Interdisciplinary input to the design, development and delivery of this course stems from a variety of Schools within Trinity College, Dublin including the School of Nursing and Midwifery, The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the School of Occupational Therapy. The course is run in partnership with St. Francis Hospice Raheny. The aim of this interdisciplinary course is to provide an opportunity for students to develop a comprehensive academic and evidence based approach to their practice and to critically explore and critique palliative care service provision.

2 years part-time.
The programme commences with one full study week and continues with one to two days contact per week, for the academic year. In addition, a blended learning approach is utilised in the delivery of theoretical content, including lectures, group discussion, WebCT and self directed learning. Students undertake a total of one hundred and twenty hours of supernumerary clinical placements, in various care settings, relevant to the speciality of palliative care. The assessment process used is a combination of written and practical assignments.

Year one of the part-time taught masters course starts with a full week on 17 September 2012 and continues with classes on the following Thursdays until 13 December 2012. There is a break then before it recommences on 17 January 2013 and continues on Thursdays until the end of March or early April. Teaching and learning includes some web-based learning.

Attendance in Year 2 of M.Sc. courses involves attending a selection of workshops run from September to March. These workshops are designed to support students as they progress through the various stages of their final year dissertation. Students will be free to attend any of the workshops on offer. At the end of Year 2, M.Sc. students will produce a dissertation on a chosen subject related to their field of study.

Practice is an integral component to the MSc Palliative Care course and as such, students are required to engage in critical analysis of their practice in relation to applying the principles of Ethics and Law, Research, Pain and Symptom Management and Psycho Social Care. Students engaging in this course will concurrently be providing care to persons with Palliative Care needs and their families, at their usual (or base) clinical site. In addition, and in order to expand on students' knowledge and experience in Palliative Care, a total of one hundred and twenty hours of supernumerary clinical placements will be established with the co-operation of clinical sites within and beyond St Francis Hospice services. The difference in client caseload that each site offers will further enhance the richness of clinical exposure for the student and challenge their ability to adapt their clinical skills to match a variety of client groups. These placements will take place across a variety of clinical placement sites and may include:

• Specialist Palliative Care
• Paediatric Palliative Care
• Palliative Care of Individuals with Intellectual Disability and/or dementia.

September 2012.

• For the duration of the course, candidates must be employed in an area where the principles of palliative care are operationalised when caring for individuals with life threatening illness and their families.
• Have a minimum of one years clinical experience in palliative care practice within the last 2 years and.
• Hold at least an upper second-class honors degree in a health professional or related subject area. Candidates with relevant, and significant experience as professional practitioners in the field of palliative care may be accepted with a lower class degree (II.2 or III), provided that they can satisfy the selection panel that they have the ability to complete and benefit from the course.
  

• 2 Academic reference
• Copies of academic transcripts from completed educational courses
• Copies of official awards (parchment) from completed educational courses

Apply online now.

Late applications are being accepted for this course. The normal closing date for this course is 4th May 2012.

Courses are usually advertised in early March of the year of entry and the normal closing date is in early May.

Always check these pages for current information on the application process and new information on late applications.

All students register on the M. Sc. programme in the first instance. On successful completion of all the requirements of the first year, students may progress to the second year of the programme during which they complete a dissertation; or may opt to exit and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery are pleased to offer flexibility in pathways for progression from P.Grad. Dip. level to M.Sc. level within its M.Sc. programmes.  The following is a summary of the pathways for such re-entry:

• On successful completion of all  modules of Year One (60 ECTS credits), students may proceed immediately to year two in the next academic year to complete the M.Sc. programme.
• On successful completion of all  modules of Year One (60 ECTS credits), students may exit the programme without any award (deferring the award), but may apply to return to complete the M.Sc. programme within four years.

Further pathways options available for alumni who already hold a PGrad Dip, in respect of a programme which they successfully completed in the School of Nursing and Midwifery TCD within the past four years

All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must present one of the following qualifications in the English language:
IELTS: Grade 6.5
TOEFL: 230-computer based, 570 paper based
Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English: Grade C
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: Grade C
Further information is available from Graduate Studies Office TCD

See Modular course structure for content of all modules.

2012 Year One Annual Tuition fees for New Entrants are EU: €4,750 part-time and non-EU: €9,500
2012 Year Two Annual Tuition fees for New Entrants are EU: €4,750 and non-EU €9,500