Course Summary
Our programme is tailored for those passionate about community development and wellbeing. With a focus on real-world application and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, this programme equips you with the essential skills to make a tangible impact.
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
The minimum entry requirement for the programme is a NFQ LEVEL 8 degree (or equivalent) minimum level 2.2 honours. Given the diverse range of modules and assessment approaches in the proposed programme, qualifications from a range of areas such as business, STEM, social science, and the arts will be deemed suitable.
All applicants must be affiliated to an employer or a voluntary organisation and have received permission from their affiliate organisation to undertake projects for the purpose of fulfilling academic requirements of the proposed programme.
All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency (IELTS score of at least 6.0). English language tests must be undertaken no more than two years prior to the start of the programme.
International applicants must have completed an academic qualification equivalent to an Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8). Further information is available at https://www.mtu.ie/international/non-eu/
Application Details
Application Deadline 30th April 2025
Fees
€4250 per year.
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
Employment Opportunities
This programme is designed to suit those already employed within the following sectors/organisations, in a variety of development positions, to enable them to upskill and to enhance their capacity to undertake their development work with new vigour, linked to the utilisation of a positive psychology/human flourishing focus. It is intended that the outputs of the programme will also benefit agencies with participating staff. Such agencies include:
Local Authorities
Local and Community Development Agencies
Health Services Executive
Youth Organisations
Local Sports Partnerships & affiliated supported programmes - sport hubs
Local and national organisations working with communities of interest (e.g., women, Travellers, new communities, immigrants, LGBTQI+)
National and local organisations concerned with specific societal issues (e.g., unemployment, migrant rights, drugs, poverty, racism, gender equality, disability rights)
National and local sports bodies/clubs
Family Resource Centres
Community health agencies
Research organisations
Social enterprise agencies
In the surveys undertaken to assess the feasibility of this programme, 54% of managers stated that they expected an increase in job opportunities in their sector, while 27% expected them to stay the same. Only 7% stated that they expected a decrease. Furthermore, discussions with local development company managers identified a challenge in recruiting people with the required skill set to undertake this complex work.
Progression
Progression will be available to students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma to the MSc, students may progress from the MSc to PhD programmes as outlined in the MTU Postgraduate Regulations.