Expand+MATURE
Open to mature students aged 23 years or more on January 1 of the year of entry. APPLICATION Application is through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and includes sitting the Mature Students Admission Pathway (MSAP) TEST.

• No formal qualificatio...

Hide-MATURE
Open to mature students aged 23 years or more on January 1 of the year of entry. APPLICATION Application is through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and includes sitting the Mature Students Admission Pathway (MSAP) TEST.

• No formal qualifications are required to be eligible – the selection procedure assesses applicants’ suitability to pursue training and a career in social work.

• Shortlisted candidates are invited for interview.

• Criteria for short-listing and selection include relevant life and work experience, ability to undertake a degree course (based on MSAP results), and knowledge of social issues/ social work.

A condition of enrolment on this programme is that all incoming students have cleared the vetting process in accordance with University policy and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012.

This undergraduate degree programme require students to meet the guidelines of the University’s “Fitness to Practise” policy (see www.ucc. ie/en/academicsecretariat/fitnesstopractise)

Expand+Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2020 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2020 at 5:15pm

Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should av...

Hide-Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2020 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2020 at 5:15pm

Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.

Restricted Courses
Applying for a restricted course – you must have applied to CAO by 5:15pm on 1 February 2020 if you wish to apply for a restricted course. The restricted course must be included on your course choices list by that date, or added to your application using the Change of Course Choices facility for a fee of €10 before 1 March at 5:15pm.

Restricted courses normally require additional assessment procedures, e.g. the submission of a portfolio, an oral assessment or interview, or a written assessment – restricted courses are identified in the handbook by the words “(Restricted - see page 3 of the 2020 CAO Hanbook)” on the same line as the restricted course’s title. Please make sure to acquaint yourself with the additional requirements, if any, of the restricted course(s) that you have applied for and go to page 13 of the 2020 CAO Hanbook for more information about interviews and assessments.

Exception: If a restricted course shares the exact same assessment procedures with a course you had applied for by 1 February 2020, you may be permitted to introduce it on a ‘Change of Mind’. You should consult with the relevant HEI before introducing such a course.

Restricted-category Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2020 at 5:15pm, and include course choices by that date or add them using the Change of Course Choices facility for a fee of €10 before 1 March at 5:15pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature.

Applying for the DARE and/or HEAR – to be considered for DARE and/or HEAR, applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1 February 2020 at 5:15pm. To apply to DARE, you must answer YES to Question 1 ('Do you wish to be considered for DARE?) on Section A of the fully completed Supplementary Information Form (SIF) by 5:15pm on 1 March 2020.

To apply to HEAR, you must indicate on your CAO application that you wish to apply for HEAR and fully and correctly complete all elements of the online HEAR form by 5:15pm on 1 March 2020.

Supporting documents for DARE and/or HEAR applicants must be sent to CAO offices before 15 March 2020 at 5:15pm

Expand+Introduction
On completion of the Bachelor of Social Work which is a fulltime degree course, students are eligible to apply for registration as a social worker with the Irish Social Work Registration Board. UCC’s BSW is the only undergraduate pro...

Hide-Introduction
On completion of the Bachelor of Social Work which is a fulltime degree course, students are eligible to apply for registration as a social worker with the Irish Social Work Registration Board. UCC’s BSW is the only undergraduate professional social work course in Ireland that caters exclusively for mature students.

Why Study
The course provides students with a vibrant, dynamic and supportive learning environment and has the benefit of a small class size (approximately 25), with an emphasis on participative and interactive styles of teaching and learning. There are excellent supports available to enable students to get the most from their experience at UCC. Year 1 and Year 2 of the BSW are college-based and lectures take place over two 12-week terms. In Year 3 and Year 4, students undertake one term in college and another on a 14-week professional placement. While on placement, normal working hours apply (e.g. 9am-5pm).

Work Placement
The College of Arts offers two work-placement modules. The first, PX2000, is an optional second-year module that offers placements in a variety of professional settings. The final year module, PX3000, offers students the opportunity to gain recognition for work experience undertaken during the course of their studies.

Study Abroad
The university has strong links with social work agencies in Chicago, South Africa and in India.

Key Facts

• Professional Qualification
• 2 x 14-week placements
• Small class sizes
• Mature students only

Expand+Year 1 Modules

AP1110 Psychology as Science (5 credits); AP1149 Introduction to Developmental and Social Psychology (5 credits); EC1121 & EC1122 Markets, Governments and the Economics of Social Issues I & II (5 credits each); or PA1104 & PA1105 ...

Hide-Year 1 Modules

AP1110 Psychology as Science (5 credits); AP1149 Introduction to Developmental and Social Psychology (5 credits); EC1121 & EC1122 Markets, Governments and the Economics of Social Issues I & II (5 credits each); or PA1104 & PA1105 Market Analysis and Evaluation of Social Issues 1 & 2 (5 credits each); SS1017 & SS1018 Politics and Social Policy 1 & 2 (10 + 5 credits respectively); SS1202 Introduction to Social Work Theory, Methods and Skills (10 credits); SC1012 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits), SC1013 Key Issues in Sociology (10 credits)

Year 2 Modules
SOCIAL POLICY: Child Care Policy; Mixed Economy of Welfare and Personal Social Services; Social Policy and Social Work; Introduction to Social Work Practice SOCIAL WORK: Skills Laboratory; Social Work Methods; Social Work Practice Contexts; Social Recovery Approaches to Mental Health; Social Research

Year 3 Modules
LAW: Legal Studies SOCIAL WORK: Placement; Placement Portfolio; Life Courses, Biographies and Reflective Learning; Child Care and Protection Practice; Deviance, Welfare and Justice; Social Work Methods

Year 4 Modules
LAW: Legal Studies SOCIAL WORK: Placement; Placement Portfolio; Anti-Racism and Anti-Discriminatory Practice; Contemporary Issues in Social Work; Action Research Study

Expand+Careers
The BSW leads to very good job prospects in a wide range of settings such as:

• hospitals
• child protection
• fostering
• probation
• disability services
• adoption agencies
• mental health services

Graduates of ...

Hide-Careers
The BSW leads to very good job prospects in a wide range of settings such as:

• hospitals
• child protection
• fostering
• probation
• disability services
• adoption agencies
• mental health services

Graduates of BSW can also apply to be registered as social workers in Europe, UK, Australia, the USA and Canada. Many of our graduates have gone on to pursue varied and interesting careers in social work and related fields in Ireland and abroad, or have gone on to post-graduate education.

Further study
Graduates of the BSW have undertaken further studies at Master and PhD levels including:

• Masters in Social Policy (MSocSc)
• Masters in Sociology (MA)
• Masters in Voluntary and Community Sector Management (MSocSc)
• Masters in Criminology (MA)
• PhD in Social Work