Social Policy

The Higher Diploma in Social Policy is a 'transition' or 'conversion' programme that is open to graduates of all disciplines who wish to acquire honours degree-level knowledge and credentials in social policy. They may wish to do so in order to progress to postgraduate study in social policy or so as to gain sufficient credits in social policy to qualify for entry to certain professional programmes, including postgraduate training in social work.

The HDipSP allows a student who already has an honours degree, but has not taken the subject of social policy previously, to acquire 60 ECTS credits in social policy, over one year full-time or two years part-time, by selecting from the existing undergraduate degree programme (Years 1-3) in the Department of Applied Social Studies.

This is a one-year full time course, though it may be taken part time over two or more years.

Minimum honours 2.2 grade in a bachelors (NFQ Level 8) degree (any discipline).

Minimum English language requirements:

IELTS: 6.5 minimum overall score
TOEFL (Paper based test): 585
TOEFL (Internet based test): 95
PTE (Pearson): 62
Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850

All applications should be made through the PAC system.

Closing date: 30 June 2021

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Graduates will be well placed to apply for postgraduate education and training programmes in social work and the other social professions, provided they also have the requisite practical experience and aptitudes. They may also progress to postgraduate study and research in the applied social sciences. Like other social policy graduates they will have acquired knowledge and skills that are well suited to work in management and public administration, the NGO sector, journalism, the media and advocacy.