M.Sc. in Palliative Care

Year One

Commences with a full week in September and thereafter one or two days per week for the remainder of the academic year.

P.Grad.Cert - The Postgraduate Certificate consists of three core palliative care modules which are delivered weekly online.

P.Grad.Dip - The Postgraduate Diploma consists of the above three core palliative care modules which are delivered weekly online. There are three further modules which include an elective, these are delivered in person in Trinity College Dublin. P.Grad Dip students can elect to undertake a total of 104 hours of supernumerary clinical placements in various care settings relevant to the speciality of palliative care.

Year Two

Attendance at workshops throughout the academic year, carrying out research and the writing of a dissertation.

Content for some modules are delivered completely online. The assessment process is a combination of written and practical assignments.

Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care

Year One

• NU7706 Palliative Care: Concepts, Philosophy and Debates (10)
• NU7707 Palliative approaches to pain and symptom management (10)
• NU7708 Psychosocial, spiritual and therapeutic issues in palliative care (10)

Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care

Year One

• NU7706 Palliative Care: Concepts, philosophy and debates (10)
• NU7707 Palliative approaches to pain and symptom management (10)
• NU7708 Psychosocial, spiritual and therapeutic issues in palliative care (10)
• NU7013 Theory and Practice of Enquiry Methods for Healthcare (10)
• NU7020 Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance (10)

and a choice between one of the two following modules:

• NU7709 Clinical Practicum Palliative Care (10)** or
• NU7005 Ethics and Law in Health and Social Care (10)

Master in Science in Palliative Care

Year One

• NU7706 Palliative Care: Concepts, philosophy and debates (10)
• NU7707 Palliative approaches to pain and symptom management (10)
• NU7708 Psychosocial, spiritual and therapeutic issues in palliative care (10)
• NU7013 Theory and Practice of Enquiry Methods for Healthcare (10)
• NU7020 Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance (10)

and a choice between one of the two following modules:

• NU7709 Clinical Practicum Palliative Care (10) or
• NU7005 Ethics and Law in Healthcare (10)

Year Two

• NU8007 Dissertation (30)

**Students who wish to pursue a career in specialist palliative care are advised to avail of the clinical practicum elective offered as part of the P.Grad.Dip. 

Practice is an integral component to the MSc Palliative Care course and as such, students are required to engage in critical analysis of their practice in relation to applying the principles and philosophy of palliative care. Students engaging in this course will concurrently be providing care to persons with Palliative Care needs and their families, at their usual (or base) clinical site. In addition, and in order to expand on students' knowledge and experience in Palliative Care, a minimum of one hundred and four hours of supernumerary clinical placements will be established with the co-operation of clinical sites within and beyond St Francis Hospice services. The difference in client caseload that each site offers will further enhance the richness of clinical exposure for the student and challenge their ability to adapt their clinical skills to match a variety of client groups. These placements will take place across a variety of clinical placement sites throughout the first year of the programme. Students undertaking the Clinical Module are required to be Garda vetted by Trinity College, Dublin.

Clinical Allocations

The criteria for admission are that the candidate must

• Have a minimum of one year’s clinical experience in palliative care practice (level one; level two or level three) within the last two years
• For the duration of the course, candidates must be employed in Ireland in an area where the principles of palliative care are operationalised when caring for individuals with life limiting conditions, and their families
• Hold an honours degree in a health professional or related subject area, or otherwise satisfy the selection panel that they have the ability to complete and benefit from the course
• Nurses or midwives undertaking this course must be currently registered on the appropriate division of the live register held by The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
• Students on courses with clinical or other professional placements may be required to undergo Garda vetting procedures prior to commencing placements, by Trinity College Dublin

• 2 Academic references
• Copies of academic transcripts from completed educational courses
• Copies of official awards (parchment) from completed educational courses

All students register on the M. Sc. programme in the first instance.

Upon successful completion of three specialist modules, each of 10 ECTS credits, totalling 30 ECTS credits, students may opt to be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate (P.Grad.Cert.*) or may progress further on the Master (M.Sc.) programme.

Upon successful completion of six modules, each of 10 ECTS credits, totalling 60 ECTS credits, students may opt to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma (P.Grad.Dip.) or may progress further on the Master (M.Sc.) programme.

Students who are eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma may progress to undertake a M.Sc. within four years of first entering the programme.

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. 

Find out more: https://www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admission-requirements/postgraduate/

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.