Course Summary
This programme will be of interest to graduates of early education, social care, psychology, sociology, community studies and related disciplines, as well as professionals in the broad social services delivery area (example, social work, youth work, teaching, community work, early education, family support work).
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
Applicants must normally hold a second class honours bachelor degree, higher division (2.1) or higher in the area of social care, early education, social sciences, psychology, sociology, youth and community studies or cognate discipline. In addition, applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS score minimum of 6.5 overall, with nothing less than 6 in each component.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic requirements, but who have significant professional or vocational experience in child, family and community services shall also be considered. In addition to an application form, this latter category of applicants may also be asked to present for interview. The Programme Committee will work to ensure a balance of recent graduates and professionals among the student intake.
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 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.
Note: Due to the considerable competition for our postgraduate courses satisfying the minimum entry requirement is not a guarantee of a place. Depending on the course of study, applications will be assessed based on your academic grades and may also take into account your work/life experience. Applicants may also be required to attend for interview for specific courses.
Application Details
Applications for courses commencing in September 2025 will open in November 2024.
Commencement Date: September 2025
Fees
Fees €7,400 Total Fee
Fees (Non-EU) €13,500 Total Fee
Part-time
Fees €2,835 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
Many participants on the MA in Child, Family and Community Studies already have practice experience and use the MA to develop their careers in different directions or to move in to management roles. Graduates have gone on to work in a variety of sectors including development and policy work in social care, early childhood education and the voluntary care sector. It is not necessary to have prior professional experience, however, to find the programme beneficial for career development.
Duration
Mode of Study Full Time
Method of Delivery Blended
Schedule
Full-time students attend college two evenings a week (generally Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 4.00 and 8pm) for two semesters and submit their dissertation the following semester.
The programme will be a taught modularised programme, delivered in semesters of 15 weeks duration (12 weeks teaching, 1 review week and 2 weeks assessment). Students may take the taught programme on a full-time basis over two semesters and complete a dissertation in the third semester.
2 years
Mode of Study Part Time
Method of Delivery On-Campus
Schedule
Part-time students attend college one day per week for four semesters (the first year is usually scheduled on Tuesday evenings, with the second year on Thursday evenings) and submit their dissertation the following semester.
Students who do not wish to pursue the programme to Master level may opt to be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Studies after the completion of 60 credits of coursework.