The "My Post-Grad Course" Thread - Mod Comment Post #1

Oooh this is actually pretty interesting, very helpful for those who are a bit out of their depth with course choices! Im doing a BA Hons in Humanities and thats going to lead on to either my H.Dip or my Masters depending on availability for either. pretty standard path to take i guess but i love it

I'd also be happy to contribute; I did my BA in Psychology in UCD and I'm doing a PhD in Psychiatry in Trinity's Institute of Neuroscience right now. I plan on doing the Clinical Doctorate course soon, but tbh there's loads of info in the Psychology forum here so I can go there for advice! More than welcome to help out anyone who wants info on the PhD though

I also did the postgrad diploma in stats in Trinity this year too; can give advice on that one too!

How to get in:
*Personal statement *Two references, preferably one academic and one employment *Considerable work experience in the social care field. Each uni has different requirements as to how many hours so please check. Last I knew, NUIG were required at least 960 hours or something *Appropriate degree (Social studies/Care/Science, Psychology, Sociology etc). Again CHECK with each college as they all do not accept the same courses. *Score well in the interview if shortlisted. There is generally about 5 people going for each place on the course, and the course usually takes between 17-21 students a year. Application is through the PAC system.

*I AM GOING TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND WILL UPDATE!*

Cost: About £6k a year or thereabouts. You may be eligible for a grant. You are expected to fund your own books/clothes for placement/transport etc.

The interview process: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 can be hard to work part time or full time, altho some people managed.

Semesterisation:
Semester 1 (Sept-Dec) You will be in college from 10am-4pm Monday to Thursday and have a half day Friday. You will need time to prepare essays, print out journals, do small groups with other students etc so you may be there till later in the evening, or full day Friday, depending on what suits you.

Semester 2 (Jan-Apr) Placement 1. This is a normal working week, 9-5, with a half day one of those days to work on your portfolio.

May of Semester 2: this is spent back in college, doing a whole module on contemporary issues, final essay and finishing your portfolio.

Summer off, yay! You will have been encouraged at this stage to think through your thesis idea over the summer.

Semester 3 (Sept-Dec): Placement 2: As before except it is a four day week, and the day ‘off’ is for doing your portfolio and preparing your dissertation.

Semester 4 (Jan-May): Back in the classroom, this time it is 3 days and two to work on your dissertation (which, I kid you not, best intentions and all, you will need). You also need to be around for small group work/presentations etc like in semester 1. For the latter half of this session you are left to focus on your dissertation.

Assessment: Essays on all modules, I think. Some include group presentations, a solo presentation and general participation in discussion in class. Pass grade is 50% per assignment. .You must pass Year One to progress to Year Two and you must pass placement; It is possible to fail and one person in my year did.

You must pass the portfolio assignment at the end of each placement. There has been a lot of discrepancy about this ‘portfolio’ and guidelines in the past have not always been clear so ask to see a high graded past one.
You must pass the thesis which I think, was 20 thousand words.
You must be regarded as fit to practice as a social worker.

Modules: See the actual link: http://www.nuigalway.ie/soc/postgraduate/brochures/brochure_ma_sw.pdf

Do you need a car on placement? Half of us didn’t have cars, and two didn’t drive. I learned to and it was a massive asset. It’s not a requirement but you will need to be able to drive as a social worker so it is a bonus, and it opens up your placement options if you can drive and have a car.

Types of placement: Child protection, community care, medical social work, mental health social work, probation, hospice social work, housing, drugs, homeless, alcohol and substance misuse, community work, disability, the army, fostering and adoption, elderly.

There were some international opportunities such as going to Chicago and The Philippines altho these may be subject to change. The uni gives very little financially so it is mainly self funded.

You don’t always have a lot of say in where you go placement wise, as each experience is unique but it depends year to year on the availability. 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, but some did travel further afield.

Can you do the course with kids?There were a handful of people on my course who had children and yes, succeeded. It was difficult at times, and I know at times they said they felt it impossible to fit everything in, however they did it and did it well. You need to be able to commit to attending college for almost every lesson. In my year, we had three ‘Mums’..one with a 3year old child, one with a 13 year old and one with two kids aged 11 and 14. As far as I know, the year after me had a few Mums and dad also

Yeah but what are the realistic job prospects?Pretty okay, but it comes in waves. Most Irish social workers get jobs from ‘the panel’ which is the HSE’s recruitment process for qualified social workers; you do a written application and interviewed, and given a number depending on how well you do and that’s your number in the waiting list (you can apply for up to geographical five areas I think). Most of my class got work in the HSE, some in Oz and two of us in the UK. Your MSW is recognised globally.

Is Galway really a good place to live while in college? Yes.

Official Linky: http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/social-work.html
I am sure I have missed bits..happy to edit if there are more questions I'll do a 'day in the life' at some stage!

Has anyone done the MSc disability and rehabilitation studies in UCD??

I would really appreciate it if anyone could tell me anything about the M. Phil. in popular literature at TCD, or what it's like to do an English masters in general.

I'm applying to start a PhD in January, focusing on the Old English poem Beowulf. I am terrified, haha!

Censorsh!t wrote: »

Just registered for my PhD in UCC today.

As soon as I saw your post, this first line from Martin Lawrence came to mind...

Hi guys, I know there's a ton of these "tell me about this course" threads here, sorry!

does anyone know anything about this one?

All help much appreciated, thanks!

Nearing the end of Msc in Marketing in DIT. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to PM me.