MA in Social Work

To qualify the MA Social Work at NUIGalway, a relevant degree at Level 8 is necessary. This can be gained at NUIGalway through a number of BA routes such as Social Care, Psychology, Political Science and Sociology, Social and Public Policy. During this time, your daughter should also consider joining the university volunteering programme or engage in some other form of part-time social care/support activity to build up her experience. She will also need to be familiar with currently topical policy issues impacting on social work.

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Level 8 is the minimum qualification and no exception can be made to this irrespective of other experience and qualifications.

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It is difficult to specify other acceptable undergraduate/postgraduate degrees as it depends on the specific content of them. Generally, a degree will be accepted if there is evidence that a significant proportion of the modules completed have a broad social science component. This could include Law, Geography, Theology, Philosophy and Nursing. The applicant’s relevant experience is considered in conjunction with this. If you are unsure, you should send a transcript of your degree to the Admissions advisor before submitting an application.

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You should contact the Professor of Social Work: Caroline.mcgregornuigalway.ie.

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Consideration must be given to work which undertaken is in a caring capacity. The quality of supervision is exceptionally important as is the training available in the work setting. Examples of related work would be in social care e.g. residential care of children, adolescents or the elderly. Family support work, social work assistant roles, after-school clubs etc. Voluntary work in the areas of on-line support, phone counselling, befriending work and work within a community development context. Working with the homeless or with people with a a learning or physical disability is would also be regarded as ’relevant’ experience.

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A teaching or nursing qualification at degree level may be accepted if there is evidence of a significant proportion of social care/social work related experience.

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Yes. Supervised relevant placement learning can count towards your 960 hours. Normally we will accept up to a maximum of 240hours from placement learning. The remaining hours must be in independent paid or voluntary work.

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There is no time-limit for the experience. It would however be important to state in your personal statement how you have developed your skills from this period and your learning from it.

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Yes, all verified relevant practice experience is taken into account irrespective of where it has been undertaken. All international qualifications will be checked by the University Admissions office.

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Although international applicants do not, of course, receive preferential treatment, we would welcome their interest.. It is important for international students to please check with the Admissions Office ( admissionsnuigalway.ie) that their undergraduate qualification is of a comparable Level 8 with the European University system.

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This is very important. Some points are allocated to the statement at the short listing.

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These are also important as they also receive some points at the short listing stage. You should request references from persons who are most able to account for your academic standing / practice experience.

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There is no opportunity to defer your place on the course.

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The places on the Reserve List are offered according to the highest score downwards. If students do not pass the interview, they will not be placed on the waiting list.

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Ensure you obtain feedback on your interview to know what areas you didn’t do well on. Consider whether you need to do further experience to prepare for social work. Think about whether there are related fields that would also interest you which you can also apply to in case you are unsuccessful a third time.

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Any help you need either from an academic perspective or a personal support perspective will be offered by NUI Galway. You only have to ask.

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You will receive a letter by mid April which will inform you either you have gained a place or that you have been placed on the 'Reserve List'. You should take no longer than two weeks to accept or refuse your place.

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Any questions on deposits or registration fees should be directed to Kay Donohue, Political Science and Sociology School Administrator: kay.donohuenuigalway.ie.

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The college does have on campus accommodation. Any questions on accommodation should be made to the Campus Accommodation office or the NUI Galway Students’ Union ( http://www.su.nuigalway.ie/student-life/accommodation)

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Yes we do. Please ensure you have:

• Completed the full application form. 
   
• Provided clear evidence that you have the required 6 months/960 hours experience.
   
• Provided a 300 word statement on why you wish to study social work. 
   
• Provided an academic and practice reference to support your application.

Please note that your application will NOT be accepted if all of the above requirements are not fulfilled.

International Qualifications will be assessed by the NUIG Admissions Office.

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Each student offered a place on the NUIG/MSW programme must fill out a Garda Vetting form at the time of Registration. This is forwarded to and processed by the National Garda Vetting Office. On this form you are asked to make a disclosure of any actions where you have come to the attention of the court i.e. where there is a prosecution. It is exceptionally important that this form is filled out honestly and clearly. During the MSW Induction, students are asked to make an appointment to see the Practice Learning Co-ordinator if they have made any disclosures on their Garda Vetting Form. This is in relation to placement.

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Each case is viewed individually. Consideration is taken regarding the type of disclosure and the length of time since its occurrence.  Placement agencies, with the student’s consent, will have to be notified of the conviction. Some agencies may require a risk assessment on the student before placement can begin. The Agency’s  decision on whether or not to accept the student is final.

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The first year MSW placement is from January until April. The second year placement is from September until December. Both placements are 14 weeks duration.

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Placements are available throughout Ireland. In rare instances, a student may have to temporarily relocate for a placement.

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Placements are in a variety of social work areas e.g. Child protection, Disability, Probation, Medical social work teams, Psychiatry, Housing and Welfare etc.

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The objective of the placement experience is to give the student a safe and secure working environment where knowledge, skills and values will be learned and practiced under supervision. For every student one of their placements will be within a statutory agency and this can be child protection, mental health, probation etc.

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Placements are allocated with regard to availability, students learning needs and also their personal circumstances. There is no guarantee of city based placements but every effort is made to locate students where they have an interest.

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All placements are co-ordinated and set up by the Practice Learning Co-ordinator. Should you have a particular interest in a specific area then contact the Placement Learning Coordinator, Ms. Marguerita McGovern: marguerite.mcgovernnuigalway.ie.

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No, there is no payment to MSW students while on placement.

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The current situation is that the majority of social work agencies do not pay mileage/travelling allowance. Therefore where a student has to engage in home visits the travelling expenses are not always paid by the Agency.

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Currently there are placement sites in Chicago, South Africa and the Philippines.

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Currently we have graduates working in the USA, Canada, Australia, England, Scotland and Ireland. Further information on compatibility with similar courses in other jurisdictions can be obtained through the International office of Irish Association of Social Workers ( http://www.iasw.ie/).

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Regarding work experience:

Applicants for social work must have 960 hours of relevant experience /6 months.  This must be in a recognized agency involving direct work with individuals, families or groups in a social support role.  We accept practice with a broad range of individuals and groups in the field of children and families, disability, health and social care, homeless services, mental health, disability, probation, youth work, etc.  The experience can be voluntary or paid capacity. Organisations that past applicants have gained experience in include: social care work in disability services, social support work in homes for older persons, project/volunteer work in homeless charities, volunteering for mental health services, Childline phone services, keyworker in child care services, Samaritans, university volunteering programmes and other relevant community and voluntary services.  The work can be in Ireland or abroad. The Programme reserves the right to verify experience if required,. Work in the field of fund-raising or administration.

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RPL is not formally available for the MSW programme due to the accredited nature of the course and the requirements that must be met. These learning requirements are met through an integrated programme throughout two years which all students must complete.  This is in line with university RPL policy (linked here). Please note that, while we do not have a formal RPL system, prior learning is recognised in other ways. For example, in the admissions processes recognises prior learning from practice experience and in the teaching processes that encourages students to bring their own learning to the programme and build on this throughout.  

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