About This Course
Fact File
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Title
Social Work Studies
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Code
PDSWS
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College
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Duration
2 Years Full-time
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Teaching Mode
Full-time
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Qualifications
PG Dip
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EU Fees
€6,965 (Year 1); €6,965 (Year 2)
See Fees and Costs for full details. Non-EU Fees
€18,800 per year
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Entry Requirements
See Requirements for full details.
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Closing Date
30 May 2023 - Please be advised, only one application can be made to the MSWK / PDSWS per year.
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Non-EU Closing Date
30 May 2023 - Please be advised, only one application can be made to the MSWK / PDSWS per year.
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Start Date
11 September 2023
Course Outline
The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (NFQ Level 9) is a two-year full-time course that combines academic study with fieldwork placements. This programme is approved by CORU. The course leads to an academic qualification and you will be eligible to register as a social worker with regulatory bodies in Ireland (CORU) and internationally.
Prospective applicants should also check the School of Applied Social Studies page for further information.
- 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 Studetns) or current Higher Diploma in Social Policy students should apply for the Master's level (MSW) programme.
Students on the PGDSWS take modules in social work theory, skills, social policy and courses specific to social work settings such as child and family welfare and mental health.
Year 1 (60 credits)
Social Work, Counselling and Development Issues
SS6101 Social Work Approaches 1: Theory and Practice (10 credits)
SS6102 Human Growth and Development (5 credits)
SS6108 Child and Family Welfare I (5 credits)
Social Work Practice and Fieldwork Placement I
SS6112 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement 1 (20 credits)
Social Science, Law and Social Work Settings
LW6005 Social Work and the Law (Child Law) (5 credits)
SS6105 Social Policy and Social Exclusion (5 credits)
SS6106 Applied Social Research (5 credits)
SS6107 Social Work Settings 1 (5 credits)
On completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies course, you will be able to:
- 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 - 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, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills;
- demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports, and international conventions, and apply it to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice to illustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed, strengths-based, and reflective.
For further curriculum details see the Postgraduate College Calendar.
Modules
Further details on modules can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.
Course Practicalities
The PG Diploma in Social Work Studies is a full-time professional course that involves five full days in college or five full days in practice. Practice placements are an integral part of the course. You are required to complete two 14-week fieldwork placements, 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. Students on the Diploma in Social Work Studies go on placement to a wide variety of practice contexts all over Ireland and in Year 2 have the option to do an international social work placement.
Assessment
You will undertake a wide variety of academic and practice assessments. You are assessed through group projects, enquiry-based learning assignments, reflective portfolios and learning journals, essays, 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.
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 a limited number of 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)
IMPORTANT NOTE: 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. The Postgraduate Diploma option is aimed at graduates who have already completed their BSocSc level 8 degree (or equivalent) and achieved at least an overall 3H result.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.
Fees and Costs
The EU fee for this course is €6,965 (Year 1); €6,965 (Year 2).
The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,800 per year.
Deposits
If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.
EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration in August and the second in January.
International student fee payment
International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.
How can I pay?
You can pay by Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.
Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment please contact the Fees Office.
How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.
- For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
- Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.
2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
- Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
- Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.
3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
- Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
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 30th May 2023.
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 5th June 2023. 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.
Group and individual interviews take place in mid June and candidates are advised of the outcome in late June.
Deferrals
Deferrals are not permitted on this programme.
The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 May 2023 - Please be advised, only one application can be made to the MSWK / PDSWS per year.