Social Policy

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



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.

Applicants must hold a minimum of a bachelor honours degree (NFQ Level 8) (or equivalent) with a minimum of second-class honours, grade 2 (2:2) in any discipline.

Closing Date : 14 August 2026

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

Career Options

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.