Health Professions Education

The Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education (HPE) is an interdiscplinary programme for all health and social care professionals who already hold a relevant masters degree and are seeking a graduate qualification that will prepare them to design programmes of study and faciltate students' learning.

Because of the programme's teaching practice requirements (80 hours of theoretical teaching and 20 hours of clinical teaching), it is best suited to applicants whose roles include a substantial teaching component.

For Registered Nurses and Midwives, who hold a relevant masters degree, approved by the Nursing and Midwfery Board of Ireland (NMBI), this programme will confer eligibility to register as a Nurse Tutor (RNT) or as a Midwife Tutor (RMT).

The programme is delivered by blended learning and comprises a number of workshops supported by Brightspace, UCD's virtual learning environment. A range of methods will be used to expose students to innovative and dynamic ways of facilitating and enhancing learning, including lectures,workshops, small group discussions, blended learning, case presentations and clinical simulation.

Stage 1 - Core
Enabling Effective LearningNMHS43630
Creating CurriculumNMHS43640
Facilitating Std Learning 1NMHS43910
Facilitating Std Learning 2NMHS43920

Applicants who already hold a Masters Degree in a relevant subject may take the Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education. For nurses and midwives, the degree must be deemed suitable by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

Applicants must hold active registration as a health professional with the appropriate regulatory body.

Applicants must have at least three years or equivalent clinical experience as a registered health professional prior to entry. This experience should be in clinical areas where students of the applicant’s health professional discipline undertake placements as part of their pre- and post-registration education.

Prior to commencing the programme, applicants must provide evidence that they have secured access to the teaching experience required to undertake it. During the programme students must undertake at least 100 teaching hours (at least eighty [80] classroom teaching hours and at least twenty [20] clinical teaching hours). The assessment of teaching skills in the context of professional practice hours must be completed under the supervision of an experienced health professional educator and, in the case of nurses and midwives, a Registered Nurse or Midwife Tutor.

Opportunities must also be provided to observe the role of preceptors, lecturers in the health profession and other health care specialists who coordinate students’ clinical learning experiences and the assessment of learning in practice.

Documents Required

Two academic references
One professional reference
Copies of academic transcripts from completed degree programme/s
Completed Declaration Form with confirmation of teaching arrangements, confirming that:

Please note:
The applicant has secured at least 100 teaching hours (at least eighty [80] classroom teaching hours and at least twenty [20] clinical teaching hours). This confirmation must be signed by the appropriate person(s) in the Higher Education Institution and/or Centre of Nurse or Midwife Education, and the Healthcare Provider Organisation providing the teaching opportunities.
The assessment of teaching skills in the context of the professional (clinical) practice hours will be completed under the supervision of a named experienced health professional educator and, in the case of nurses and midwives, a named Registered Nurse or Midwife Tutor (please provide name/s and contact details).
Opportunities will be provided to observe the role of preceptors, lecturers in the health profession and other health care specialists who coordinate students’ clinical learning experiences and the assessment of learning in practice.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL may be granted in respect of individual modules if applicants can demonstrate that the modules' learning outcomes have been achieved through prior credentialled or experiential learning. In some cases, where an applicant does not meet the prerequisites for entry to a programme, an RPL application may be considered.

The following entry routes are available:
GC Health Prof Edu PT (X888)
Deadline: Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

1 year part-time.
MODE OF DELIVERY: Face-to-Face

Next Intake: 2024/2025 September.