Nursing - Intensive Care

Course Overview

This programme is designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue a specialism in Intensive Care Nursing.



All students will register on the full-time one-year Postgraduate Diploma. On completion of both theoretical and clinical modules for this course, students will graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma or (if they have achieved the minimum 60% average mark across these modules) they may apply to transfer to the second year of the MSc programme.



Taught components of the programme are delivered in a blended learning format. Blended learning is an innovative teaching strategy which involves a combination of face-to-face and on-line learning. This means that most learning/teaching will be delivered online through Blackboard, an interactive learning system which connects directly to the University from your own home computer. Students are required to attend face to face workshops for a total of 12 days across the programme. The programme is comprised of six theory /practice modules. In all modules there is an emphasis on exploring the relevance of module content to practice, similarly, practice placements allow students to explore “new” knowledge in practice, enabling them an opportunity to integrate theory and practice.



Students are required to undertake their clinical practice in an approved clinical practice setting within Ireland normally within the students own work setting. Where the environment does not provide sufficient opportunities to meet the learning outcomes of the programme additional placements will be required by the student in sites which will provide the experience needed. A minimum of 500 clinical hours (reduced from previously-published 1,000 hours, on NMBI advice) needs to be completed in the specialist area while undertaking the programme.



Special Features

The course is approved by The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and has a clinical focus, offering opportunities to develop specialist skills. The programme is offered through a blended learning format—a combination of online and face-to-face learning and teaching.



Blended learning is an innovative and flexible approach to learning, making it possible to combine working full-time with studying.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Required NU921: Clinical Competence 1

Required NU623: Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice

Required NU140: Intensive Care Nursing 1

Required NU141: Intensive Care Nursing 2

Required NU6439: Service Improvement

Required NU922: Clinical Competence 2

Required NU502: Advanced Research Methods

Required NU142: Intensive Nursing Care 3



Year 2 (30 Credits)

Required NU6515: Research Dissertation

All applicants must meet the following entry requirements:



Be a registered nurse on the General division of the register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI);



Have a minimum of six months’ post-registration experience (exclusive of post-registration courses);



Be currently working in the required specialist area, i.e., Intensive Care, and have as a minimum six months’ clinical experience in this specialist area;



Provide written evidence of support from their Director of Nursing for the duration of the programme;



Have an honours bachelor’s degree at NFQ Level 8 in nursing or a comparable qualification. Applicants who do not hold an honours degree or Higher Diploma (Level 8) must demonstrate that they have successfully completed (in the previous two years) a module at Level 9. Please consult the professional credit awards at Level 9 at: www.nuigalway.ie/pca/pca.html;



Applicants for this programme who have undertaken the National Foundation Education Module in Intensive Care Nursing at UCD or UCC may apply for exemption for the Specialist Module 1 on the Masters/Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Intensive Care) in University of Galway.

Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.



An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).

Postgraduate Diploma: 1 year full-time

Masters: 2 years full-time (if eligible for second year following Postgraduate Diploma)

Next start date September 2025



Closing Date 30 June 2025

Career Opportunities

Graduates have found employment and promotion opportunities nationally and internationally in intensive care settings, in managerial positions and in educational roles.