Program Overview

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Social Work

Course Fact File

• Code: MSWK
• Duration: 2 Years Full-time
• Teaching Mode: Full-time
• Qualifications: MSW
• NFQ Level: Level 9
• Closing Date: 10 February 2025
• Non-EU Closing Date: 10 February 2025
• Start Date: 8 September 2025

Course Outline

The Master of Social Work (NFQ Level 9) programme is a two-year full-time course that combines academic study with fieldwork placements. This programme is approved by CORU. When you finish the MSW you will have a qualification that enables you to register as a social worker with regulatory bodies in Ireland (CORU) and abroad.

It is also possible to study for your MSW at UCC through an apprenticeship with an employer. All successful applicants for an apprenticeship in social work will be automatically enrolled on the MSW/PDSWS at UCC. You can apply directly to study for your MSW at UCC and also apply for an apprenticeship in social work with an employer.

This MA is a full-time professional training programme running for 21 months over two academic years from the date of first registration for the programme.

As part of this MA you will take modules in social work theory, skills, social policy and topics specific to social work settings such as child and family welfare and mental health.

Students take 60 credits in each year of the programme (a total of 120 credits). The programme is divided into six thematically-based combinations as detailed below.

Year I

• SS6101 Social Work Approaches 1: Theory and Practice
• SS6105 Social Policy and Social Exclusion
• SS6106 Applied Social Research 1
• SS6107 User Experiences in Diverse Contexts 1 (mental health, substance misuse and social work, social work in healthcare settings)
• SS6108 Child and Family Welfare 1
• SS6112 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement 1
• SS6115 The Rights and Welfare of Adults at Risk of Harm
• LW6005 Social Work and the Law (Child Law)

Year II

• SS6200 Social Work Approaches II: Theory & Practice (Critical and Radical Social Work; Sustainability, Environmental and Social Justice Issues; Community Work)
• SS6201 Child and Family Welfare II
• SS6202 User Experiences in Diverse Contexts 2 (Probation and Offending; Working with Young People; Working with Disabled People; Age & Ageing)
• SS6207 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement II
• SS6206 Dissertation in Social Work
• LW6003 Social Work and the Law (The Rights of Vulnerable Persons)

Learning Outcomes

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of social systems and human behaviour to promote social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being
• Apply knowledge of social policy to critically examine and respond to the impact of social and political contexts on service users and social work
• Reflectively evaluate and implement the values and ethics of the profession of social work as embodied in the Irish Association of Social Workers, CORU and International Federation of Social Workers codes
• Promote principles of social justice, human rights, and anti-oppressive practice as intrinsic elements of social work practice
• Demonstrate core social work practice proficiencies in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability; communication, collaborative practice and teamworking; safety and quality; professional development; professional knowledge and skills
• Demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, and apply this to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice
• Illustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed, strengths-based, and reflective
• Engage in a process of self-awareness, self-monitoring, and continuous professional development
• Develop as 'research minded' practitioners who will continue to update their knowledge and engage in systematic evaluation of their practice
• Respond reflectively and reflexively as social workers in a variety of social work settings, including multi-disciplinary contexts
• Complete a research dissertation that demonstrates their knowledge and capacity to undertake a social work-related research project

Course Practicalities

The MSW is a full-time professional programme that involves five full days of college work (blended course delivery, one day live online, 2 days asynchronous, and 2 days face-to-face on campus – subject to change) or five full days in practice / on the job learning. Practice placements / on the job learning are an integral part of the course. You are required to complete two 14-week fieldwork placements / on the job learning, for at least one of which you will be required to move outside Cork. The course is split roughly 50/50 between college academic work and practice placements / on the job learning. Students on our MSW programme go on placements to a wide variety of practice contexts all over Ireland and in year 2 have the option to do an international social work placement. Students on the MSW (apprenticeship) return to their employer for on the job learning instead of a placement.

Assessment

You will undertake a wide variety of academic and practice / on the job learning assessments. You are assessed through group projects, enquiry-based learning assignments, reflective portfolios, learning journals, essays, videos, research presentations, and a minor dissertation.

Why Choose This Course

This programme is a leader in social work education in Ireland: it was one of the first courses to adopt a reflective approach to teaching and learning which supports the development of skilled, reflective practitioners.

This programme is approved by CORU. It has been commended for its delivery of a coherent, well-constructed and successfully executed course of professional social work education. The teaching and learning methods on the course are centrally concerned with building on students’ prior knowledge and experience, and with developing and extending skills and competencies. Preparing you to meet the requirements for professional registration under CORU is key and our graduates are much sought-after by major national and international employment agencies.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

A limited number of placement opportunities outside of Ireland are available each year. The School has links with placement agencies in the US, India, South Africa, and some European countries. Students are advised that international placements are only possible in year 2 of the programme. International placements are not available to apprentices.

