Courses / Course

	Required	Ordinary level grade	Higher level grade
Irish		O6	H7
English		O6	H7
Language		O6	H7
Math		-	-
Science		-	-

This course requires 3 additional subjects

Mature Applicants

Mature applicants are assessed separately to school-leavers. Mature applicants are 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time/flexible degrees the mature age is 21. Mature applicants must be at least 23 years old by 1st January 2026. Restricted application* course – apply to the CAO by February 1st. 

Click here to be taken to our mature applicant information page - tab 3 on that page outlines application steps for this degree.

Mature applicants who have a disability

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require support for any required written exercise/interview/ online video audition which may form part of your application assessment, you must complete an online request form and submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2026. Applications for alternative examination accommodation cannot be considered after this deadline.

For further information on the supporting documentation required, as well as examination and other supports visit the Access Office website.

Application procedure for all applicants to MH116
As a *restricted-application course, entry to MH116 BSocSc Community and Youth Work is not based on CAO points. The application process is designed to assess the applicants' potential to develop as professional practitioners. All applicants are invited to Maynooth University to complete a personal statement and written exercise. 
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to Maynooth University for an individual and group interview in April 2026. Interviewees should bring one work / volunteer or study related reference.
Note 1: 50% of places are reserved for appropriately experienced mature students.
Note 2: Any offer of a place on this programme is subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau.

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require support for any required written exercise/interview/ online video audition which may form part of your application assessment, you must complete an online request form and submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2026. Applications for alternative examination accommodation cannot be considered after this deadline. 

Please contact the Department of Applied Social Studies for further information. Contact link below.

Restricted application* course – apply to the CAO by February 1st. 

Leaving Certificate applicants are required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7 and O6/H7 in Irish, English, 3rd language. Any offer of a place on this programme is subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau. 

Application procedure for all applicants to MH116
*As a restricted-application course, entry to MH116 BSocSc Community and Youth Work is not based on CAO points. The application process is designed to assess the applicants' potential to develop as professional practitioners. All applicants are invited to Maynooth University to complete a personal statement and written exercise. 
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to Maynooth University for an individual and group interview in April 2026. Interviewees should bring one work / volunteer or study related reference.
Note 1: 50% of places are reserved for appropriately experienced mature students.
Note 2: Any offer of a place on this programme is subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau.

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require support for any required written exercise/interview/ online video audition which may form part of your application assessment, you must complete an online request form and submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2026. Applications for alternative examination accommodation cannot be considered after this deadline. 

Please contact the Department of Applied Social Studies for further information. Contact link below.

HEAR and DARE

DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.

HEAR: The Higher Education Access Route is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Contact the Access Office for more information about these access routes.

This is a Restricted Application course – all applicants must apply to the CAO by February 1st 2026. See ENTRY REQUIREMENTS tab for more information.

Categories of applicant:

• School-leavers (Leaving Certificate students)
• Mature students (23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University/part-time degrees the mature age is 21)
• EU/EFTA/UK students
• International students (outside the EU)
• QQI (Further Education) students
• Transferring students
• Deferring students

Duration: 3 years (full-time)

• The MH116 degree is a level 8 honours degree and professional qualification in Community Work and Youth Work. It combines on-campus study of a range of topics relevant to community and youth work with off-campus full-time block supervised fieldwork practice. Classes run from early September to late May each year with an attendance requirement of 80%.
• Students are required to complete 520 hours of full-time block supervised fieldwork in each year of the degree. This will involve evening and weekend work. All students complete fieldwork practice in both community work and youth work.

Duration: 3 years (BA)

Disclaimer
The modules below are indicative of the content associated with this course of study.
The modules are subject to change as the curriculum is revised and reviewed annually. Please check periodically for updates.

Year 1

SINGLE MAJOR COMMUNITY & YOUTH WORK CY1FSM - COMMUNITY AND YOUTH WORK Credits: 75 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory COMMUNITY WORK PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES CY103A 7.5 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE CY107A 7.5 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE CY107B 7.5 Year-Long INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL SCIENCES CY117 15 Year-Long PRACTICE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CY102A 15 Year-Long STUDY AND INQUIRY AT 3RD LEVEL CY111B 7.5 Year-Long YOUTH AND COMMUNITY IMAGES AND ARTS CY105A 7.5 Year-Long YOUTH WORK PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES CY104A 7.5 Year-Long

	Year 2
	SINGLE MAJOR COMMUNITY & YOUTH WORK CY2FSM - COMMUNITY AND YOUTH WORK Credits: 75 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCE CY216 15 1 COMMUNITY WORK ISSUES & POLICIES CY203A 10 1 FIELDWORK PRACTICE 2 CY207 15 Year-Long PRACTICE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CY202B 15 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL STUDIES CY215 10 Year-Long YOUTH WORK ISSUES AND POLICIES CY204A 10 1

	Year 3
	SINGLE MAJOR COMMUNITY & YOUTH WORK CY3FSM - COMMUNITY AND YOUTH WORK Credits: 75 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory CRITICAL ISSUES IN PRACTICE CY333 15 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE 3 CY307 15 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CY330 15 Year-Long RESEARCH FOR PRACTICE CY331 15 Year-Long THE SOCIAL SCIENCE CONTEXT OF PRACTICE CY332 15 Year-Long

Maynooth University Department of Applied Social Studies
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/applied-social-studies

General enquiries

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Course enquiries

To:	cywrecruitment@mu.ie
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After Graduation

• Graduates are employed in a range of community and youth work organisations and agencies such as community development projects, urban and rural development groups, environmental justice groups, youth projects, as well as organisations concerned with particular groups (e.g. women, Travellers, LGBTQ+) or issues (e.g. global citizenship education, Human Rights, unemployment, migrant rights, drugs, poverty etc.)
• Graduates have a wide range of options to continue their study at postgraduate level.

Visit the Department website for more information about postgraduate options.

After Graduation

• Graduates are employed in a range of community and youth work organisations and agencies such as community development projects, urban and rural development groups, environmental justice groups, youth projects, as well as organisations concerned with particular groups (e.g. women, Travellers, LGBTQ+) or issues (e.g. global citizenship education, Human Rights, unemployment, migrant rights, drugs, poverty etc.)
• Graduates have a wide range of options to continue their study at postgraduate level.

Visit the Department website for more information about postgraduate options.

For further information on Postgraduate options please go to the Graduate Studies site