Community Development & Youth WorkForbairt Pobail agus Obair don Ógra

Do you want to work in partnership with people in groups and communities who experience disadvantage and oppression, and work towards social change in Irish society and abroad? Our mission is to educate and train future community development and youth workers to work in a range of settings in Ireland and internationally so that they can become active citizens and agents of change.

The course promotes principles of inclusion, human rights, equality and social justice, working towards sustainable development, and tackling issues such as inequality, climate change, poverty and disadvantage. Year 4 subjects include combatting racism, youth justice and global development, and you can specialise in areas such as social policy, sustainable development, community mental health, management skills, alcohol and drugs prevention strategies and conflict resolution. The course has a a strong element of experiential learning and includes fieldwork placements.

Work Placement

There are two 12-week work placements, in Year 2, Semester 2 and Year 3, Semester 2.

Professional Accreditation

The course is professionally endorsed by the All-Ireland Endorsement Body (AIEB) for Community Work Education and Training

Information Webinar

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

• Community Development Worker
• Youth Worker
• Programme Co-ordinator
• Project Worker
• Community Educator
• Working in Justice Diversion Projects
• Probation Service
• School Completion Project Worker
• Information Officer
• Community Liaison Officer in Local Authorities
• Voluntary
• Statutory and Private Sector Organisations
• Working with Charities or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

Irish/EU Applicants

Applications from all Irish/EU citizens are made through the Central Applications Office (CAO).

Note: Applicants presenting with the Irish Leaving Certificate or a QQI FET award, regardless of nationality, should apply through the CAO.

The standard closing date to apply is February 1st. Late applications will close on May 1st. For restricted courses, the closing date is February 1st. Please see important dates on the CAO website. For a detailed guide on how to apply, please visit our CAO Hub.

International Students (Non-EU) 

Applications from international students are welcome for this programme. If you meet any of the following criteria, applications should be made directly to TU Dublin via the “Apply Now – Non-EU” link on each programme webpage.

• You hold Non-EU Nationality, and you live in a Non-EU country.
• You hold EU Nationality, but you have not lived in an EU country for 3 of the last 5 years AND you have not attended 5 years primary/secondary education in an EU country.
• You require a Student Visa to study in Ireland

Note: Applicants presenting with the Irish Leaving Certificate or a QQI FET award, regardless of nationality, should apply through the CAO.

For full details on How to Apply, Visa & Immigration Information, Accommodation Information and International Fees, please visit our International Hub.

Application Dates for Non-EU Applicants

Applications for undergraduate courses commencing September 2025 are now closed.

Applications for undergraduate courses commencing in September 2026 will open in November 2025. Applications will close in June 2026.

Advanced entry applications are currently not accepted to this course.

I decided to return to college as a mature student. When I was growing up, I witnessed first-hand the issues that a community can face, and so the course that really caught my eye when filling in the CAO was Community and Youth Development. The course covers modules such as Psychology, Addiction Studies, Social Policy, Sociology, Human Rights, and Youth Work. The highlight of the course for me was the two 13-week work placements where I got to utilise the skills I had learned in the classroom. There is a lot of group work, which is a good way for students to settle in to college life and learn from each other. There is a lot of help and support from academic staff, and the small class sizes makes it so much easier. If you are leaving school and you think this might be the course for you, I strongly encourage you to pursue it.

Liam Kelly - Community & Youth Development

On graduation, you may continue to postgraduate study at TU Dublin.