Before studying Social Work

Are you interested in a social profession and looking for a study program that prepares you for a career in social work? The Social Work study program is closely tied to the major related disciplines of social pedagogy, sociology, psychology, law, political science and much more. You will learn valuable skills, methods and strategies that will enable you to respond to changing social conditions and adapt to new ways of thinking and living.

<p>Campus Tour at the MCI</p>

Campus Tour at the MCI

<p>Welcome to MCI - The Entrepreneurial School®</p>

Welcome to MCI - The Entrepreneurial School®

Overview

In the bachelor's degree program in Social Work, you will acquire social Work skills and methodological competence, deal with the related sciences of social work, conduct social work research and much more. This will enable you to work as a social worker in the fields of social work, to support others in shaping their lives as well as advocate for the rights and living conditions of disadvantaged groups of people. You will be prepared to identify social problems and to offer interdisciplinary and scientifically based solutions in terms of social compatibility, sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency.

New and current topics are addressed, and connected thinking and interdisciplinary exchange between students are promoted through cross-semester compulsory electives. Interdisciplinary compulsory electives from different fields of study in the areas of business, society, management, technology and life sciences complete the degree program.

Practical training is of great importance: The theoretical knowledge acquired during the course is applied to specific case constellations and put into practice under professional supervision during the four-week Information Internship and the 15-week Integrative Professional Internship in national or international social work organizations.

Belachew Gebrewold
Prof. Dr. habil. Belachew Gebrewold Head of Department & Studies
Do you have questions about studying? We look forward to hearing from you.
+43 512 2070 - 3400

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MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®

Why not study at the top?

MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® is one of the most successful universities in the German-speaking region and Europe. Renowned business experts teach in small groups, distinguished lecturers ensure academic quality in all areas, and the dedicated MCI team supports students in their endeavors such as internships, research, and stays abroad.

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Admission

Applications for studies are accepted on an ongoing basis via our online application platform. In the interests of your further planning, we recommend that you submit your application early.

Applications for several degree programs at MCI in parallel are possible and welcome, as long as the motivation for the chosen studies can be conclusively demonstrated.

Dates & Deadlines
Application
deadline		 Interview
Nov 17, 2024 Dec 2 - 4, 2024
   Feb 2, 2025 Feb 17 - 19, 2025
Apr 6, 2025 Apr 22 - 24, 2025
May 18, 2025 Jun 2 - 4, 2025
Prerequisites

Generally, admission to the program is available to the following persons:

Individuals with a university entrance qualification for a social, business or legal sciences study program (e.g. school-leaving exam, appropriate university entrance equivalency exam etc.)

Individuals without a university entrance qualification, but with relevant professional qualification, provided that one of the following requirements is fulfilled:

  • school-leaving certificate from a relevant vocational secondary school

  • completion of a dual education course with a relevant apprenticeship

Persons without a university entrance qualification but with relevant vocational qualifications must additionally sit entrance exams in German, English (Level II) and Mathematics (Level I). The level of the exams corresponds to that of a non-school university entrance qualification in social & economic sciences.

Persons in their last year at school wishing to apply for a place on the program before taking their final exams must include their most current school report with their application. Successful applicants must subsequently submit their school-leaving examination certificate before the start of the first semester.

Procedures

In just two steps to your desired study program at MCI:

Step 1 – Online application: CV & motivation

A complete online application consists of a CV, a letter of motivation, information on educational background, qualifications, professional career, social achievements and academic as well as professional goals. We would like to know why you are applying to study at MCI.

You may apply for more than one degree program at the same time, provided you can conclusively explain your respective motivations in your letter of motivation.

Step 2 – Online admission interview

In the second step, all applicants will be invited to an online admission interview.

In this interview, we want to get to know you. We are particularly interested in your motivation to study at MCI as well as your professional and personal goals you want to achieve with the help of your studies.

Within three weeks after the admission interview, we will inform you about the admission decision.

The qualifications acquired in the MCI in the area of criminal offenders and the knowledge based on the theories of social work support me in my daily work.

Stefan Thaler, Graduate
Stefan Thaler, Graduate
Probation Officer and Mediator of Charitable Benefits, NEUSTART Vorarlberg

The degree in social work prepared me very well for my professional life. I particularly appreciated the practical orientation at MCI. In addition, I now benefit greatly from the various aspects and focus areas (legal, educational, social, economic, etc.) that were set in the program.

