Social Work

ProfMasters Social Work

Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 150)



With this qualification graduates will be eligible to apply for professional registration which is a requirement to practice social work in Ireland. This Masters is also recognised internationally. The programme is taught by research-active academics with broad teaching and practice experiences. Modules address topics such as social work counselling skills, social work theory and methods, human development and behaviour, justice and human rights, working with children, families and adults, research methods, as well as working with groups and communities. We have very strong practice partnership arrangements that enable us to deliver high quality placements for students.



Registered graduates can work in a range of practice settings including: medical social work, mental health social work, child welfare and protection and criminal justice social work.



Extensive fieldwork placements are an integral part of the programme and are sourced by our Practice Learning Team.



A range of teaching methodologies are used, including lectures, small group discussions, and experiential skills workshops.



Modules are taught by research active academics, experienced social work practitioners and people who use social work services.



A commitment to engagement with people who use social work services is a key feature of the programme. For example, we have a long-established partnership with the SAOL project, an integrated programme of education, rehabilitation, advocacy and childcare for women impacted by addiction, with women from the SAOL project contributing to the programme.



The programme has long-established links with social work agencies and with individual practitioners, ensuring relevance to current practice.

Module Trimester Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

SPOL40130 Social Work Counselling Skills 1 Autumn 5

SPOL40800 Theories of Human Development and Behaviour for Social Work Autumn 5

SPOL40870 Adult Services and Health 1 Autumn 5

SPOL40900 Child and Family Social Work 1 Autumn 5

SPOL40960 Social Work Methods Autumn 5

SPOL41070 Law for Social Work Autumn 5

SPOL40890 Social Work Placement 1 Spring 25

SPOL40970 Research Methods 1 Spring 2.5

SPOL41080 Prep forProfessional Practice1 Spring 2.5

SPOL41010 Research Methods 2 Summer 30

Stage 2 Core Modules

SPOL40190 Social Justice and Human Rights Autumn 5

SPOL40220 Group Work and Community Work Autumn 5

SPOL40570 Social Work Counselling Skills 2 Autumn 5

SPOL40780 Advanced SW Theories and Methods Autumn 5

SPOL40920 Adult Services and Health 2 Autumn 5

SPOL40940 Child and Family Social Work 2 Autumn 5

SPOL40950 Social Work Placement 2 Spring 25

SPOL41000 Prep forProfessional Practice2 Spring 5

The minimum standard for entry is the equivalent of an overall Second Class Honours Grade II in the applicant's primary (Level 8) degree

Applications should hold a BSocSc degree with a major in Social Policy or a BSocial Work or equivalent; or another undergraduate degree, with at least the equivalent of a major component in Social Policy or Social Policy related subjects.

Alternatively, applicants must hold a level 8 primary degree together with a Second Class Honours (or GPA equivalent in the institution which awarded the degree) in a postgraduate (level 8) Higher Diploma in Social Policy or equivalent. A level 9 Masters in a relevant discipline may also be considered.

If your degree grade is given as a GPA, the standard for entry is the GPA equivalent of a Second Class Honours Grade II in the institution which awarded your degree. You should note that this may vary from institution to institution. For degrees awarded by UCD it is a GPA of 2.48.

Written Piece



There will be a short written piece included as part of this year's application process, on the same day as the interview. This will involve writing a short reflection on your participation in the group interview process. If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty e.g. Dyslexia, and require exam accommodations, please contact the admissions administrator at least one week before the interview so that appropriate exam accommodations can be put in place. Students are required to provide evidence of their disability in order to receive accommodations.



Work Experience

In addition to the academic requirements described above, we expect applicants to have been involved in relevant paid or volunteering experiences to demonstrate their commitment to a career in helping people. For this reason we expect them to have completed at least 250 hours of relevant paid or voluntary employment experience at the time of submitting their application, and in total 420 hours by the time the programme begins (end of August in the year of application). You will be asked to complete details of this on the application under an 'Employment History' section.The template can be downloaded from the “Graduate Programmes” page of the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice website in the section for “Professional Master of Social Work. Placements completed as part of your eligibility degree programme CANNOT be counted in these hours.



You should note that UCD reserves the right to check the information submitted on your online Work Experience form with your employer or the organisation that you are volunteering with.



We regard a variety of types of paid or voluntary work experience to be relevant to the application. It is important that applicants can demonstrate that they have had access to supervision over the course of your experience. Relevant experience should generally be interactive and involve direct contact with service users.

The following are suggested, but not exclusive, types of relevant paid or voluntary work experiences:

• Working in social care settings with adults or children in day care, residential or community based settings

• Working with people in health care settings

• Working with people in criminal justice settings

• Working with young people in educational and youth services

• Working with voluntary sector organisations that are involve in advocacy services for disadvantaged groups

• Working with voluntary sector organisations involved in online helping



Current students in the 2nd (BSocSc Social Policy and Sociology - Social Work and Professions pathway only) or final year of their degree or higher diploma programme may apply for the Professional Masters in Social Work (Full Time) programme if they meet the work experience requirements. Places on the programme will be offered subject to the attainment of the required admission standard in their degree/higher diploma programme.



Shortlisting for Interview



Applicants will be shortlisted for interview on the basis of academic results and relevant work experience. Interviews will take place in the February of the calendar year before the programme commences. As the programme tends to be over-subscribed we regret that not all eligible candidates will be shortlisted / interviewed. Eligible candidates will receive invitation to interview with further details.



Students who successfully complete the Professional Master of Social Work and are eligible to graduate may apply to CORU for registration as a professionally qualified social worker.



English language requirement



You will normally be required to have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0, or its equivalent on other similar English-language tests recognised by UCD, with a score of 6.5 or above on all individual bands. In addition, proficiency in spoken English may be assessed by interview and will be taken into account for selection purposes.

You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

150

2 years full-time.

ProfMasters Social Work (W426) Full Time

nonEU Year 1 - € 19900

nonEU Year 2 - € 19200 **


**Second Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2020 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2019/20


Fees are subject to change.

Commencing September 2025

Careers & Employability

Graduates with this degree have successfully registered as professional social workers in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries.



Graduates obtain employment in a range of social work practice contexts including criminal justice, child welfare and protection, community based social work, and health-related social work. They work with communities, children and families, older people, offenders, people with disabilities, and people with mental health difficulties, amongst others.