Social work is an area which welcomes mature applicants more than most. Of its 100 first-year places on the bachelor of social science, UCC earmarks up to 40 places for mature applicants. UCC also offers a bachelor's in social work which is not open to school-leavers.

Professor Fred Powell says that applicants would need to have demonstrated a high level of commitment to social work and be active in a voluntary capacity. Alternatively they might be employed in a related career such as nursing, teaching or a religious ministry. This is a limited route with 20 places every four years.

UCC also offers a bachelor of social science (youth and community work) which is targeted at community activists of mature years. "There are many people active in voluntary and community organisations," says Powell. "It's a key objective of the department to target that group and to provide them with opportunities to receive education and training."

In TCD, eight to 10 of the 30 first-year places on the four-year social work degree are reserved for mature applicants. Mature students bring their life experience to the course and their enthusiasm adds a lot, says Robbie Gilligan, head of the social work department.

Of its 150 first-year undergraduate places, UCD reserves about 15 places for mature applicants each year. Both UCD and UCC offer transition diploma courses which are open to graduates of other disciplines. These programmes facilitate transition to master's programmes, which allow students to qualify as professional social workers.