Martina Tschug
Martina Tschug
Graduate of Social Work, vocational training assistant at Arbas work assistance

While studying Social Work

The Social Work degree program is characterized by the quality of its content, its academic approach, its practical orientation and its internationality.

Internationality is reflected in the composition of the faculty, the students, the curriculum and the field projects. As part of your studies, you will also have the opportunity to spend a semester at one of our many partner universities.

In addition to a sound scientific and methodological qualification in the field of social work, the curriculum also includes relevant sciences such as law, psychology, sociology, political science and education. You will learn to think in an interdisciplinary way, to combine your sound knowledge from a wide range of competencies and to apply it in practice.

The high practical relevance results from the close cooperation with partners in national and international social work organizations. You will gain valuable practical experience during your bachelor's degree, particularly through practical projects and the integrated internship. The internship is organized by the degree program and supervised in coordination with the respective social work institution.

Module Overview
Subject%
Social Work & Related Studies 17%
Fields of Application of Social Work 17%
Methodology & Competencies in Social Work 39%
Fundamentals of Research in Social Work 13%
Compulsory Internships 14%
Curriculum and Courses
A. Fundamentals of social work

 Semester

1

2

3

4

5

6

History of social problems & professionalization

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

 

Theories of social work I

 2 | 2

 

 

 

 

 

Theories of social work II

 

 2 | 2

 

 

 

 

Theories of social work III

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fundamentals of methodology in social work

 

2 | 2 

 

 

 

 

Introduction to human rights

 

1 | 1

 

 

 

 

Fundamentals of sociology

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

 

Fundamentals of the legal system

1 | 1 

 

 

 

 

 

Fundamentals of social security in social work

1 | 1  

 

 

 

 

 

Social- and migration policy I

1 | 1 

 

 

 

 

 

Developmental-psychological fundamentals of social work

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

 

Medical fundamentals of social work

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

Educational fundamentals of social work

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

Social psychiatry

 

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

Social-psychological fundamentals of social work I

 

1 | 1

 

 

 

 

Social-psychological fundamentals of social work II

 

 

 

 

1 | 2

 

Clinical and health psychology

 

 

 

 

 

1 | 2

Ethics of social work

 

 

 

 

 

2 | 3

Economical fundamentals of social work

 

 

 

 

2 | 3

 

Semester Credit Units | ECTS-Credits

B. Basic skills of social work
  1 2 3 4 5 6
Academic research 2 | 3          
Fundamentals of communication  1 | 1          
Project management / project development I 1 | 1           
Project management / project development II         1 | 1   
Gender / diversity training         2 | 2   
Empirical social research I   2 | 2        
Empirical social research II

 

   1 | 1      
Conversational practice and advice in social work I   2 | 2         
Conversational practice and advice in social work II     1 | 1        
Self development     2 | 2       

Semester Credit Units | ECTS-Credits

C. Operational fields of social work

 Semester

1

2

3

4

5

6

Basic welfare services & homelessness

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

 

Legal foundations for basic welfare services & homelessness

1 | 1

 

 

 

 

 

Delinquency

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

Legal foundations for delinquency

 

1 | 1

 

 

 

 

Work / unemployment

 

  2 | 2

 

 

 

 

Legal foundations for work / unemployment

 

 1 | 1 

 

 

 

 

Clinical social work

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

 

Legal foundations in the health-sector

1 | 1 

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood  / youth  / family  I

2 | 2  

 

 

 

 

 

Legal foundations for childhood / youth / family I

2 | 2  

 

 

 

 

 

Legal foundations for childhood / youth / family II

 

1 | 1 

 

 

 

 

Dis / ability

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

Mental disorders and addiction

 

 

 3 | 3

 

 

 

Elderly people

 

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

Social- and migration policy II

 

 

 2 | 3

 

 

 

Childhood  / youth  /family  II

 

 

1 | 1

 

 

 

Migration

 

 

 2 | 3

 

 

 

Legal foundations for migration

 

 

 2 | 2

 

 

 

Semester Credit Units | ECTS-Credits

D. Methods of social work

 Semester

1

2

3

4

5

6

Social work with traumatized people

 

 

1 | 1  

 

 

 

Crisis intervention

 

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

Community work

 

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

School social work

 

1 | 1   

 

 

 

 

Optional compulsory subject I - III (cross-semester-course)

 

