Trauma Studies

We offer both a PG Diploma and a PG Certificate in Trauma Studies.



All students register on the PG Diploma, and can choose to exit after year one with a certificate, or continue on to the PG Diploma.



Our Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Trauma Studies is delivered by the Department of Criminology at UCC in conjunction with WAVE Trauma Centre in Belfast.



Year 1 (30 credits) – option to graduate at this point with the PG certificate



The overall aim of the WAVE Trauma Centre as a cross-community, voluntary, regional organisation is to offer care and support to anyone bereaved, injured or traumatised through the 'Troubles' of Northern Ireland. Since its establishment in 1991, WAVE has offered direct support to over 5,000 individuals. WAVE service delivery includes Advocacy & Casework Services; Complementary Therapies; Counselling & Psychotherapy; Outreach Support and Welfare Advice. Other services include Trauma Training; Transgenerational/Youth services and Truth, Justice & Acknowledgement. By bringing the expertise of the WAVE team together with the programme staff in UCC, we aim to deliver a course that will allow students to develop their knowledge and understanding of trauma, both in a theoretical but also in an applied manner.



This course focuses on both the individual and societal implications of trauma and draws on examples and experiences from individuals who survived, and societies emerging from, violent political conflict; however, this is only one aspect of the curriculum that informs our approach. The course deals with trauma as a universal process and the experience of the WAVE team, both in Northern Ireland, in the Balkans and in the UK informs the content and the delivery of this programme.



Additional Teaching Mode Information

This course is delivered online on Monday evenings with occasional lectures on Thursday evenings.

Year 1 (30 credits) – option to graduate at this point with the PG certificate



CR6801 Trauma and Victimology: Key issues, methods and structures (5 credits)

CR6802 Research Methods (5 credits)

CR6803 Trauma and Addiction: Key issues, methods and structures (10 credits )

CR6804 Trauma and Post-traumatic Growth (10 credits)



Year 2 (choose 30 credits)



CR6805 Complex Loss: Grief, Trauma and Social Context (10 credits)

CR6806 Social Approaches to Trauma: Family, society and international (10 credits)

CR6807 Public Health Challenges in Post Conflict Societies (10 credits)

CR6808 Trauma and Frontline Workers (10 credits)

Candidates must hold an honours (NFQ level 8) primary degree with a minimum 2H2 in a relevant discipline. Relevant disciplines include, but are not restricted to: psychology, sociology, criminology, social work, counselling, conflict studies, women's studies, epidemiology, medicine and nursing



Candidates without an NFQ level 8 award are eligible to apply, subject to the approval of the programme Academic Director if they can demonstrate at least three years professional experience in a related field – examples include (but are not restricted to) therapeutic practice, community work/engagement experience, government/policy experience and medical/para-medical experience



English Language Requirement; Please see here PG English Language Entry Requirements https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/



Technical Requirements: To access and interact with the course content, assignments and assessments etc. students will require access to at least a PC/ Laptop running Windows 7 or later and Mac OSX 10.7.4. Common plug-ins such as Microsoft Silverlight, Java, and Flash will also be required. Students must have access to MS Office or an equivalent suite of applications such as Libre Office. They must also have access to a modern standards-compliant web browser. UCC recommends either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox



To engage productively and successfully with the content, basic technical computer skills such as familiarity with word processing, web browsing, and email are recommended.

Important Notice: Course Registration Deadlines



Once the course has reached full capacity we will no longer be accepting applications.



We strongly recommend early application to secure your place on the course.

24 months part-time Online

Start Date 2026 dates will be announced in early 2026