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Masters in Social Policy

College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences
PAC Course Code: CKE62 Full-time, CKE61 Part-time
Qualification: MSocSc
Duration: 1 year, full-time (TWO EVENINGS A WEEK FROM 5.30 TO 7.30 PM).2 years, part-time
EU Fees: The current Irish/EU tuition fee level for this Master programme for the 2011/2012 (1 year full-time) is be €5,400. There is also a two year part-time (by day) option for this programme and the course fee is half the full-time fee in the particular year of study (THE PART-TIME OPTION IS OPEN TO EU STUDENTS ONLY)
Non-EU Fees: €11,620 for 2011/2012. Fees for 2012/2013 will be set in March 2012.
Closing Date - EU Applicants: Fri, 01 June 12
Closing Date - Non-EU Applicants: Wed, 01 June 11

Overview of Social Policy (MSocSc)

MSocSc in Social Policy (1 year full-time CKE62)
MSocSc in Social Policy (2 year part-time CKE61 - open to EU applicants only)

The MSocSc in Social Policy has been re-opened for applications for 2012/2013

This full-time one year course provides students with an opportunity to engage critically in social policy analysis of contemporary issues confronting Ireland, Europe and the wider world. It equips students with the theoretical and practical skills to engage in critical social research and policy analysis. As part of this course, students can specialize in a particular social policy area of their choice:

Children and young people
Mental health and disability
Conflict transformation and peace building
Critical social policy: the politics of austerity

The delivery of the programme is participative, discussion led and seminar based.

What will I be Studying?

Programme Requirements
Students take modules to the value of 90 credits, comprising taught modules to the value of 50 credits in Part I and a dissertation (20,000-25,000 words) to the value of 40 credits in Part II.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I
Compulsory element (30 credits):

SS6306 Contemporary Social Policy Issues (15 credits)
SS6307 Social Research: methodology and ethics (15 credits)

Elective modules
Students take one of the following

SS6309 Children and young people

SS6308 Mental health and disability

SS6311 Conflict transformation and peace building

SS6310 Critical social policy: the politics of austerity

Part II
SS6305 Dissertation (40 credits)

Module descriptions are contained in the Book of Modules.

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

Understand the major debates in the study of social policy
Discuss key contemporary social policy issues and develop students' critical skills, which will allow them to apply theoretical knowledge to analyse them;
Specialize in a policy field of their choice
Undertake a piece of research in an area of social policy of the student's choice.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally have taken social policy as a subject at undergraduate level and have a degree at Second Class Honours level or equivalent. Applicants with other relevant degrees and/or relevant experience (e.g. Sociology, Politics and Government) will also be considered (e.g. Sociology, Politics and Government, Social care, Early Childhood Studies, Public Health) and/or relevant experience (e.g. community activism, youth work, trade union activism) will also be considered. Selection will be based on academic achievement and relevant work experience. Applicants who do not meet the normal academic or experience requirements may also be considered following a review of their individual qualifications and experience by the course committee. Such applicants may be called for interview and admission will be subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences.
Students who have gained a Higher Diploma in Social Policy or CACE Higher Diploma in Facilitating Inclusion (Disability Studies) will be eligible to apply to the M.Soc.Sc. (Social Policy).

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

Application for this programme is on-line at www.pac.ie/ucc. For full details of the application procedure click How to apply.
Please note you will be required to answer specific additional/supplementary questions as part of the online applications process for this programme. These additional/supplementary questions are available to view here: CKE62AdditionalQuestions (227kB) and CKE61AdditionalQuestions (227kB)
ALL APPLICANTS must also arrange for TWO REFEREES' LETTERS to be posted to the Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway (marked with the Applicants PAC application number) (one from an academic source and the other from a work source (either voluntary or paid).
The REFERENCE FORMS must be downloaded and printed during the online application process. Please write your PAC Application Number (which you will be issued at the end of your online application), name, address and telephone number in the space provided on the REFERENCE FORMS and A copy should be sent to each of your Referees. A copy of the REFERENCE FORMS are available to view here:- CKE62ReferenceForms (59kB) and CKE61ReferenceForms (59kB)
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) either by UPLOADING via the PAC "Application Status" link or by post to the Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway (marked with your online Postgraduate Application Number).

Find out More

Number of Places: 20

Acting Programme Coordinator
Ms. Eluska Fernandez
Department of Applied Social Studies, UCC.
Tel.: 00 353 21 4902228
Email: e.fernandez@ucc.ie
Website: http://appsoc.ucc.ie/

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