Masters In Social Work

mammabee

Has anyone completed the masters in social work from NUIG? I am considering applying for it but Im wondering how long is the work experience each year? Im a mother of three small kids so just wondering what the course is like or what it entails, thanks..

Raphael

Moved from UCD

LadyMayBelle

Yup, I have. If you want to PM me your email I forward you the email I am working on with all the info, as a lot of people ask !!

andylennon11

I have not but am also considering applying for it in sept 2012 in NUIG. does anyone know what the hours are like in social work masters and as to whether i can have my placement near home as iv a small child??Really want to do it!Also is the interview hard and what kind of things do they ask??

LadyMayBelle

Interview: This may vary but generally there will be two people interviewing; a practitioner in the field and an academic. You will be asked about your suitability for the course, your past experiences, strengths, weaknesses, special interest in the area, what challenges face social workers these days, your understanding and application of social justice and human rights, talk about a relevant social work topic in the media, what reading you have been doing, what makes you want to be a social worker, what hobbies you have… this list is not exhaustive by any means so please don’t take this list as gospel..other questions have and may come up!! Dress formal.

Timetable: The course is full time and you are encouraged to dedicate your time to studying more so than work. It is really hard to work part time or full time, altho some people managed, with difficulty.

You don’t always have a lot of say in where you go placement wise, as each experience is unique. If you have a burning desire, that may be taken into consideration, and sometimes interviews are held if more than one person is going for the position and the position is specific. If though, you have had a lot of experience, say in the disability sector, you may well get a placement in that sector too, as social care and work are very different.

Locations of placement: Countrywide it seemed. Students seemed to get one local and one away. Obviously people with children got priority for local placements in one of their placement options, but some did travel further afield, say to Tuam or somewhere outside the city.
There were parents on my course and they aid ti was very tough, and found it hard to juggle everything (you need to attend 90% of classes and sick leave isn't really an option unless you are literally dying, trust me) however, they did the course and did very well.

andylennon11

thanks for the reply!is the timetable monday to friday 9 to 6 type?i am checking if i could commute ?

LadyMayBelle

Yup, it's 10-5 for the most part, and usually you are there later to do group work etc, and on fridays (half day) you will find yourself staying in the room for group work, research etc... I don't know anyone who commuted; one person did from Clare for a few weeks but then moved up. Remember placement is also full time, it's a proper job

Hazel O

Hi everyone! I wanted to jump in here and ask some questions about the MA Social Work in NUIG-I have my undergraduate degree in Social Care and also have the relevant experience. However, I am working out in the Middle East at the moment and I won't be home until June 2011. I know that there is an interview process for this course and I was just wondering does anyone know if maybe NUIG do interviews through Skype? Or is there any alternative route? Also I would like to commute from Clare-would the timetable allow this??

Thanks for any comments!

LadyMayBelle

Hazel O wrote: »

Hi everyone! I wanted to jump in here and ask some questions about the MA Social Work in NUIG-I have my undergraduate degree in Social Care and also have the relevant experience. However, I am working out in the Middle East at the moment and I won't be home until June 2011. I know that there is an interview process for this course and I was just wondering does anyone know if maybe NUIG do interviews through Skype? Or is there any alternative route? Also I would like to commute from Clare-would the timetable allow this??

Thanks for any comments!

As far as I am aware if you are a strong enough canditate based on your applciation etc they will do a skype interview.

One girl commuted from Clare for the first few months then moved up as she found it hard..they are long days and quite demanding.

andylennon11

would commuting from ballinasloe to galway daily be feasible..its really not an option for me to move location..wouldnt be fair on my child and too difficult but i am soo eager to be a social worker.

aoifedearg

Hi guys,

I am currently doing the Masters in Social Work in NUIG and just wanted to give a heads up as I too searched boards last year looking for information! The course is very intense but it is not insurmountable....its full on but it is possible to commute. There are a number of people in my course that commute from Mayo and Clare....in terms of placement if you have a specific area that you need to be ie in and around Galway County you do get some say in where you go. There are a number of people in the course who for personal and family reasons have to get placement in Galway and these people have got their placements. In terms of the interview the college does do interviews over the phone, skype etc.....if there's any questions re the course or anything in general let me know.

aoifedearg

Sorry just wanted to add, I think it was mentioned that the timetable is 9-6....to be honest that timetable has only really kicked in now, for the month of September up to the end of October we had varying hours but most days we finished at two. It's only in the past few weeks as more modules get added on that we are late for lectures. Now thats not to say when the lecture was over we didn't have work to do but the way I see it is its from here on in the weeks are full on but really as we finish in mid -december, you can look at it as six full on weeks.

andylennon11

Thank you very much,That sounds good. Im wondering have you any advise for the interview for nuig??I am eager to do the masters there.I have no clue as to what i am supposed to be studying/reading in the mean time??

aoifedearg

Hi Andylennon,

In terms of the interview for Galway, it is very much a personal based interview. The interview is very much based on trying to get an insight into the type of person you are. They ask three questions in one which can be difficult, for example I recall my first question was Why Social Work? Why Galway and why now?. The questioning isn't hard but its just remembering to stay focused and answer all three. In terms of preparing for the interview Galway places emphasis on human rights and social justice - this is their outline on the nuig website as well - so if you have a passion or have demonstrated at some stage in your life these attributes bring that to the interview.

aoifedearg

Also in what you should be reading, I would be keeping abreast of developments in the papers for example childrens report 2011 indicated that they wanted to bring in mandatory reporting of child abuse - how will this affect social workers and practice? Impact of cuts and recruitment emabargo (they say their isn't one but there is a freeze on recruitment) etc. The interview isn't scary and they aren't going to ask you about particular theories its more they want to get a sense of the person you are to see if you can be an effective social worker. Hope this helps!

