Gerontological Care

Meeting the healthcare and social care needs of older people demands expert assessment and strategic planning by a multidisciplinary team, including nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, pharmacists, speech & language therapists and more. If you're a healthcare professional dedicated to excellence in gerontological practice and aiming to broaden your impact, the Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Care offers a cutting-edge pathway to elevate your career and professional development. This programme equips you with the advanced, evidence-based skills needed to assess, plan, and deliver person-centred care for older adults across acute, community, and residential settings. This programme is delivered via blended learning, incorporating a mix of interactive online lectures, self-directed learning and in-person classes.



What Will I Learn?

The UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems provides graduate programmes to prepare nurses and midwives to excel as caregivers and as leaders. Many of the School’s graduates have gone on to assume key clinical and leadership positions in their discipline, both nationally and internationally. This programme will provide you with an opportunity to develop, enhance and maintain the specialist skills that are required to care for older persons.



How will I benefit?

Successful participants in this programme will be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Care. Credits obtained from this programme will readily contribute to an MSc degree for those who wish to pursue that option in the future.



You will learn from leading academics and clinical experts who are deeply embedded in Ireland’s health system and care of older people. Our faculty maintains strong partnerships with local and regional healthcare providers, including major hospitals, primary care networks, and community-based services. This ensures that teaching is grounded in current practice and informed by the latest research in gerontological care. This connection between university and frontline services enhances the real-world relevance and impact of your learning.



Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for older adults, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of settings specialising in this area both nationally and internationally. The programme is particularly aimed at preparing healthcare professionals to assume senior and specialist roles in gerontological care.



The Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Care aims to provide students with the requisite knowledge and discipline-specific skills for their specialist role in gerontological care in a range of care settings. The Programme will build on students’ prior knowledge and experience in either older person’s care services or in tertiary care. The Programme will:



• provide an advanced educational experience which will develop the student’s capacity for independent judgement and problem-solving skills.

• provide an educational framework to support the development of analytical and critical skills for an enquiring and creative approach to the theory and practice of gerontology.

• develop the student’s capacity to respond to changing needs in gerontology.

• develop the student’s capacity to identify and integrate best evidence into gerontological care practice.



Our innovative curriculum combines lectures, interactive workshops, and small-group seminars with a flexible, blended-learning format, so you can engage with course materials anytime, anywhere. Clinical instruction is delivered by interdisciplinary specialist practitioners who guide you in translating evidence-based theory into real-world practice.



Indicative Timetable

All our taught graduate modules take place mainly on Monday and Tuesday. The majority of sessions will be delivered online with 3 to 4 face to face days per trimester in UCD. It is encouraged you attend the online lectures when they are scheduled to ensure engagement, however, they will be recorded so you can watch back at a later date should the need arise.

Module / Trimester / Credits



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:

Students who applied via LHP Skillnet must select the following 5 modules: NMHS44050, NMHS44070, NMHS44060, NMHS44040 & NMHS43270. All other students select 6 modules:

NMHS43140, NMHS44050, NMHS43270, NMHS44070,NMHS44040 and NMHS44060.

NMHS44070 Clinical Practicum in Gerontological Care 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

NMHS43270 Res Methods Applied to Healthcare Autumn 10

NMHS44040 Contemporary Issues in Ageing & Older Adult Care Autumn 10

NMHS44050 Comprehensive Older Persons' Assessment & Management Autumn 10

NMHS43140 Developing Leadership Competency Spring 10

NMHS44060 Integrated Care: Lead & Dev QS Spring 10

• Hold a minimum of a BSc honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline. Applicants not holding an honours bachelor’s degree may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning.

• Be currently registered in one of the following divisions of the Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI): General Nursing; Psychiatric Nursing; Intellectual Disability Nursing

• Have a minimum of twelve months’ post-registration experience

• Be currently employed in an older persons’ care setting, such as an older person’s clinical department in a hospital, the community setting, a residential care setting or a day hospital and provide written evidence that they will be supported in completing the minimum required hours of practice, including the clinical practicum

• Applicants not currently employed in an older persons’ care setting may apply; however, they will be required to be employed in an older persons’ care setting upon commencing the programme.

• Applicants must be employed for a minimum of 19.5 hours per week or 0.5 FTE.



Required Documents

• Original transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant

• A current photocopy of NMBI registration

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport

• Professional Reference Form(original form)

• Declaration Form

• Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form

• Evidence of proficiency in English language (applicants whose first language is not English)



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 at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Online Application.



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic (EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: No

1 year full-time. Delivery: Blended.

XA39: Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Care Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught