Applied Social CareCleachtas Cúraim Shóisialta

Do you like working with people? Do you feel passionately about social justice and human rights? Would you like to work in a job where you could make a difference? Would you like to support people to achieve their full potential and live a life of their own choosing? If so, this course may be for you.

Social Care is a dynamic,  challenging and rewarding career. Social Care Workers work with those at risk of poverty or social exclusion, and with those who find themselves at the margins of society. Social Care is very broad and workers work with people across the lifespan, including children, families, young people and adults. Social Care Workers can be found in the following settings:

• Disability services
• Addiction services
• Mental Health services
• Homeless services
• Residential Care services for young people
• School completion projects
• Youth Services, Garda Diversion Projects and many more!

During your study, you will learn about psychology, sociology, law, addiction, trauma, racism, culture and more, to better understand and think critically about society. In class and on placement you will learn how to apply your knowledge to working with people, and will develop professional and personal skills, such as self-awareness, critical thinking, effective communication and the ability to work as part of a team.

This course is delivered over four years and students complete their block placements in Year 2 and 3 of the course. This is a full-time offering and students are required to be available for lectures Monday to Friday. Some modules carry a minimum attendance requirement of 75% and students must meet this attendance requirement in order to pass the module.

Professional Accreditation

Social care is a professionally regulated career under CORU, the multi-profession regulator responsible for regulating health and social care professionals. Since 2020 the Applied Social Care course on the Tallaght campus is approved by CORU and upon successful completion of the level 7 or level 8 course graduates will be eligible to register as a Social Care Worker.

Work Placement

Students will complete two 400 hours of supervised (unpaid) practice placement in a Social Care setting over the course of the course. In preparation for placement, students work closely with the placement coordinator and the lecturing team to ensure that specific needs are planned for and accommodated where possible.

Students must ensure that they are physically, mentally and emotionally prepared to undertake placement and should notify the placement coordinator if they have any conditions that may need to be planned for before going on placement. Some conditions that need to be declared prior to placement include (but are not limited to); back problems and other physical ailments, pregnancy, emotional or mental health issues, disability.

Leaving Certificate Requirements

QQI/FET Requirements

In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/qqi

Mature Applicants

Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/mature

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6.0 overall (or equivalent).

Garda Vetting

Garda Vetting required through TU Dublin see www.tudublin.ie/gardavetting 

Click on the link below to view an indicative timetable for this course. Timetables are subject to change and up to date timetables will be provided to students on commencement.

View Sample Timetable

Graduate Job Titles

• Social Care Worker
• Social Care Leader
• Development Worker
• Project Worker
• Case Manager
• Care Facilitator
• Activities Coordinator
• Youth Worker

Graduate Employers

• TUSLA Child and Family Agency
• St John of God Community Services
• Stewarts Care
• WALK
• St Michael's House
• Misty Croft
• Peter McVerry Trust
• Barnados Ireland
• Daffodil Care Services
• Gheel Autism Services
• Depaul Ireland
• Respond
• Cheeverstown
• Ashdale Care Ireland
• Smyly Trust 
• Novas

Advanced entry applications are currently not accepted to this course.

All of the lecturers have a wealth of knowledge and experience which they impart to us in lectures on a daily basis. It means the learning we do is based on the real-life experiences of our lecturers and the people they have worked with & for. The Lecturers challenge their students to think outside the box & to be open minded when it comes to looking at case studies in classes and when it comes to future college work placements.

Carol Kavanagh - Year 1, Applied Social Care

While in college I have had the opportunity to complete two placements. In my first placement I felt anxious that I would not know how to deal with situations that would occur but with guidance from academic tutors I overcame my fears. While on placement I was working with people with a variety of intellectual disabilities at a day service. I really enjoyed it and I was subsequently offered the position as a social care worker. This meant I got my dream job at the age of just twenty.

Bronwyn Pugh - Year 3, Applied Social Care

Graduates of this Level 8 course may be eligible to progress to Masters Degrees (Level 9) in a wide range of disciplines across the Social Sciences and Education e.g. Education MA in Child, Family and Community Studies; Masters in Social Work; MA in Criminology, HDip in Adult and Community Education.