Course Summary
This programme offers students the opportunity to critically analyse social care and social justice and explore its applications to a range of service and user groups to enhance their capacity to act as a force for progressive social change.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
Applicants require a 2.2 Honours Degree in Social Care or a cognate discipline. It is also desirable for applicants to have two years of professional practice experience in a relevant field. An entry selection process will include these entry requirements, and submission of a sample of written work.
Recognition of Prior Learning: Yes.
Application Details
Flexible learning courses are popular, and they fill on a first come, first served basis. There are two major intake periods throughout the academic year, September and January.
For January start courses, applications typically open in October, and for September start courses, applications typically open in February. Closing dates for applications are listed on the individual course webpage.
Start Date: September 2025.
Fees
Total fees: €7,200.
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Career Progression
Many of our Masters programmes are structured in a way that includes recognised entry and exit awards. This means that you can apply for part of Masters first and learn at your own pace or if you are unable to complete the full programme, you can still gain a recognised qualification. Our entry and exit awards typically include Postgraduate Certificate award and a Postgraduate Diploma award.
Duration
Study Hours
Each module involves 18 hours of online classes and 18 hours of online workshops. It is recommended that students should try to allow for 5-6 hours per week per 5 credit module to their studies, and 8 plus hours for each 10 credit module.
On-Campus Attendance
Optional attendance of residential workshop is normally available once per semester