Ageing Health & Wellbeing in Intellectual Disability

Course Overview

This interdisciplinary course will develop and strengthen the skills, competencies, and knowledge of students, thus enabling them to promote and develop excellence in the delivery of care for people with an intellectual disability. Students will explore the physical health, policy, and complex care needs of people with intellectual disabilities.



The Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability based at Trinity College Dubiln, hosts IDS-TILDA, the world leading longitudinal research initiative focused on ageing and intellectual disability and the most complete multidisciplinary body of research in this field. It directly informs policy and practice to enhance the lives of older people with intellectual disabilities. Students will learn from world leaders in the field, will participate in, contribute to and enjoy world-class intellectual disability practice and research, and be prepared as leaders in quality, person-centred care for ageing people with an intellectual disability as they age.



Is This Course For Me?

This course is open to a wide range of professionals working in the field of intellectual disability who want to develop and strengthen their knowledge of ageing in people with an intellectual disability, in order to promote excellence in the delivery of care. Students on this programme will come from a variety of backgrounds including nursing, medicine, occupational therapy, social work, physiotherapy and many other disciplines.



Course Structure

The M.Sc. carries 110 ECTS credits, the P.Grad.Dip. carries 60 ECTS credits, the P.Grad.Cert. carries 30 ECTS credits.



For P.Gad.Dip. and M.Sc. students, Year One usually starts with a full week of studying in September and continues thereafter generally one to two days per week for the remainder of the academic year. The course content of the three specialist modules is delivered online; students are not required to attend onsite for those modules.



Year Two consists of workshops throughout the academic year. A blended learning approach is utilised in the delivery of theoretical content which includes lectures, group discussions and self-directed learning. The assessment process is a combination of written and practical assignments. At the end of Year Two, M.Sc. students are required to submit a dissertation on a subject related to their field of study.

Course Content

P.Grad.Cert. students take three modules online: Health and Well-Being for Older Adults with Intellectual Disability in Contemporary Society; Principles and Perspectives of Service Delivery for Older Adults with Intellectual Disability; and Complex Care Realities for the Older Person with an Intellectual Disability.



Upon completion of the two Certificate modules, students may opt to progress to the P.Grad.Dip. programme and take a further three modules: Theory & Practice of Enquiry Methods for Healthcare; Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance; and a choice between two optional modules (Advanced Knowledge Translation Practicum in Ageing and Intellectual Disability (Clinical Placement); or Current Ageing Issues in Intellectual Disability Research [IDS-TILDA Placement]).



M.Sc. candidates may apply to study on a full-time basis and take all modules in one year. Should the candidate choose the Clinical Practice module, however, the Masters course must be taken part-time over two years. Students are required to complete a dissertation to be awarded the full Masters degree. Students eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma may progress to undertake a Masters within five years of entering the programme.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold an upper second-class (2.1) degree, ideally in a science or medical-related discipline. In exceptional circumstances, applicants may be able to satisfy the selection committee that they have the academic ability to successfully complete the programme despite having achieved a lower or unrelated qualification.



Candidates should be registered with their relevant professions’ regulatory body, where applicable.



Students will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, you can learn more at: www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/postgraduates/garda-vetting.php.



English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page.

Closing Date: 30th June 2025

M.Sc.: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time / P.Grad.Dip./P.Grad.Cert.: 1 year part-time

Next Intake: September 2025

Career Opportunities

This course prepares graduates to promote and develop excellence in the delivery of care for people with an intellectual disability in a wide range of settings.