BA (APPLIED SOCIAL STUDIES)

Maynooth University

Ireland, Maynooth

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Maynooth University

Ireland , Maynooth

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

MainSite

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines3-Feb-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

EUR 16,500 / year

Next Intake 3-Feb-2026

BA (APPLIED SOCIAL STUDIES)

About

The BA (Applied Social Studies) is a one-year progression programme for candidates who have already attained the requisite standard in a Level 7 professional programme (including supervised fieldwork practice) in community development, youth work, social care or a cognate professional area. Applicants should normally have achieved second class honours or a “merit” grade or equivalent in a relevant Diploma, National Diploma or Ordinary Degree award, which must have a value of at least 120 credits on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Minor awards with insufficient ECTS credits are not eligible.

The BA (Applied Social Studies) consists of 60 ECTS credits.

The programme offers advanced study in:

Professional Practitioner Development
Irish and European Social Policy
Social Inequalities and Social Change
Environment, Sustainability and Social Justice
Research Skills for Policy and Practice
Interagency and Multi-Professional Collaboration and Partnership

See Course Structure for full module descriptions

For more details on the course structure click here

Requirements

Entry Requirements

This table displays the requirements for Leaving Certificate applicants.

Subject	Required	Ordinary Level Grade	Higher Level Grade
Irish	No	N/A	N/A
English	No	N/A	N/A
Language	No	N/A	N/A
Math	No	N/A	N/A
Science	No	N/A	N/A

International & EU/EFTA Entry Requirements

Visit the International Office website for details.

Additional Information

Applicants for the BA (Applied Social Studies) should normally have already achieved second class honours or a “merit” grade or equivalent in a Diploma, National Diploma or Ordinary Degree award in one of the social professions, including (but not limited to) community development, youth work and social care. Their programme of study should have:

included substantial supervised fieldwork practice, and
led to an award at (or equivalent to) Level 7 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). See http://www.nfq-qqi.com/

Prior awards must have a value of at least 120 credits on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). See: https://ec.europa.eu/education/resources/european-credit-transfer-accumulation-system_en

Minor awards with insufficient ECTS credits are not eligible.

English Program Requirements

IELTS : 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each band

Duolingo English Test (DET) : The minimum requirement will be a DET score of 120 - with at least 110 in each individual subscore.

Pearson Test of English : 63 with no less than 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section

TOEFL internet-based test : iBT: 90 with no less than 21 in writing and at least 19 in all other sections

Career

The BA (Applied Social Studies), like other honours degrees in the social sciences, provides a valuable academic foundation for many vocations and occupations. It can enable graduates to progress further in their existing professional field, or to proceed to postgraduate professional training in social work, community development and youth work, and other areas.

Students attaining the requisite standard may proceed to a postgraduate research degree in the applied social sciences.

Graduates of the BA (Applied Social Studies) can also be found working in policy analysis, applied social research, public administration and management, civil society/non-governmental organisations, journalism and the media.