Apprenticeship ยท Level 8 ยท Healthcare

Social Care

A three-year degree apprenticeship in social care combining paid work with study. It suits team players who want to help people facing difficult circumstances.

How apprenticeships work: you are hired by an approved employer and paid while you learn, mixing work with blocks of training in a college or training centre. You don't apply through the CAO and you don't need CAO points.

Key facts

How long
3 years
Award
CORU-approved NFQ Level 8 Honours Degree in Social Care
Where you train
  • University College Cork (UCC) manages the programme
Pay
Employer pays a salary; rate agreed with your employer.
Costs
Employer covers all fees on first attempt; apprentice pays if a year is repeated.

Entry requirements

  • Aimed at people with a related degree or considerable industry experience
  • Full criteria are in the Social Care Apprenticeship Handbook

How to apply

You must be hired by an approved employer. Contact UCC using the details on the page or search the Apprenticeship Jobs page.

Official page on apprenticeship.ie โ†—

What you'll learn

  • Supporting people facing homelessness, addiction, disability and mental health issues
  • Working with children, families and vulnerable adults

Where it can lead

  • Social care worker

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Home Economics, Politics and Society

These help with the content of the programme; they are not entry requirements unless listed above.

Other Healthcare apprenticeships

Tertiary degrees in Welfare

Not sure which route suits you?

Our CAO Interest Test matches you to course areas, and now shows apprenticeships and tertiary degrees in your strongest areas too.

Take the CAO Interest Test โ†’ Try the free 3-minute test

Information from apprenticeship.ie, checked November 2026. Details can change, so always confirm on the official page before applying.