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Masters in Social Work

College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences
PAC Course Code: CKE64
Qualification: MSW
Duration: 2 Years, full-time
EU Fees: The current Irish/EU tuition fee level for this Master programme for the 2011/2012 (Year 1 full-time) is €6,835.00. A similar level fee will be payable in year 2 of the programme
Non-EU Fees: €16,930 for 2011/2012. Fees for 2012/2013 will be set in March 2012.
Closing Date - EU Applicants: Fri, 27 January 12
Closing Date - Non-EU Applicants: Fri, 13 January 12

Overview of Social Work (MSW)

The online application closing date for the Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies has been extended until Friday 27th January 2012 at www.pac.ie/ucc

The Masters in Social Work (CKE64)/Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (CKC06) is a two year full-time programme that combines academic study with fieldwork placements. Successful completion of the programme leads to an academic qualification and will make you eligible to register as a social worker with regulatory bodies in Ireland (CORU) and internationally (e.g. GSCC in the UK).

The overall aim of those concerned with the development and conduct of the MSW/PDSWS at UCC and of social work education generally, is to develop informed and skilled social work practitioners qualified to work in the Health Service Executive (formerly Health Boards), probation, hospitals, community agencies and voluntary agencies which provide services for a range of groups and communities.

Applicants should check the entry requirements below to ascertain if they should apply for the Masters OR the Postgraduate Diploma option. Applicants should ONLY apply for ONE of these options as it is the same selection procedure for both options.

All prospective applicants should also check the School of Applied Social Studies website at: School of Applied Social Studies - MSW

This website has been designed to answer most of the questions you may have about the PGDSWS, social work and applying for the MSW/PGDSWS.

What will I be Studying?

Year I - Students take 60 credits as follows:

Social Work, Counselling and Development Issues
Social Work Theory I: Theory and Practice (10 credits)
Family and Child Welfare I (5 credits)
Human Growth and Development (5 credits)
Social Work Practice and Fieldwork Placement I
Practice Skills I (10 credits)
Fieldwork Placement I (10 credits)

Social Science, Law and Social Work Settings
Social Policy, Social Exclusion and Anti-Oppressive Practice (5 credits)
Applied Social Research (5 credits)
Law and Rights I (5 credits)
Social Work Settings I (5 credits)

Year II - Students take 60 credits as follows:

Social Work, User Groups and Law
Social Work Theory II: Theory and Practice (5 credits)
Family and Child Welfare II (5 credits)
Law and Rights II (5 credits)
Social Work Settings II (5 credits)

Social Work Practice, Counselling Skills and Fieldwork Placement II Practice Skills II (10 credits)
Fieldwork Placement II (10 credits)

Dissertation and Practice Research Presentation
Dissertation (20 credits) (Masters Students)
Practice Project (20 credits) (Higher Diploma Students)

Entry Requirements

Admission to the Masters of Social Work (MSW) CKE64 is open to a limited number of students holding at least a Second Class Honours BSocSc Degree (or its equivalent) or graduates, who have successfully completed an approved conversion programme, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (or its equivalent).

Please see http://www.ucc.ie/en/CKC06 for the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies option entry requirements

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’

N.B. Applicants should NOT apply for both the Masters (CKE64) and Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (CKC06) options as it is the one selection procedure for both options. Current final year students, 2011/2012 should apply for the Masters Of Social Work option (CKE64) ONLY, pending their final results in Summer 2012. Final year candidates who are successful at interview will be allocated places on the MSW, conditional on achieving a minimum 2H2 in their final degree exams. Should they obtain 3H or Pass in their final exams, they will be allocated a place on the PgDipSocWkStudies.

All applicants should also consult with the Frequently Asked Questions about the Selection Process: FAQs

English Language Requirements:

IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL equivalent

Part-Time Taught Postgraduate Programmes

Please note that non-EU applicants are not eligible to study part-time programmes

Application Procedure

The application process for CKE64 - Master of Social Work (MSW) involves

1) Submitting an ONLINE application at www.pac.ie/ucc (Course Code CKE64) . The closing date for submitting an online application is 13^th January, 2012. Please click here for How to apply online

(N.B. Applicants who have completed their primary degrees and are currently pursuing a Higher Diploma in Social Policy/Administration 2011/2012, MUST include this qualification when recording their qualifications on the online application form, pending their final results in Summer 2012.)

2) COMPLETING/ANSWERING specific online additional supplementary questions as part of the online applications process for this programme. A copy of these online CKE64 supplementary form guidelines and CKE64 supplementary/additional questions are available to view here: (i) CKE64supplementaryquestionsguidelines (202kB) and (ii) CKE64AdditionalQuestions (204kB)

3) DOWNLOADING AND PRINTING (during the online application process) a hard copy of the Referees Report Forms. Please click here to see a copy of the REFEREES REPORT FORMS: CKE64ReferenceForms (190kB) The two Referees Letters and Referees Reports must be sent to your Referees. One reference must be a third level academic reference and a second reference must be a supervisor/manager of your practical work experience (either paid or volunteer) who will complete the Referees Reports on your behalf and return directly by POST to Mr. Ger Mannix, Social Work Secretary, School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork, Donovan’s Road, Cork AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER APPLYING ONLINE and NOT LATER than 27th January 2012.

4) AFTER COMPLETING THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM, all applicants must include official CERTIFICATION of your social work/social work related experience to date. This should be a signed letter on headed notepaper from each employer/voluntary organisation specifying your duties and responsibilities and the number of hours completed. (These letters are separate and in addition to the two complete Referees Reports). These letters of certification must also either be UPLOADED via the PAC “Application Status” link or posted to the Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway by 27th January, 2012.

5) NON-UCC APPLICANTS MUST also submit evidence of any qualification(s) (academic results and certificates/parchments) that were not completed in University College Cork and evidence of English language proficiency (if applicable). N.B. Non-UCC Applicants who are currently completing undergraduate/postgraduate programmes and have not as yet completed final exams/graduated should submit PHOTOCOPIES of academic transcripts/statements with details of subjects studied and results to date. Applicants who are currently registered on a Higher Diploma in Social Policy/Administration programme in other University must also provide a statement from their University confirming they are attending the programme. Photocopies of academic results to date, certificates/parchments, evidence of english language proficiency must either be UPLOADED via the “PAC Application Status” link or posted to the Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway (marked with your PAC application number) by 27th January, 2012

6) Please click on this link to view a CHECK-LIST of the supporting documenation requirements for the Master of Social Work to be submitted after completing the online application: CKE64ChecklistAdditionalDocuments (315kB)

On receipt of the online application, Written Certification of social work related experience, Referees Report Forms and evidence of non-UCC qualifications (where applicable) applicants will be shortlisted for interview by the School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork.

Group and individual interviews take place in March and candidates are advised of the outcome sometime in Mid April.

Find out More

Number of Places: 50-60 places

For further information please see: http://www.ucc.ie/en/courses/msw/

Ms. Rachel Rice,
Course Coordinator and Selection Coordinator (MSW)
Email: rachel.rice@ucc.ie
Tel. 00 353 21 4905132/4902899

Dr. Kenneth Burns,
Deputy Course Director and Selection Coordinator (MSW)
Email: k.burns@ucc.ie
Tel: 00 353 21 4903151

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