LadyMayBelle

Thanks for all this Aoifedearg! I completed it in Galway in 2010, and things have changed! Great to have an new social workery person on boards

mammabee

aoifedearg wrote: »

Also in what you should be reading, I would be keeping abreast of developments in the papers for example childrens report 2011 indicated that they wanted to bring in mandatory reporting of child abuse - how will this affect social workers and practice? Impact of cuts and recruitment emabargo (they say their isn't one but there is a freeze on recruitment) etc. The interview isn't scary and they aren't going to ask you about particular theories its more they want to get a sense of the person you are to see if you can be an effective social worker. Hope this helps!

Your information if great thanks, How long is work experience do you mind me asking? Is it for months or broken up into different days per week??

LadyMayBelle

Placement is 4.5 days for the first one (Jan-start Apr) and the second is 4 days from Sep-Dec

chrissy101

Hey! this may sound silly but is the fee stated per annum or does it cover the two years! thinking about applying but don't know how i'd ever afford it if it was per annum. any info would be greatly appreciated! thanks

LadyMayBelle

chrissy101 wrote: »

Hey! this may sound silly but is the fee stated per annum or does it cover the two years! thinking about applying but don't know how i'd ever afford it if it was per annum. any info would be greatly appreciated! thanks

It is per annum. You have to pass the first year to get into the second, so that's why there are two separate year payments

nawapatr

hi everyone, I am currently on the masters in social work and in 1st year. It is an extremely full on course and hours are roughly 10-4 and on friday you finish at 1. the course load is intense and i've counted all the assignments (which is inclusive of essays, presentations and an exam) and we had a total of 18 assignments. there are 2 people in my class who commute from clare and mayo everyday and it is manageable. bear in mind the college do not take persistant travel excuses for missing class so if you are commuting just remember that.
don't let this scare you cos I'm really enjoying the course so far and am looking forward to going on placement. They get you to rank your preference of location for placement and they will accomodate you as best they can for those who have concerns about family committments.
If anyone wants anymore info just let me know.

Christinalit

do you know how long it was after your interview until you heard from the college letting you know if you got the course???

sexyfirepants

Hey!

I was told that we should know about two weeks after the interview, they will be making a decision next week.

Christinalit

sexyfirepants wrote: »

Hey!

I was told that we should know about two weeks after the interview, they will be making a decision next week.

two weeks!! ahh so nervous!!!! fingers crossed!! had you your interview today as well?????
i was told that they interviewed over 120 people !
odds are so slim now like

LadyMayBelle

Love to know how ye got on, so that we can save the info for future candidates!

Christinalit

sexyfirepants wrote: »

Hey!

I was told that we should know about two weeks after the interview, they will be making a decision next week.

Hey just wondering if you had heard back yet as I havnt....! at this stage now i just want to be put out of my misery!

LadyMayBelle

Christinalit wrote: »

Hey just wondering if you had heard back yet as I havnt....! at this stage now i just want to be put out of my misery!

Check PAC

dee.ray

Hi guys,
Thanks for all the very useful info posted - it's really helpful.

I'm thinking of applying for the Social Work Masters in Galway next year.

I'd be grateful for information on the how much work experience is required to be considered for interview and is it a strict requirement? I've emailed the course coordinator for info but haven't heard back - can't find the info online.

Many thanks

LadyMayBelle

dee.ray wrote: »

Hi guys,
Thanks for all the very useful info posted - it's really helpful.

I'm thinking of applying for the Social Work Masters in Galway next year.

I'd be grateful for information on the how much work experience is required to be considered for interview and is it a strict requirement? I've emailed the course coordinator for info but haven't heard back - can't find the info online.

Many thanks

From google and the NUIG website:

Prior work experience is compulsory and candidates must have obtained six months (approx. 960 hours) of voluntary or paid work experience relevant to the social work profession in order to be eligible to apply’. Relevant supervised placement learning will normally count for up to a maximum of 240 hours (6 weeks). It is the candidate’s responsibility to demonstrate clearly in their application how they have met the required 6 months/960 hours experience.

Link:http://www.nuigalway.ie/soc/postgraduate/ma_sw_apply.html

This is for the 2012-13 entry; I assume you will be applying in Feb 2013 for the 13/14 course. So check. Contact the Soc and Pol admin department as the course director may be on leave or getting a lot of emails.

Yes they are strict on the requirements, as if by going by the previous years, there can be as many as 5 people interviewing for 1 place; and this is after they have eliminated applicants from their application alone.

Youve plenty of time tho so check it out and go for it.

andylennon11

Can anyone advise me as to whether there is a course or individual who can help prepare for msw interview?? I am extremely nervous of interviews and am brutal at doing them. If I could get proper assistance in preparing I would be fine though as I'd hav a bit more confidence !

Marylemon

Hi can you get into masters in social work from nursing in Galway