Palliative Care

The MSc Palliative Care programme is an interdisciplinary programme designed to enhance your existing knowledge and skills in caring for patients with life limiting illness.



Possessing this enhanced level of expertise will enable you to: become a valuable member of the multidisciplinary team providing palliative care and further enhance the care provided to patients in your current area of practice who have a range of complex symptoms that need impeccable assessment and management.



What Will I Learn?

• To create an interdisciplinary learning environment in which students are encouraged to critically reflect on, evaluate and implement where possible, evidence-based practice to the enhancement of palliative care practice, research, and policy

• To develop academic and clinical leaders who embody the values, principles and philosophy of palliative care for the future progression of contemporary health care in Ireland

• To promote innovation in inter-disciplinary learning, translation of theory into practice and enhancement of palliative care for patients, their families, the wider healthcare team and society.



This is a one (academic) year programme, broken down into three trimesters. Assessments are varied (assignments and completion of a Dissertation).



Programme Strengths

• Strong working relationship between UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems and clinical partners in Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross

• A long history of producing high quality graduates (over 200 to date) many of whom are now working in CNS/Clinical/Educational Facilitator and CNM roles

• Clinical and university-based lecturers (multidisciplinary teaching team) with national and international expertise from clinical, research and educational perspectives

• Modularised programme with some modules being taught using a blended approach

• Clinical Placements in a variety of palliative care settings which enable students to learn from leading experts in oncology

• Extensive use of IT in supporting the teaching environment of the programme

• Access to excellent facilities for lectures

• Flexibility to pursue the programme over a longer period of time

• Access to applicants who have not had the opportunity to pursue third level education before (RPL Recognition of Prior Learning).



This course builds on the healthcare professionals' repertoire of knowledge and skills for professional practice in the care of persons with life limiting illness. The programme is aimed at health professionals who have completed a Graduate Diploma (Level 9) in Palliative Care.

Module/Trimester/Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS44020 Evid synthesis & translation 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 30

• Applicants must have completed the Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care or equivalent (NQAI Level 9)



Documents Required:

• Academic Transcripts including date and grading of Degree award (non UCD only)

• Nurse applicants must provide copy of current registration and Pin with An Bord Altranais

• Other healthcare professionals must provide copy of registration with a recognised professional body

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Pages of Passport (non UCD only)

• Professional Reference Form

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



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?

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No

90

1 year part-time. Delivery: Blended.

MSc Palliative Care (X790) Part Time

EU fee per year - € 4610

nonEU fee per year - € 25600


***Fees are subject to change


Your programme fees are available at the links below. You can search by programme title, keyword or major code. Please note that fees published on the links below are inclusive of the student levy, which must be paid by all students.

X790: Master of Science in Palliative Care Part-Time:

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

The Master of Science Palliative Care will enhance your research knowledge and skills in the context of palliative care.