Specialist Strands
Perioperative
Cardiovascular
Emergency Department
Intensive Care
Cancer Care and Haematology
Renal
Overview
The aim of these courses is to facilitate registered nurses currently practising in specialist areas to further develop their knowledge and skills, enabling the delivery of evidence-based specialist nursing care as members of the multidisciplinary team and to contribute to the attainment of excellence in health care. The course consists of six modules: three specialist, one clinical practicum and two core modules in the areas of research and management and a dissertation and is delivered part time over two or three years.
Postgraduate certificate [Framework/Flexible Study] – three years, part time. In year one you will complete the specialist modules [3 modules] and then if successful move to the postgraduate diploma and complete the two core modules and the clinical practicum. Once that is completed successfully you can progress to year three to complete the dissertation. You can choose to exit at the end of year one with a postgraduate certificate or at the end of year two with a postgraduate diploma or remain on the programme to complete the MSc. If you exit at the end of year one or year two then you can return to complete the MSc within five years.
Postgraduate Diploma/MSc [Traditional] – two years, part-time. In year one you will complete six modules including the clinical practicum and if successful progress to year two to complete the MSc. You can choose to exit the course at the end of year one with a postgraduate diploma and return within five years to complete the MSc.
The specialist courses are taught in partnership between the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the associated Health Service Providers. The specialist strands offered are listed above.
*For further information on the Postgraduate Certificate exit point, email pgt.nursing.midw@tcd.ie.
✅ 2nd class honours (2:1) degree minimum in nursing or a related discipline. In exceptional circumstances clinical experience and continuing professional development may be taken into consideration.
✅ Registered as a Nurse on the professional register maintained by the NMBI. An up-to-date NMBI professional registration certificate is required.
✅ 2 years (minimum) post-registration clinical experience.
✅ 1 year (minimum) experience in your chosen speciality.
✅ You must be engaged in specific practice settings relevant to the specialist area for the duration of the programme of study.
✅ Written commitment from your line manager that they will support you in your application.
✅ 1 academic and 1 clinical reference (these should be sought in advance of your application and should be on headed / organisation paper).
✅ 2 academic references OR 1 academic and one professional reference from the employer or work practice area. Each reference should confirm the potential and suitability of the applicant to undertake the course.
✅ A letter of support from your Director of Nursing.
✅ A full CV presented in reverse chronological order with information on your professional development, relevant to the course you are applying for.
✅ Evidence of your degree or other qualifications (including your academic transcript - this is an official list of modules and results achieved in your primary degree).
All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must meet Trinity College's Postgraduate English Language Requirements.
Please note the School of Nursing & Midwifery requires applicants presenting IELTS (Academic version) and IELTS Indicator to have achieved: Grade 6.5 overall with a minimum of grade of 6 in each category.
| Trinity Bands | Course Entry | IELTS Academic or Indicator | Duolingo English Test | TOEFL iBT | Cambridge Advanced or Proficiency | PTE Academic (Pearson) |
| Band B (Standard entry) | UG & PG Standard requirements | 6.5 overall 6.0 in each band |
120 overall 100 in each subscore |
90 overall 21 in each section |
180 overall no score below 170 |
69 overall 59 in each section |
English language requirements will be waived for applicants whose first language is not English and who are currently registered as nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) where that registration with the NMBI was based on the applicant’s IELTS score and they have evidence of continued engagement in a high intensity English language environment.