1 | 1   

 1 | 1

 

 

 1 | 1

Interdisziplinary Elective: Current Topic

 

 

 

 

3 | 5

 

Working with groups

 

 

 

 

 2 | 3  

 

Virtual social work

 

 

 

 

2 | 3 

 

Mourning

 

 

 

 

 

1 | 1 

Mediation

 

 

 

 

 

1 | 1 

Open youth work

 

 

 

 

 

1 | 2 

Public relations / media relations

 

 

 

 

 

1 | 2

Transcultural communication

 

 

 

 

2 | 3

 

Integrative case work

 

 

 

 

 

1 | 2

Quality assuranceand administration in social work

 

 

 

 

 

1 | 2 

Methods of social pedagogy

 

 

 

 

2 | 3 

 

Social work and third sector

 

 

 

 

1 | 1

 

Social perspective strategies & regionalization in social work

 

 


 

2 | 3

 

Semester Credit Units | ECTS-Credits

E. Practice of social work

 Semester

1

2

3

4

5

6

Introduction to social work studies

1 | 1 

 

 

 

 

 

Project assignment I

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

 

Project assignment II

 

2 | 2

 

 

 

 

Internship seminar I

 1 | 1 

 

 

 

 

 

Internship seminar II

 

1 | 1  

 

 


 

Orientational internship

 

0 | 2 

 

 

 

 

Project assignment III

 

 

 2 | 2 

 

 

 

Internship seminar III

 

 

1 | 1 

 

 

 

Internship seminar IV

 

 

 

1 | 7

 

 

Internship

 

 

 

0 | 23

 

 

Semester Credit Units | ECTS-Credits

F. Bachelor Thesis & Bachelor Examination

 Semester

1

2

3

4

5

6

Seminar for bachelor thesis I

 

 

 

 

1 | 1  

 

Seminar for bachelor thesis II

 

 

 

 

 

 1 | 1 

Bachelor examination

 

 

 

 

 

0 | 1  

Bachelor thesis

 

 

 

 

 

0 | 12 

Semester Credit Units | ECTS-Credits

Time Model
Full-time

The Bachelor program Management & Law is a full-time degree program. In full-time studies, lectures and seminars are held on weekdays, with blocked units allowing for an intensive immersion into individual topics.

The classes usually take place from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:15 and / or from 13:30 to 16:45. In exceptional cases, the times may vary and the lessons and / or examinations may take place outside the specified times or possibly on Saturdays.

Academic Degree

Graduates of the program are conferred the academic title of Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, in short BA or B.A. This is attested by a leaving certificate, the Bachelor diploma, the international diploma supplement, and further documents where relevant. MCI Alumni are entitled to combine their academic degree with the brand “MCI” to provide trust and orientation in an increasingly intransparent international education market. Example: BSc (MCI). 
Source: GZ BMWF-52.330/0195-I/6/2013

Interdisciplinary Electives

Our interdisciplinary electives provide you with the opportunity to tailor your academic journey to your own interests and goals.

Interdisciplinary electives are cross-curricular courses on current trends and developments.

They allow you to discuss topics from different perspectives and interact with students and faculty from other disciplines.

During your studies you have the unique chance to choose such a course from a wide range of topics within the following focus areas:

  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation

  • Sustainability

  • Digitalization

  • Globalization

  • Society

The electives offer the opportunity to deepen your own interests and broaden your horizons. Join us as we enter a world of learning, exploration, and growth! Read more.

International Outreach

One of the most essential components of MCI study programs is their international orientation. This is reflected not only in the curriculum and assigned projects, but also in the backgrounds of our faculty and students. The program also includes the opportunity for students to spend the 5th semester abroad at one of MCI’s many partner institutions.

Beschreibung

Study Abroad

at our partner universities around the world.

Copyright https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espoo#/media/File:Espoon_kulttuurikeskus.jpg | Arto Sipinen | CC: by-sa - Namensnennung, Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen
Finnland
LAUREA University of Applied Sciences
Read more
Copyright https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin#/media/File:Siegessaeule_Aussicht_10-13_img4_Tiergarten.jpg | A.Savin | CC: by-sa - Namensnennung, Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen
Deutschland
Evangelische Hochschule Berlin
Read more
Copyright https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%A4denswil#/media/File:Z%C3%BCrichsee_-_W%C3%A4denswil_IMG_2654.jpg | Roland zh | CC: by-sa - Namensnennung, Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen
Schweiz
Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW
Read more
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Practice

At the Entrepreneurial School®, providing a consistent link between science and practice has top priority. Therefore, we provide our students plenty of opportunity to put their newly acquired knowledge to practice, even during their studies. The collaboration with companies and organizations of different sizes and sectors forms one of the cornerstones of the MCI concept. Such cooperative work does not only benefit our students, but also, ­to a large extent our partners.

