Social Care Work - Cork
Social Care Work is described by CORU as a relationship-based approach to the purposeful planning and provision of care, protection, psychosocial support, and advocacy in partnership with vulnerable individuals and groups who experience marginalisation, disadvantage, or special needs. The importance of Social Care Work to the functioning of Irish society cannot be underestimated. The profession challenges the mechanics of inequality and forges creative pathways towards a fairer, more inclusive society where all human beings are valued.
| Award Name | Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 7 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 7 NFQ |
Duration
3 Years (6 Semesters).
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Score the necessary CAO points and meet Leaving Certificate Minimum entry requirements
5 Subjects
Subjects O6/H7 5
Subjects H5 0
Maths Grade O6/H7
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
Garda Vetting Required
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements may be satisfied by the results of more than one Leaving Certificate. The minimum entry requirements may be varied for non-standard applicants and holders of QQI-FET awards.
2nd Chance Maths Exam
Some students who apply for MTU courses may not achieve the required entry standard in Maths through the Leaving Certificate examination. For such applicants, the University offers a second chance to reach the required entry standard through a MTU Maths Exam.
This second chance facility allows applicants (depending on their results in the MTU Maths Exam) to gain entry to courses with an Ordinary Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard and (with a higher level of performance) courses with a Higher Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard.
Common Bonus Points Scale for Higher Level Maths
A bonus of 25 points is awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) Maths.
Formula:
All students presenting H6 or above in HL Maths will have 25 points added to their score for Maths.
The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.
Foundation Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
MT 541 Bachelor of Business
MT 571 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 574 BA in Social Care
MT 654 HC in Arts in Hospitality Studies
MT 655 HC in Arts in Culinary Studies
MT 941 Bachelor of Business (Honours)
MT 971 BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 974 BA (Honours) in Social Care
Maths is not required for entry to:
MT 575 BA in Community Development
MT 572 BA in Early Childhood Education & Care
MT 820 BA (Honours) in Contemporary Applied Art (Ceramics, Glass, Textiles)
MT 821 BA (Honours) in Fine Art
MT 822 BA (Honours) in Photography with New Media
MT 823 BA (Honours) in Visual Communications
MT 931 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Guitar
MT 932 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Bass Guitar
MT 933 BA (Honours) on Poplular Music - Keyboards
MT 934 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Drums
MT 935 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Voice
MT 936 BA (Honours) in Music
MT 938 BA (Honours) in Musical Theatre
MT 939 BA (Honours in Theatre and Drama Studies
Although not a requirement, if an applicant achieves a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths this grade is recognised for entry and CAO points are awarded as follows: F1 = 20 points, F2 = 12 points.
Full details of minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined in the relevant course webpage. Applicants are advised to check the relevant subjects, tests, portfolios, and dates very carefully. In particular, there are early assessment procedures for some courses.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO. Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to MTU full-time courses. Holders of Leaving Certificate Applied qualifications may wish to proceed to a FET-QQI course and in turn apply to third level on the basis of their FET-QQI award.
Careers / Further progression
Further Studies
Suitably qualified graduates are eligible to apply for entry to
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Work
Employment Opportunities
CORU (2019) define Social Care Workers as, “…professional practitioners engaged in the practice of social care work.” CORU (2019). Social care work is defined as a relationship-based approach to the purposeful planning and provision of care, protection, psychosocial support, and advocacy in partnership with vulnerable individuals and groups who experience marginalisation, disadvantage, or special needs.
Qualified Social Care Workers typically work in a supportive role with people of all ages across communities, in both day services and in residential care. Typically, Social Care Workers, Social Workers and other caring professionals work together in interdisciplinary teams across a wide variety of services, and with a wide variety of service users such as children and adults who have intellectual or physical disabilities, children and adolescents in residential care, people who experience homelessness, people with addiction problems, recent immigrants, families in the community experiencing challenges and older people with care needs. They may be employed in the state sector, for example, by the HSE or TUSLA, in the extensive and highly varied community and voluntary sector, with employers such as the St John of God Services, the Brothers of Charity Services, Enable Ireland, the Simon Communities, Family Resource Centres etc., or in the private sector.
Further information
Entry 2025
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2025 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2025 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2025 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2025 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2025. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2025, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2025 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
This programme takes a multidisciplinary approach to social care work, drawing from psychology, sociology, social policy, and the creative arts to learn how to best respond to the experiences of all stakeholders in the social care work setting.
It aims to integrate theory and practice with an emphasis on ethical and evidence informed practice. A student-centred approach is used drawing on various teaching and assessment methods, enabling students to develop a professional insight into the various roles of a Social Care Worker, needs of various care populations, and contexts, CORU standards of proficiency and their own supervised practice.
An inclusive, empathic insight into the needs of people across various care settings and diverse backgrounds is also fostered with an emphasis on hearing the voices of supported persons/care groups throughout the course.
Furthermore, students are given the opportunity of acquiring care practice skills, such as advocacy and communication skills, creative and recreational approaches to practice, and health and wellbeing programmes for practice.
Work placements enable the student to apply theory taught on the course to a professional placement, develop reflective practice and to foster an understanding of what social care work, in a multidisciplinary teamwork context, involves.
First Year at a Glance (indicative):
Practice preparation
Social Care Law
Psychology for Social Care
Creative Arts Interventions
Health, Wellness & Self-Care
Disability & Human Rights
Social Policy
Professional Skills for Placement
Head of Department
Dr Mary Galvin
T: +353 (0)21 432 6178
Email: mary.galvin@mtu.ie