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1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Postgraduate Diploma
5. Social Work Studies

Course Fact File

Code	PDSWS
Duration	2 Years Full-time
Teaching Mode	Full-time
Qualifications	PG Dip
NFQ Level	Level 9
Closing Date	10 February 2025
Non-EU Closing Date	10 February 2025
Start Date	8 September 2025

Course Outline

The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (NFQ Level 9) programme is a two-year full-time course that combines academic study with fieldwork placements. This programme is approved by CORU. When you finish this PDSWS you will have a qualification that enables you to register as a social worker with regulatory bodies in Ireland (CORU) and abroad. Find out more about the School of Applied Social Studies here, about social work in UCC on X/Twitter and Linkedin.   

It is also possible to study for your PDSWS at UCC through an apprenticeship with an employer - click here to find out more information. All successful applicants for an apprenticeship in social work will be automatically enrolled on the MSW/PDSWS at UCC. You can apply directly to study for your PDSWS at UCC and also apply for an apprenticeship in social work with an employer.  

Prospective applicants should also visit our School of Applied Social Studies website at http://www.ucc.ie/en/msw. This website has been designed to answer questions you may have about our social work programmes. 

• Applicants should check the entry requirements below to ascertain if they should apply for the Masters in Social Work OR the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies option. 
• Applicants should ONLY apply for ONE of these options as it is the same selection procedure for both options (Final Year Students) or current Higher Diploma in Social Policy students should apply for the Master's level (MSW) programme.

Year I 

• SS6101 Social Work Approaches 1: Theory and Practice 
• SS6105 Social Policy and Social Exclusion 
• SS6106 Applied Social Research 1 
• SS6107 User Experiences in Diverse Contexts 1 (mental health, substance misuse and social work, social work in healthcare settings) 
• SS6108 Child and Family Welfare 1 
• SS6112 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement 1 
• SS6115 The Rights and Welfare of Adults at Risk of Harm 
• LW6005 Social Work and the Law (Child Law)  

Click here to access the UCC book of modules to review each module.  

Year II 

• SS6200 Social Work Approaches II: Theory & Practice (Critical and Radical Social Work; Sustainability, Environmental and Social Justice Issues; Community Work) 
• SS6201 Child and Family Welfare II 
• SS6202 User Experiences in Diverse Contexts 2 (Probation and Offending; Working with Young People; Working with Disabled People; Age & Ageing) 
• SS6207 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement II 
• SS6205 Practice Research Project 
• LW6003 Social Work and the Law (The Rights of Vulnerable Persons) 

Click here to access the UCC book of modules to review each module.  

 

• Apply knowledge of social systems and human behaviour to promote social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being; 
• Apply knowledge of social policy to critically examine and respond to the impact of social and political contexts on service users and social work; 
• Reflectively evaluate and implement the values and ethics of the profession of social work as embodied in the Irish Association of Social Workers, CORU and International Federation of Social Workers codes; 
• Promote principles of social justice, human rights, and anti-oppressive practice as intrinsic elements of social work practice; 
• Demonstrate core social work practice proficiencies in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability; communication, collaborative practice and teamworking; safety and quality; professional development; professional knowledge and skills; 
• Demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, and apply this to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice; 
• Illustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed, strengths-based, and reflective; 
• Engage in a process of self-awareness, self-monitoring, and continuous professional development; 
• Develop as 'research minded' practitioners who will continue to update their knowledge and engage in systematic evaluation of their practice; 
• Respond reflectively and reflexively as social workers in a variety of social work settings, including multi-disciplinary contexts; 
• Complete a research dissertation that demonstrates their knowledge and capacity to undertake a social work-related research project. 

Course Practicalities

The Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (PDSWS) is a full-time professional programme that involves five full days of college work (blended course delivery, one day live online, 2 days asynchronous, and 2 days face-to-face on campus – subject to change) or five full days in practice / on the job learning. Practice placements / on the job learning are an integral part of the course. You are required to complete two 14-week fieldwork placements / on the job learning, for at least one of which you will be required to move outside Cork. The course is split roughly 50/50 between college academic work and practice placements / on the job learning. Students on our PDSWS programme go on placements to a wide variety of practice contexts all over Ireland and in year 2 have the option to do an international social work placement. Students on the PDSWS (apprenticeship) return to their employer for on the job learning instead of a placement. 

Assessment

You will undertake a wide variety of academic and practice / on the job learning assessments. You are assessed through group projects, enquiry-based learning assignments, reflective portfolios, learning journals, essays, videos, research presentations, and a minor dissertation. 

Why Choose This Course

Our Master of Social Work/Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies staff provide a very successful and much sought-after course of professional education and training in social work. It is a leader in social work education in Ireland where it was one of the first courses to adopt a reflective approach to teaching and learning throughout the course, with the aim of supporting the development of skilled, reflective practitioners.