Research in Social Work

  • Social Problems

  • Social Justice

  • Social Security

  • Participation

  • Human Rights

More Information icon
Cooperation Partners

• AK - Arbeiterkammer Tirol • Diözese Innsbruck • Innsbrucker Soziale Dienste • Europäische Kommission • Landesschulrat Tirol • Neustart • Land Tirol • Tiroler Wissenschaftsfonds • Gesundheits- & Sozialsprengel • AMS - Arbeitsmarktservice Tirol • Kinderschutz Tirol • Verein für Obdachlose • TirolKliniken • Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Schwaz • Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Innsbruck ...

Internship

At MCI, each program of study requires students to complete an integrative internship of at least 13 weeks at a national or international company. Students receive support from the respective department in organizing this internship and are supervised in coordination with the company.

Studierende analysieren Daten

Our department and the MCI Career Center regularly provide up-to-date information about internship positions and the situation on the labor market in general.

Practical training

In the Bachelor’s degree program in Social Work, practical training has top priority. Carefully selected case studies from practice give students the opportunity to apply their newly acquired theoretical knowledge and reflect upon  it with respective experts. This provides guidance both during on-campus classes and internships.

Trial internship

The four-week trial internship is designed to provide orientation during the transition from the first to the second semester. It allows students to gain an insight into relevant professional activities and structures.

Students will be familiarized with current social work issues, respective methods, and intervention planning. A particular focus is placed on the basic principles of professional behavior.

The trial internship helps students recognize the interconnectedness of the course contents in the everyday practice of a social worker and, thus, facilitates interdisciplinary and connected thinking.

Internship

During the fourth semester, students are required to complete an integrated 15-week internship in a national or international organization operating within to the social work sector. This is to allow students to put the previously acquired knowledge to practice while taking on ever more personal responsibility, while learning to work autonomously. The professional internship also provides orientation in the practical organizations and network of cooperative facilities of social work.

The mandatory internship can be completed either at home or abroad. Where professional, organizational, and language requirements are fulfilled, we explicitly encourage going on an internship abroad. Two programs are available for funding. For more information please see below.

Erasmus+ for students and recent graduates

Erasmus+ supports internships in all 28 EU member states as well as in the non-EU countries Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Turkey, and Macedonia, and in international partner countries. Erasmus+ provides grants from EUR 384 to EUR 435 per month. The amount may vary according to the living costs in the country of the internship. This can last from a minimum of two months to a maximum of twelve months.

Further details and information about requirements and conditions can be found at:

https://bildung.erasmusplus.at/de/hochschulbildung/studierende-und-graduierte/#c7461

Applications can be made through the MCI International Relations Office. Relevant information is provided during the second semester in respective information sessions and events. If you are interested in applying for an Erasmus+ grant, please contact International Relations Manager Kerstin Maier:

Mag.a Kerstin Maier

International Relations Manager
Email: kerstin.maier@mci.edu

GSD Internship program

The GSD Program is funded by the Austrian Development Agency and available to social work students at Austrian universities and universities of applied sciences. The aim of the program is to facilitate the qualitative, professional, and well-founded preparation for, and follow-up to, internships in countries of the global South. Tailored workshops are offered to prepare interns on the socio-political, social and cultural, as well as professional levels. In cases where no other form of financial support is available, extra funding of up to EUR 700 from the project budget may be granted for internships.

The requirements for funding include a minimum internship duration of 15 weeks, relevant language skills, and a strong commitment to prepare for, and follow up on, the internship experience.

Interested students should apply through the relevant department, which organizes respective information sessions during the second semester of studies.

Contact:
Bastian Oechsle, BA MA
Teaching & Research Assistant
bastian.oechsle@mci.edu
Tel: +43 512 2700-3424

Internship postings

Do you manage, or work at, a psychosocial facility and offer internships for social work students?

We greatly appreciate the provision of internship opportunities and are happy to inform our students about possible vacancies. The easiest way to pass on the relevant information to suitable candidates is through online postings.

