Disability

The Graduate Diploma in Disability is developed for all who have an interest in matters of disability including individuals with disabilities, family members and professionals. The philosophy of the programme is to promote an inclusive society respecting the will and preference of persons with disability.



This one-year full-time programme comprises six mandatory modules which explore current and past concepts of disability, evidence-based disability practice, national and international disability policy and current developments in disability legislation. The Graduate Diploma is part of a pathways programme towards the MSc in Disability. Students who successfully complete the Graduate Diploma may be interested to continue their studies and acquire an MSc in Disability by taking an additional 30 credits of study. These credits are taken from a suite of disability-related modules specialising in education, health, law, psychology, public health and social policy.



The Graduate Diploma is delivered by academics, practitioners and experts by experience using a variety of approaches including expert tuition, small group interaction, peer support and autonomous student learning. Assessment including essays, presentations, group-based work, and critical reflections. This programme runs across three trimesters, Autumn, Spring and Summer.

Module Trimester Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

PSY40640 Advanced Disability Studies Autumn 10

PSY40890 Disability Policy Legislation Autumn 10

PSY40490 Person Centred Programme Development Spring 10

PSY40540 Applied Research Methods Summer 10

PSY40870 Multielement Behaviour Support Summer 10

PSY40880 Identity Sexuality & Mortality Summer 10

Candidates may apply for admission to the MSc in Disability if they meet the following criteria:



A primary degree with a minimum 2.2 classification (second class honours , grade two) or International equivalent

Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.0 (no band less than 6.5 in each element), or equivalent.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

1 Year full-time

W550 Graduate Diploma Disability Graduate Diploma Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught