Frequently Asked Questions About the Selection Process
What is the difference between the Master of Social Work
(MSW) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (PGDSWS)?
Candidates
who are successful at interview, but whose BSocSc degree (or equivalent) is
below a 2H (e.g. pass or 3H), can register for the Postgraduate Diploma in
Social Work Studies. Students take the same classes, go on the same number of
placements and do most of the assignments that the MSW students undertake. Both
courses award the National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW); however, there
are differences in the pass grade for written assignments between the courses
and the final academic awards are different. It is possible to transfer from
the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies to the MSW in year two if
certain academic requirements are met.
Which course should I apply for?
Current
final year BSocSc (or its equivalent) students, should apply for the Masters
of Social Work option (CKE64) only, pending their final results. Applicants
should not apply for both the Masters and Postgraduate Diploma in Social
Work options as it is the one selection procedure for both options. If your
degree award is 2H or higher, you should apply for the MSW.
My degree is not a level 8 degree - can I apply?
If you
have a Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (Social Care) ordinary level degree
from an Institute of Technology (level 7), before the degrees were upgraded to
level 8 degrees you will need to do some work to upgrade your degree to a level
8 degree. Please contact your college to discuss your options, for example, to
complete an add on year for an Honours BA degree (level 8). Alternatively, you
could complete a Higher Diploma in Social Policy that would also give you the
honours year and the required level 8 qualification in Social Science.
What degrees/courses are recognised as equivalent to the
BSocSc (National University of Ireland)?
All of the
level 8 BA (Hons.) Applied Social Studies (Social Care) degrees from the IT
sector in the Republic of Ireland, the BA Early Childhood Studies degree (UCC),
Bachelor Degree and Higher Diploma in Youth and Community Work, BA Hons in
Social Policy, and non-equivalent degrees where the candidate has also completed
a recognised Higher Diploma in Social Policy such as the one provided by UCC,
are recognised as equivalent to the BSocSc degree for the purpose of applying
to the MSW.
My degree is not one of the degrees recognised -
can I apply?
Prospective
candidates who would like to pursue a career in social work, but whose degree
is not recognised as equivalent to the BSocSc, can do a conversion course in
the School of Applied Social Studies called the Higher Diploma in Social Policy,
which, in conjunction with your primary degree, will make you eligible for
interview if you have also met the other entrance requirements (such as a
minimum of 470 hours social work related practice experience). The Higher
Diploma in Social Policy course is run over one academic year. Click on this
link for further information.
What does the interview day look like?
We usually
run four separate interview days and candidates attend one of the selection days. Following a registration and orientation
process that runs from 9.30am – 10.15am, candidates participate in a number of
group interviews. Later that day, anytime up to 4pm, candidates are offered an
individual interview lasting approximately 20 minutes. The selection panel for
each interview day is comprised of staff from the School of Applied Social
Studies and social work practitioners.
What does social work related practice experience mean?
To be eligible
for interview, candidates must have at least 470 hours social work related
practice experience on the day of their interview. Examples of practice experiences that candidates have undertaken in the
past include: Simon Community, Comhairle (Citizens Information Services),
Nightline (UCC), residential care work, observational placements such as
Probation and Health Service Executive, access work with the Health Service
Executive, social work posts, disability services, community and voluntary
groups, youth work, SUAS (UCC), Hope Foundation, volunteer programmes abroad, advocacy
groups such as Alzheimer's society, Age Action, Amnesty International, and,
and, and … (not an exhaustive list!).
It is not expected that these are paid positions, nor that candidates have done the hours consecutively, nor that your role was that of a social worker. As long your social work related practice experience adds up to at least 470 hours and you can explain why you think your practice experience is related to social work, then that is likely to be satisfactory. Of course, you will need to present your learning from these practice experiences at interview and this will be assessed. A pre-selection review of the applications takes place by the MSW course team to assess the relevance of the social work related practice experience of all candidates. It is important that candidates provide as much detail about their work experience as possible (number of hours, exact name and address of organization, the title of your role and a clear description of your duties and responsibilities).
I don’t have 470 of social work related practice experience,
but I will have the hours completed by the interview date - can I still apply?
Yes, we
would encourage you to apply, but please state clearly on your application form
how you hope to complete the hours before the interview date (normally March of
each year).
I am having some difficulty certifying some of my practice
experience – what can I do?
We are
aware that in certain cases it may not be possible to certify all of your
practice experience, for example, where an agency has closed down. Please place
an explanatory note next to this entry on your application form.
I would like to apply for the MSW but can’t attend for interview in Cork - can I do a phone or video-conference interview?
All candidates must participate fully in the selection process, which involves attending the group and individual interviews held in Cork. Unfortunately, we cannot do phone or video-conference interviews.
Why have I not been offered an interview?
We try to
offer interviews to all applicants; however, as there is a limit to the number
of applicants that we can interview over the four days of interviews, a
short-listing process may take place. This short-listing procedure examines the
presentation and quality of the written applications, whether applicants have
included all of the relevant documentation, whether applicants’ academic
qualifications are equivalent to the BSocSc, academic ability and the quality
and breadth of applicants’ social work related practice experience is examined.
In particular, candidates whose applications are incomplete, are not offered
interviews.
I have previously applied for the MSW, but was not
successful at interview – can I apply again?
If you
have previously been unsuccessful in securing a place on the MSW, you may
reapply. If you are not offered a place the first time you apply, do not be
discouraged; students in the past have come back and reapplied with more
experience. They have told us that in retrospect they were pleased they did not
get on the course first time around as they now realise that they were not
ready and that more experience has been extremely beneficial for them in
engaging with the course.
I live outside the European Union - can I apply?
International/Non-EU
students must apply online also through PAC system
but they must also complete the Non-EU Taught
Application form rather than the EU taught form. The same supplementary
candidate’s statement form and references are also attached.
If the applicants are from countries where English is not their first language,
they also have to submit an IELTS or TOEFL English language proficiency result
as part of their application. The closing date for applications is the same
also. The applications are processed through the International Education Office
who liaises with the School of Applied Social Studies. The International
Education Office check the comparability of the degree, grading standards compared
to the level of the degrees in Ireland/Britain on the UK NARIC database and
provide the School of Applied Social Studies with advice on this from their
findings on UK NARIC.