEAN Students in Canada

Guides Surviving the Housing Crisis: Student Accommodation Budgeting in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal

Student Life Canadian Student Housing Guide: Basement Rentals, Tenant Rights by Province, and How to Avoid Deposit Scams

Career Planning Spousal Open Work Permit Ban for Undergraduates: What Are Your Alternatives?

Study Abroad Getting a Work Visa Sponsored in Europe, Canada, or Asia as a New US Grad

Browse all articles →

Spotted something outdated or missing?

Help us keep this page accurate — it takes about 30 seconds.

More diploma programs in Canada Social & Cultural Studies programs in Canada About Durham College

Diploma in Social Service Worker

At a glance