Nursing - Cancer Nursing (Adult, Breast, Children)

Established in 1988 at diploma level, the UCD Cancer Nursing programme was the first specialist course in oncology nursing in Ireland. Over the years, hundreds of oncology nurses throughout the country have successfully completed what is now a Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing .



The Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing is an academic and clinically based programme designed for students who wish to deepen and broaden their knowledge and expertise in cancer care in order to provide safe, effective and holistic care to people with cancer. There are three strands in this programme (Adult Cancer Nursing, Breast Care Nursing and Children’s Cancer Nursing) Students undertaking the programme will choose one of these strands.



This programme is delivered via blended learning, incorporating a mix of interactive online lectures, self-directed learning and in-person classes. To complete this programme over 1 year, please apply for the Full Time option. To spread your modules over 2 years, you may apply for the Part Time option.



What Will I Learn?

The programme aims to further develop the practitioner’s capacities for caring and competent practice in cancer nursing, so that she/he can continue to provide person-centred care to people affected by cancer (PABC).



The specific aims of the programme are:

• To build upon and advance the student’s repertoire of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional values that were developed during his/her undergraduate programme and arising out of his/her experiences in clinical practice.

• To provide the student with the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional values for the advancement of his/her role in the care of people affected by cancer (PABC), including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication.

• To develop a greater understanding of the theory which underpins cancer nursing practice including theory in the social and behavioural sciences and theory in the biomedical sciences.

• To provide learning experiences that advance the student’s professional development and personal growth and experiences that affirm the student’s capacity to be a self-directed learner.

• To advance the student’s sense of professional awareness, and commitment and a sense of professional responsibility and accountability in cancer nursing.

• To enable the student to value learning as a continuous process and as a necessary process in the context of his/her professional role in cancer nursing.



The programme is aimed at further advancing the registered nurse’s repertoire of knowledge and skills in caring for people affected by cancer* (PABC)). The Adult and Children’s Cancer Nursing strands are particularly aimed at nurses who are based in oncology/haematology wards and/or oncology/haematology day wards while the Breast Care Nursing strand are aimed at nurses working in surgical wards/clinics who care for patients with breast cancer.

Module/Trimester/Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS42560 Fundamentals of Cancer Care Autumn 10

NMHS43270 ResMethodsAppliedtoHealthcare Autumn 10

NMHS42880 The Psychological Impact of Chronic Illness Spring 10

NMHS43140 Developing Leadership Competency Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - A)2 of:

Students doing Adult Cancer Nursing must take NMHS42850 Adult Cancer Nursing and NMHS42570 Clinical Practicum (AdultCancer).

Students doing Breast Care Nursing must take NMHS42860 Breast Care Nursing and NMHS42580 Clinical Practicum BreastCare

Students doing Childrens Cancer Nursing must take NMHS42870 Childrens Cancer Nursing and NMHS42590 Clinical Practicum (Childrens Cancer Nursing).

NMHS42850 Adult Cancer Nursing 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

NMHS42860 Breast Care Nursing 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

NMHS42870 Children's Cancer Nursing 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

NMHS42570 Clinical Practicum Year-long (12 months) 10

NMHS42580 Clinical Practicum Year-long (12 months) 10

NMHS42590 Clinical Practicum Year-long (12 months) 10

Applicants for this programme must be registered nurses. Normally, applicants will have a primary degree in nursing. Nurses who do not have a degree may apply for recognition of prior experiential learning (RPEL). Criteria to be used in assessment of the RPEL application includes number of years of experience, and evidence of recent and ongoing professional development. Please see below for more information on RPL.



Applicants must be entered onto the appropriate division of the Nurses Register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) (be registered as a registered general nurse (RGN)/ registered children's nurse (RCN).

• Applicants must have at least one year’s experience in nursing in their specialist area at the time of commencing the programme. Applicants for the Adult Cancer Nursing and Children's Cancer Nursing strands who have at least one years experience in Cancer Nursing, at least 9 months of this experience will need to be in the oncology/haematology setting (if currently or previously based in surgical oncology).

• Applicants for the Adult and Children’s Cancer Nursing strands will be required to demonstrate competency in the administration of systemic anti-cancer treatments and will therefore normally be based on oncology/haematology wards and/or oncology/haematology day wards (preferably rotating across both settings) prior to and for the duration of the programme. Applicants for the Adult and Children’s Cancer Nursing strands who are caring for patients with cancer but who are not based in the aforementioned settings will require a letter of support from their Assistant Director of Nursing undertaking to facilitate a placement in oncology/haematology for at least 6 weeks over the course of the programme.

• Applicants for the Breast Care Nursing strand must be employed in a unit caring for patients with breast cancer, respectively prior to commencing and for the duration of the programme.

• All applicants must have identified a clinical assessor who is willing to undertake their clinical assessments over the duration of the programme. The clinical assessor must have the experience and qualifications relevant to the speciality.



Documents Required

Please Note - The official closing date is July 31st, however, as places on the programme are subject to clinical placements which are limited, you are advised to have all of the required documentation submitted by July 1st.

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

• Applicants: A current photocopy of NMBI registration

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport

• Signed Declaration Form from Employer (original form)

• Completed Professional Reference Form (original form)

• Applicants: Completed Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form signed by the nominee

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

• Completed accreditation RPL Application Form (if no degree)

• Letter of support (to facilitate placement in oncology/haematology ward/day ward) from ADON for applicants to the Adult Cancer Nursing and Children’s Cancer Nursing strands if not normally based in an oncology/haematology ward/day ward.



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



Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No

Assessments are varied (assignments/short examination questions/MCQ/case presentation and clinical assessments (Clinical Competency Assessment Tool, Clinical Learning Outcomes, a practical examination (OSCE)) and occur at intervals throughout and at the end of the trimesters.

60 credits

X546: 1 year full-time, X747: 2 years part-time. Delivery: Blended.

X546: Graduate Diploma Cancer Nursing (Adult, Breast, Children) Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught



X747: Graduate Diploma Cancer Nursing (Adult, Breast, Children) Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for patients with cancerous conditions, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of settings specialising in your chosen area both nationally and internationally. As the programme is particularly aimed at preparing nurses to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist, many nurses eventually take up CNS positions and some may undertake further study required for the role of ANP in Adult, Breast or Childrens care. Many nurses also proceed to assume CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.