Skills and Careers Information

On graduation, you will have been prepared for professional registration and be in a position to demonstrate the core social work practice proficiencies (as prescribed by CORU) in the areas of professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills. You will be able to exhibit a good knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, and apply it to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice. Consequentially, you will be well prepared to respond reflectively and reflexively to a variety of social work situations in a diversity of social work settings, including multi-disciplinary contexts.

The variety of social work fields that have attracted and employed our graduates to date include medical, mental health, child protection, probation, physical and intellectual disability, community social work and primary care.

Requirements

Admission to the Masters of Social Work (MSW) is open to students holding at least a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours (NFQ, Level 8) BSocSc Degree (or its equivalent), or graduates who have successfully completed an approved conversion programme, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy with at least a Second Class Honours Grade I (or its equivalent). A full list of other programmes that have been deemed to be equivalent to the BSocSc is available here.

There is a selection process based on the following combined elements: academic performance and research capacity; certified social work-related experience and initiative; knowledge of social work and motivation, commitment and suitability

• IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants should NOT apply for both the Masters and Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies options as there is ONE selection procedure for both options.
• Please note that the Masters of Social Work (MSW) does not accept applications for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you intend to apply through RPL, you must apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies.

Requirements for MSW applicants:

1. Applicants have already graduated with at least a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours (NFQ, Level 8) BSocSc Degree (or its equivalent)
2. Applicants have already graduated with at least a Second Class Honours Grade I in an approved level 8 conversion programme, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (or its equivalent)
3. Applicants are current final year students in BSocSc (level 8) (or its equivalent) pending their final results in their Summer exams
4. Applicants are current students on an approved level 8 conversion programme, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (or its equivalent) pending their final results in their Summer exams

AND

5. Have 420 hours of social work-related experience by interview date. See our FAQ here for further information.
6. Be able to secure Garda Vetting (police).

Current final year BSocSc students/current Higher Diploma in Social Policy students / final year students on approved equivalent courses who are successful at their interview will be allocated places on the MSW, conditional on achieving a minimum 2nd Class Honours Grade I in their final degree exams. Should they not obtain a 2nd Class Honours Grade I, they will then be allocated a place on the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies on confirmation of their results.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies option is also aimed at graduates who have already completed their BSocSc level 8 degree (or equivalent) but achieved an overall result of less than a 2nd Class Honours Grade I.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Pathway

For those interested in studying social work at UCC who do not meet these eligibility criteria, you may be able to apply to the PDSWS under our new recognition of prior learning (RPL) pathway. The RPL eligibility criteria are available on the PDSWS website.

GARDA VETTING

Please note that as part of this programme students will require Garda Vetting as they will take part in a placement or UCC related activity where they will be working in an unsupervised capacity with children and/or vulnerable adults. For more information on this process please read the UCC Student Garda Vetting Policy

FITNESS TO PRACTISE

This programme is subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

All applicants should also consult with the Frequently Asked Questions about the Selection Process: FAQs.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2025/2026

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay?

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page.

How To Apply

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the yellow fact file boxes at the top of this webpage. The UCC online application portal usually opens around mid October.

2. Gather documents

Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

• Original qualification documents listed on your application, including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
• Any supplementary items requested for your course, if required.

3. Apply online

Apply online by clicking the red 'Apply Now' button below. Note most of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

• The closing date for submitting an online application for the Master of Social Work & the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies is 10 February 2025.

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

Social Work Experience - Paid/Voluntary and Student Placements

To be eligible for this programme you need to have completed at least 420 hours of social work or social work-related experience. Your experience will be used as one criterion to rank candidates for an interview should there be a large number of applicants. However, we may interview candidates who have 250 hours by the application closing date if you state in the application additional/supplementary questions how you will make up the balance of the hours by the interview date (March).

You must outline briefly:

• Social work practice related experience (paid or voluntary) and
• Relevant student placements, if applicable.

Please list newest to oldest and specify in the duties and responsibilities box for each position whether it is:

• Voluntary/paid
• Part-time/full-time

You must also include your duties and responsibilities and the number of hours completed for each agency.

Other additional questions:

• Social Work Practice Related Experience (Paid/Voluntary) Total Hours.
• Student Placement Total Hours (if applicable).
• Summary of all social work-related experience hours combined.
• Proposed work experience you will complete before your interview to make up the required 420 hours (if applicable).
• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Please provide the details of one academic referee and one professional referee (this can be from a voluntary role). Both referees will be contacted at shortlisting stage by the review panel.

All additional supporting documentation for application to the Master of Social Work needs to be submitted by 17 February 2025. If not, the application will be considered incomplete and not processed further.