This programme is approved by CORU. It has been commended for its delivery of a coherent, well-constructed and successfully executed course of professional social work education. The teaching and learning methods on the course are centrally concerned with building on students’ prior knowledge and experience, and with developing and extending skills and competencies. Preparing you to meet the requirements for professional registration (CORU) is a central objective of the course. Our graduates are sought-after by major national and international employment agencies.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

A limited number of placement opportunities outside of Ireland are available each year. The School has links with placement agencies in the US, India, South Africa, and some   

 European countries. Students are advised that international placements are only possible in year 2 of the programme. International placements and are not available to apprentices. 

Skills and Careers Information

On graduation, you will have been prepared for professional registration and be in a position to demonstrate the core social work practice proficiencies (CORU) in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills. You will be able to exhibit a good knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, and apply it to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice. Consequentially, you will be well prepared to respond reflectively and reflexively to a variety of social work situations in a diversity of social work settings, including multi-disciplinary contexts. Fields of social work that have attracted and employed our graduates to date include medical, mental health, child protection, probation, physical and intellectual disability, community social work, and primary care.

Requirements

Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (CKC06) is confined to students holding a BSocSc (Hons) Degree with an overall result of at least a Third Class Honours or its equivalent, such as (but not limited to) the BA in Early Years and Childhood Studies, BA Hons in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, or graduates with a conversion course, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (or its equivalent) A full list of other programmes that have been deemed to be equivalent to the BSocSc is available here. 

AND 

5) Have 420 hours of social work-related experience by interview date. See our FAQ here for further information. 

6) Be able to secure Garda Vetting (police). 

Students/apprentices on the PDSWS who pass each module and achieve an aggregate of at least 50% across all modules and have passed the Fieldwork Placement I, may be permitted to transfer into the second year of the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. 

There is a selection process based on the following combined elements: academic performance and research capacity; certified social work-related experience and initiative; knowledge of social work and motivation, commitment and suitability. 

• IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants should NOT apply for both the Masters and Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies options as there is ONE selection procedure for both options.   

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Pathway 

For those interested in studying social work at UCC who do not meet these eligibility criteria, you may be able to apply to the PDSWS under our new recognition of prior learning (RPL) pathway. Entry requirements differ under RPL, depending on your level of education and experience: 

Hold an honours primary degree (NFQ, Level 8) in any discipline, and have completed a minimum of twelve months relevant work experience in a social work or social work-related field or 

Hold a primary ordinary degree (NFQ, Level 7) in social science or its equivalent with an overall result of at least a Second Class Honours Grade 1 and have completed at least three years experience in a social work or social work-related field or 

Non-graduates with at least five years of professional experience in a social work or social work-related field may also be considered for admission.

The responsibility rests with the applicant to ensure that they apply for the correct pathway from the outset of their application and provide all required information and documentation to support their RPL application. Applications will not be considered under RPL without the required RPL information provided as part of the application.

Fees and Costs

How To Apply

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

• The closing date for submitting an online application for the Master of Social Work & the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies is 10 February 2025.

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

Social Work Experience - Paid/Voluntary and Student Placements

To be eligible for this programme you need to have completed at least 420 hours of social work or social work-related experience. Your experience will be used as one criterion to rank candidates for an interview should there be a large number of applicants. However, we may interview candidates who have 250 hours by the application closing date if you state in the application additional/supplementary questions how you will make up the balance of the hours by the interview date (June).

You must outline briefly:

• Social work practice related experience (paid or voluntary) and
• Relevant student placements, if applicable.

Please list newest to oldest and specify in the duties and responsibilities box for each position whether it is: 

• Voluntary/paid
• Part-time/full-time

You must also include your duties and responsibilities and the number of hours completed for each agency.

Other additional questions: 

• Social Work Practice Related Experience (Paid/Voluntary) Total Hours.
• Student Placement Total Hours (if applicable).
• Summary of all social work-related experience hours combined.
• Proposed work experience you will complete before your interview to make up the required 420 hours (if applicable).
• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Please provide the details of one academic referee and one professional referee (this can be from a voluntary role). Both referees will be contacted at shortlisting stage by the review panel.

All additional supporting documentation for application to the Master of Social Work needs to be submitted by 17 February 2025. If not, the application will be considered incomplete and not processed further.  

There is a selection process based on the following combined elements: academic performance and research capacity; certified social work-related experience and initiative; knowledge of social work and motivation, commitment, and suitability.

Your experience will be used as one criterion to rank candidates for an interview should there be a large number of applicants. However, we may interview candidates who have 250 hours by the application closing date if you state in the application additional/supplementary questions how you will make up the balance of the hours by the interview date.

Interviews take place in March/April and candidates are advised of the outcome a few weeks after the conclusion of the interview process. 

 

The closing date for non-EU applications is 10 February 2025