Overview
In response to the changing needs of educational provision in healthcare practice and stakeholder consultation, the School of Nursing and Human Sciences has developed a postgraduate educational framework for nurses and other healthcare practitioners.
This part-time programme, at level nine on the National Framework of Qualifications, allows students to obtain a Master degree in their chosen practice area over two years. Students have the option to complete their Graduate Diploma or their Graduate Certificate in 18 months if they do not wish to continue to Masters. Students wishing to take a more flexible approach can complete the programme over four years.
DCU People
Careers & Further Options
Careers
This programme will support healthcare professionals who wish to further their career in a particular area of practice, e.g. where there are opportunities for developing new services, models and roles, or for specialist and advanced practitioner roles in healthcare provision. It will also help professionals gain valuable postgraduate clinical/practice education, thereby helping them to progress in their chosen career.
Entry Requirements
Direct entry to the programme will be considered for candidates who hold a primary degree, with a minimum of second-class honours, grade two, in a relevant discipline. Where a prospective student has not attained the required academic level prior to their application, and in keeping with the University policy on equality of access and opportunity, additional opportunities for entry to the programme will be available. These are offered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Candidates will normally be expected to be working in the area of practice which they hope to study over the course of the programme. The programme will incorporate a separate external practice placement.
Programme Structure
Using a flexible and blended mode of delivery, students engage in both face to face and virtual learning environments. In addition to seminars from multidisciplinary practitioners, participants engage in group and simulated learning experiences that are further enhanced by learning in practice. Students are allocated an academic and practice supervisor with expertise in their chosen practice area, who provides support, guidance, and forms part of a tripartite team, in developing and assessing a practice portfolio.
Graduate Certificate students take three ten credit dementia-specific modules (1 per semester) focusing on person-centred dementia care, therapeutic responses for people with dementia and dementia and everyday ethics.
Graduate Diploma and MSc students take the three ten credit dementia-specific modules (1 per semester) and three, core, ten credit modules (1 per semester) that focus on professional role development, leadership and collaboration, and research skills.
In the final six months, MSc students take a core 30 credit module, which includes advanced research learning and the completion of a research dissertation.
As the programme predominately includes modules with practice embedded elements, it is anticipated that students will normally be working in an area related to their focus of study. Upon successful completion, it is expected that the practitioner will be able to initiate and lead practice developments resulting in an improved quality of care within the Irish health care system.
Fees and Funding
How To Apply
All Applicants must submit:
- Academic transcripts for each and every year of study
- Copy of CV outlining relevant experience
- Confirmation that you are working 20hrs per week in your chosen area of practice
- If you are being sponsored through the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Units (NNMPDU) (and subsequently your employers) and have a sponsor letter please upload this as part of your application as a General document
Non Native English Speakers must submit
- Evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml
International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above.
Dates for Submission of Applications
EU Applicants
This programme will not have an intake in September 2022.
Non-EU Applicants
This programme will not have an intake in September 2022.
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.