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Email academic.registry@tcd.ieSocial work is challenging and rewarding and requires a personal commitment to the ideals and values of the social work profession. Those considering social work as a career option should be aware of its ethical and value dimensions and, in particular, the commitment of practitioners to the promotion of social justice.
In accordance with Irish statutory regulations this Master in Social Work/Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work programme is approved by the national regulatory body for health and social care professionals (CORU).
The Masters in Social Work Programme prepares its student cohort for registration as professional social workers with CORU, the regulatory body for health and social care professionals. All health care professionals have a stated duty of care to the public and as such, all new entrants to the social work programmes in the School of Social Work and Social Policy, must successfully complete the required health screening and vaccination to certify their vaccination status or immunity to specified infectious diseases. This is in the interest of reducing the risk of the transmission of infectious disease from service users to students, and from students to patients.
The programme offers professional social work education for applicants with a primary degree in Social Sciences or equivalent. Upon completion of the Masters in Social Work/Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, successful candidates will be eligible to apply for registration as a professional social worker.
Our graduates have found employment as social workers in Ireland and abroad, in sectors including TUSLA, Child and Family Agency, Probation Service, Health-Related Social Work, Mental Health Services, Disability Services and Community Development. Others have chosen careers in research, advocacy, service management, and education and training.
The Master in Social Work is a two-year, full-time postgraduate social work programme accredited (NFQ Level 9). It is accredited by the Health and Social Care Professional Council (CORU) and graduates are eligible to apply for registration as professionally qualified social workers.
This is a two-year full-time programme consisting of 14 weeks of academic attendance and a 14-week professional practice placement each year.
Year 1 modules include: Introduction to Social Work; Introduction to Reflective Practice & Use of Self in Social Work; Social Work & Counselling Practice Approaches; Group work; Community Development; Human Development in Social Contexts; Supporting Children and Families-Approaches to Prevention and Intervention; Child and Family Law; Equality, Rights, Identities & Power in Social Work Practice; Preparation for Practice; Contemporary Discourses in Social Work; Contemporary Social Policy; and Introduction to Social Work Research and Evaluation.
Year 2 modules include: Families and Children: Practice in a Child Welfare Context; Social Work and Gender based Domestic Violence; Criminology, Probation and Social Work; Applied Law; Social Work in Diverse Settings; Mental Health; Addictions; Youth Mental Health; Health Related Social Work; Ageing; Disability; Systemic and Social Constructionist Approaches with Children and Families; Professional Development; Working in Human Service Organisations; Social Work in a Global Context; and Social Work Research.
Students will be required to successfully complete a professional placement of fourteen weeks duration, in each academic year. Garda (Police) vetting is required prior to undertaking placement. You can learn more at: https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/postgraduates/garda-vetting.php
Click here for further information on modules/subjects.
Introduction to the Social Work postgraduate programme by Dr. Eavan Brady at Trinity College Dublin.
September 2025
Dr Susan Flynn
12th February 2025
Applicants should hold an NFQ Level-8 social science degree (2.1 degree or higher), or equivalent, and a minimum of 850 hours relevant practice experience.
All applications for the Master's in Social Work must include a breakdown and description of relevant work experience to date which indicates the total number of hours or weeks worked. Applicants must also provide one academic reference and one reference from their practice experience.
All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.
For a full list of postgraduate fees, click here.
To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below
Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.
