Programme participants are required to hold a Level 8 degree (with a minimum of 2nd Class Honours) in the following areas:

Early Childhood Education and Care
Applied Social Studies
Social and Community Studies
Youth and Community
or a primary Level 8 degree in Social Sciences or cognate area (minimum 2nd class honours).

Candidates with significant experience in the social sciences (as determined by SETU Carlow's Recognised Priorn Learning (RPL) policy), in addition to an honours primary degree in another discipline area may also be considered for entry. Applicants applying for entry via routes other than those listed above will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with SETU Carlow's Recognised Priorn Learning (RPL) policy.

All students whose first language is not English must be able to provide evidence that their spoken and written level of English is adequate for the programme for which they have applied. The relevant certified documentation to support this shall be provided as part of the application process. An approved English language qualification or test result (see below for list of approved qualifications and test results). The qualification or test result shall have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. Substantial education (minimum one academic year) or work experience (minimum eighteen months) conducted through English and undertaken no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. Satisfactory completion of an interview process for entry onto the programme.
IELTS - 6 IELTS, TOEFL Computer Based Test - 213, TOEFL Internet Based Test - 80, TOEFL Paper Based Test 575.