Master's in Palliative Care

Postgraduate Certificate

All content taught online. A four-hour session takes place online in early September followed by a one-hour weekly class, online. 

Master’s/Postgraduate Diploma 

Year One: Commences with a full week in September and thereafter one or two days per week for the remainder of the academic year. Postgraduate Diploma students can elect to undertake a total of 104 hours of supernumerary clinical placements in care settings relevant to the speciality of palliative care. 

Year Two: Attendance at classes throughout the academic year. If completing the Master’s, you will also carry out research and the writing of a dissertation. 

Certificate (30 ECTS)

Postgraduate Diploma (60 ECTS)

Master's (90 ECTS)

**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

✅ 2nd class honours (2:1) degree minimum in a relevant discipline. In exceptional circumstances clinical experience and continuing professional development may be taken into consideration. 

✅ Current registration with the relevant professional regulatory body, where applicable, i.e. NMBI.

✅ One year’s clinical experience in providing care to patients who have palliative care needs within the last two years. 

✅ Currently employed in a field that provides a palliative approach to care. 

✅ Students on courses with clinical or other professional placements may be required to undergo Garda vetting procedures prior to commencing placement.

✅ 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.

✅ 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). 

✅ A full CV presented in reverse chronological order with information on your professional development, relevant to the course you are applying for.

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.

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.