Nursing - Intensive Care

The course has a strong clinical emphasis, offering further opportunities to develop specialist nursing skills in intensive care. Blended learning is an innovative and flexible approach to learning that uses a combination of virtual teaching and learning through Canvas, our online learning platform. Our face-to-face workshops combine lectures and simulation with interprofessional speakers with specialist expertise.

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

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 Ireland 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 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.

Postgraduate Diploma: 1 year full-time

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

Next start date September 2026

Career Opportunities

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