Paediatrics & Child Health - Online

Course Outline

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Paediatrics and Child Health is the first of three courses providing postgraduate training in Paediatrics and Child Health at University College Cork (UCC). The Certificate, developed by the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, is designed to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage children under their care.



Our Certificate course is designed to facilitate students with a wide range of background skills in paediatrics, who require a detailed understanding of core research methodologies, critical evaluation, evidence-based approaches, and the scientific basis of childhood disease.



These courses are the first University-accredited postgraduate programmes in Paediatrics and Child Health in Ireland and form part of a unique suite of Paediatrics and Child Health courses. Students who complete the Postgraduate Certificate in their first year have the option to proceed to a Diploma and Master's level qualification in their second and third years respectively.



If students have Recognised Prior Learning from another institution, up to 30 of those credits can be applied to this programme and they may be able to enter the Diploma year (see 'Requirements' below for more information).



These Paediatrics and Child Health courses were established by the College of Medicine and Health to meet the demand for dynamic multidisciplinary healthcare models for treating children. They offer broad coverage of the scientific basis of childhood disease, the principles of evidence-based paediatric medicine, and focus on the various multidisciplinary assessment and treatment approaches within the field of paediatrics.



Paediatrics and Child Health Programme

The Paediatrics and Child Health programme is delivered entirely online and constitutes a suite of three courses providing postgraduate training in paediatrics to doctors in speciality training (GP or paediatric), nurses, and allied health professionals who wish to sub-specialise. We also believe that established professionals from multiple disciplines will benefit from this suite of courses as part of their Continued Professional Development (CPD).



The online PG Certificate consists of four modules worth 30 credits.

PC6001 Newborn Health and Child Development (10 credits)

PC6002 The Febrile Child (5 credits)

PC6003 Evidence-Based Management of Common Paediatric Presentations (10 credits)

PC6004 Acute Injury in Children (5 credits)

1. A primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in a relevant health care discipline such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy, speech and language, physiotherapy, and dietetics.



2. Ideally applicants should have at least one year’s practical experience in their area of qualification.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

• In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

• Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.

Closing Date

Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date

Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

1 year part-time, online.

Start Date 8 September 2025

Skills and Careers Information

In today’s competitive workforce, higher professional qualifications are an essential part of development and career advancement. We are confident that this Certificate in Paediatrics and Child Health will provide you with the skills and competencies required to confidently care for children in your respective field.



The course will be particularly useful for: Doctors completing membership exams and applying for paediatric higher specialist training; GPs wishing to specialise in child health; Allied Health Professionals wishing to specialise to clinical specialist level; Nurses wishing to specialise to clinical nurse specialist level or managerial paediatric posts.