Will I be a registered student with UCC and MTU?

Yes! Registration as students at both universities UCC and MTU ensures that learners can avail of a comprehensive range of student supports across both institutions. This includes access to counselling services, pastoral and wellbeing supports, academic learning centres, disability and access services, library resources, and student advisory services. Dual registration enhances equity and choice by allowing students to engage with the support structures that best meet their individual needs at different points in their learning journey.  Additionally, each semester includes visits to the campus of both universities, enabling students to become familiar with learning environments, facilities, and support services across each institution.

If students complete an assessment with one university, they do not need to complete a second assessment with the other university. Students can share their learning support plan across institutions, thus eliminating the need for students to tell their story multiple times.   

How much Work Integrated Learning do I have?

Students undertake six work based learning modules, totalling 90 credits, over the course of the degree, two modules worth 30 credits per academic year.

In year 1 they undertake SS1013 (10 credits) and SS1014 (20 credits).

In year 2 they undertake SS2034 (10 credits) and SS2035 (20 credits).

In the final year they undertake SS3054 (20 credits) and SS3055 (10 credits).

The purposes of these modules are (1) the integration of campus based theoretical learning into social care practice, (2) the identification and development of social care practice skills to professional standards,(3), the opportunity to build practice experience in a variety of social care settings under the direct supervision of qualified and experienced practitioners and (4), the opportunity to demonstrate competence in the prescribed CORU standards of proficiency for social care.

Employment Opportunities

Successful candidates may be required to commit to working with the Employer / Work Integrated Learning Host Organisation for a stated number of years post receipt of the Level 8 qualification.

Social Care Workers plan and provide professional care to vulnerable individuals and groups of all ages who experience marginalisation, disadvantage or special needs. As well as protecting and advocating for such individuals and groups, Social Care Workers professionally guide, challenge and support those entrusted to their care toward achieving their fullest potential. Client groups are varied and include children and adolescents in residential care; young people in detention schools; people with intellectual or physical disabilities; people who are homeless; people with alcohol/drug dependency; families in the community; or older people (SocialCareIreland.ie).

You may be employed in the state sector, for example, by the HSE or TUSLA, in the extensive and highly varied community and voluntary sector, with employers such as the St John of God Services, the Brothers of Charity Services, Enable Ireland, the Simon Communities, Family Resource Centres etc., or in the private sector.

How is the BA (Hons) in Social Care programme delivered?

The BA (Hons) Social Care is a full-time three-year undergraduate degree which combines full time employment work integrated learning with academic learning in UCC and MTU. Approximately 50% of the learning takes place in work integrated learning settings at the students’ place of employment in selected and approved social care agencies across Ireland.

The program is structured around employment in the social care sector and features dedicated on- the- job blocks and off-the-job study blocks in the university.

The BA (Hons) in Social Care will be facilitated through Hybrid delivery, breaking each off-the-job study block at the University, per week up as follows:   

• One day to be delivered live online 
• Two days to be delivered asynchronously, where students will be expected to work through structured materials  
• Two days to be delivered on  

Is Attendance Mandatory?

All module learning outcomes are linked to CORU Standards of Proficiency. Therefore, full attendance is recommended across all modules to meet assessments, which are linked to what is covered in class.

There is a minimum 80% attendance requirement across all modules for the BA (Hons) in Social Care programme.

The 80% attendance requirement applies to in-person and synchronous online delivery only. Engagement with asynchronous learning material is a programme requirement and your engagement will be monitored by the programme team but Asynchronous learning activities are not included in this calculation.