Please submit a brief description of the vacancy or vacancies in PDF or Word format, including your company logo as well as answers to the following questions:

Do you offer a four-week internship for trial or a 15-week internship?

In which area or department do you require a social work intern?

What is the application deadline?

Who is the contact person?

After studying Social Work

Studying at MCI is an investment in a successful future. Through close cooperation with industry and the practical orientation of all courses, MCI graduates are in particularly high demand on the job market and have several job offers even before graduation.

Professional opportunities

Thanks to the breadth of their interdisciplinary training, graduates have a large variety of career options, with a focus on the following fields:

 

  • Official Social Work

  • Education, Profession, Company Social Work

  • Dis / Ability

  • Work specific to women or men

  • Health Work

  • Youth Work

  • Childhood, Youth, Family

  • Skills-based Vocational Counseling

  • Basic Social Services

  • Migration, Integration, Culturally Sensitive Work

  • Psychosocial Counselling & Support

  • School Social Work, Crisis Intervention, Street Work

  • Social Work with the elderly and people in need of care

  • Crime and Delinquency

  • Addiction, Psychosomatic and Psychiatric Disorders

Success Stories

Thomas Haslwanter-Wilhelmer
BA Social Work
Thomas Haslwanter-Wilhelmer

Area Manager Day Care and Living, slw Elisabethinum, slw Soziale Dienste GmbH

Read more
Verena Pöhl
BA Social Work
Verena Pöhl

Social worker / Project worker, Frauen aus allen Ländern

Read more
Read all icon

Continue studying

The MCI offers a number of internationally oriented Master's courses. The completion of a master's degree qualifies for the relevant doctoral studies.

Belachew Gebrewold
Prof. Dr. habil. Belachew Gebrewold Head of Department & Studies
Do you have questions about studying? We look forward to hearing from you.
+43 512 2070 - 3400

Suitable master's programs

News

Social Work

Postcolonial African Migration to the West
Postcolonial African Migration to the West
Head of the Department of Social Work in an interview about his book on the topic of African migration to the West
Boys' Day at MCI for the first time
Boys' Day at MCI for the first time
Breaking stereotypes and discovering new perspectives: MCI offers exciting insights into social professions
Department of Social Work Interviews Belachew Gebrewold
Department of Social Work Interviews Belachew Gebrewold
From the beginnings to inspirations: Belachew Gebrewold talks about Social Work
Show more

Questions & Answers

Where can I find information about the admission procedure?

Under the heading "Application & Admission" you will find all important information about the admission process: https://www.mci.edu/en/study/application-and-admission

How many study places are available each year?

We offer 50 places of study per academic year for this study program.

How can I increase my chances of being admitted to the program?

Work experience, an internship in social work, or a year of volunteer service would increase your chances of a successful application.

Is the bachelor’s degree in Social Work internationally recognized?

Generally , yes. The final decision as to whether or not your course will be recognized rests with the respective foreign institution or company.

Can my degree from the College of Social Pedagogy be transferred to the Bachelor of Social Work?

Full recognition of the program is not possible. Credit for individual courses or qualifications can only be granted after admission. The respective application form must be submitted before the beginning of the semester in which a course from which you seek to be exempted takes place.

Are there any concentrations in my program? Are there electives in my program?

In this program, you can choose between modules, specializations, additional courses, electives, etc., both within your curriculum and as part of your extracurricular activities. But that's not all: the semester abroad with its numerous partner universities, the professional internship as well as project work and final theses give you the opportunity to choose and design your course and make your studies an individual experience.

Is it possible to study in the bachelor’s degree program in Social Work on a part-time basis?

The Bachelor’s degree program in Social Work is a full-time program. As lectures are held on weekdays between 9 am and 6 pm and as attendance is mandatory, the ability to combine this program with work is limited. It also includes several projects, team assignments, internships, and a semester abroad, all of which are time-consuming.

When do the courses take place?

Lectures and seminars in full-time courses are held on weekdays. To allow for more intensive discussion of individual topics, some lessons may be scheduled in blocks.

Is attendance mandatory?

Attendance in all classes is mandatory. If you miss 25% or more of a course, your final grade will be affected.

Exceptions to the attendance requirement may be granted for valid reasons (e.g., illness, visit to authorities, or other personal reasons). Please submit your written request with supporting documentation to the department for approval.

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