Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation

Module 1: Innovation and Creativity in Healthcare (10 ECTS)

This module explores the principles and practices associated with creativity and innovation. It exposes students to frameworks and methodologies for idea generation, problem solving and creative collaboration in order to support positive innovation in a healthcare context.

Module 2 - Opportunity Generation, Recognition and Communication (10 ECTS)

The aim of this module is to provide the student with the tools to generate and recognise entrepreneurial opportunities. There is also a focus on the communication and articulation of such opportunity in an influential manner.

Module 3 - Enterprise Development in Healthcare (10 ECTS)

This module focuses specifically on the creation, development, growth and funding of innovation driven new ventures in healthcare. It is designed to build on the learnings from Modules 1 and 2, and to increase confidence in students in new venture evaluation, viewing ventures through the perspectives of their multiple stakeholders, most notably the potential investor. Over the course of module 3, each student will identify a new healthcare innovation opportunity to explore and deliver as a venture pitch presentation.

Our Applicants

Our applicants are a vibrant and diverse community of passionate professionals united by a shared commitment to improving healthcare.

They include experienced clinicians, nurses, occupational therapists, paramedics, and ICU facilitators, with decades of frontline expertise, alongside innovative leaders in pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical devices, digital health, and health system transformation.

Many bring senior roles in hospitals, community services, regulatory operations, or health technology, while others are transitioning from fields such as finance, IT, social care, and administration.

What binds them is rich practical experience, a drive for meaningful change, and a desire to blend clinical insight with strategic and entrepreneurial thinking.

Why They Choose This Programme

Applicants are drawn to the Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation because it offers a practical, structured pathway to turn ideas into reality within complex healthcare settings.

They seek the confidence and tools to identify opportunities, creatively solve real-world challenges, and navigate the journey from concept to implementation, while critically assessing commercial, social, and cultural impact.

The programme’s interdisciplinary cohort, direct access to industry mentors and entrepreneurs, and supportive peer-learning environment particularly resonate with those eager to collaborate across disciplines, lead change, and contribute to a more responsive, patient-centred health system.

For many, this course represents a pivotal step towards advancing their careers and making a lasting difference in Irish and global healthcare.

Message from the course coordinators:

We especially encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including stay-at-home carers, those who have taken an extended career break, and returners eager to refresh and expand their skills.

This course provides a welcoming and supportive environment to:

• update and refresh your existing knowledge,
• rebuild your confidence,
• develop valuable new skills in innovation and enterprise, and
• confidently re-enter or progress further in today’s job market.

Programme Entry Requirements & Application Checklist

Submit these in your online application:
📄 CV 
📝 Statement of Interest (~300 words, guidance below)
🎓 Level 8 honours degree transcript (240 ECTS) with a 2.1 grade or higher (or equivalent GPA) in any discipline from a recognised third-level institution.
→ If obtained outside Ireland: Upload NARIC comparison document with your degree certificate.
✉️ References (two required, details below)
🗣️Proof of English language proficiency (if English is not your first language).

References: Key Rules

You need two references.
Standard: 1 professional + 1 academic
If you graduated >8 years ago: 2 professional references are acceptable

Each reference must:

1. State the capacity in which the referee knows you
2. Clearly recommend you as suitable for this programme

References must be:

• On headed paper (official letterhead)
• Include referee’s full professional contact details (phone no. + professional email, no Gmail, etc.)
• Dated within the last 3 months before submission

Struggling to obtain one? Contact the team, they can supply a reference template.

Statement of Interest (~300 words)

Write a concise piece addressing:

1. Which specific aspects of the course and its opportunities appeal to you most
2. How your life experience, work background, and qualifications make you a strong fit
3. How you plan to use the knowledge and skills in your future career or endeavours
4. Any additional personal/professional motivations for applying.

We do not accept applications or documents via email (or any other method outside the official portal). Email submissions cannot be processed.

How to apply:

1. Visit springboardcourses.ie and create an account (or log in).
2. Find your course and click Apply Now.
3. Complete the self-declaration and application form.
4. Upload all required documents directly in the portal.
5. Review and submit, you can save drafts and track progress.
6. You can go back and add more documents to the already submitted application.
   Simply navigate to the 'Welcome, [Your Name]' section, click the downward-pointing triangle, and choose 'Applications'.

If you experience technical difficulties with the Springboard+ portal, please contact technical support by emailing: support@vidatum.com.

Technical Requirements (Essential for Online Participation)

All students must have reliable access to:

• 💻 Laptop or desktop computer (mobile phones not suitable)
• 📹 Webcam
• 🌐 Stable internet connection

These are required for all online components.

Questions or Need Guidance?

Contact the recruitment team: springboard@tcd.ie or (086) 032 0487.
We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds and are happy to discuss individual circumstances.

Entry with a Level 7 (180 ECTS)

Submit these in your online application:
📄CV
📝 Statement of Interest (~300 words, see guidance below)
📜 Level 7 transcript (180 ECTS)
→ If obtained outside Ireland: Upload NARIC comparison document with your degree certificate.
✉️ Two references (see requirements below)
🗣️Proof of English language proficiency (if English is not your first language).

After you submit your online application and upload all required documents, we will contact you with the topic for a ✍️ 1,000-word essay. This helps us assess your readiness for Level 9 study.

If You Do Not Meet the Standard Academic Requirements

If you hold a Level 5, Level 6, or other accredited qualifications, you may still apply through Trinity’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route.
The RPL process assesses relevant academic and professional experience, as well as other qualifications, in line with Trinity’s official policy and procedures.

What to submit (RPL route) in your online application:
📄 CV
📝 Statement of Interest (~300 words, see guidance below)
📜 All accredited qualifications (certificates, transcripts, etc.). Ideally from the last 3 to 5 years.
→ If obtained outside Ireland: Upload NARIC comparison document with your degree certificate.
✉️ Two references (see requirements below)
🗣️Proof of English language proficiency (if English is not your first language).

Once you have submitted your online application and uploaded all required documents, your application will be reviewed. Depending on the outcome of this review, you may be invited to attend an interview to assess your academic readiness for our Level 9 programme.

References: Key Rules

You need two references.
Standard: 1 professional + 1 academic
If you graduated >8 years ago: 2 professional references are acceptable

Each reference must:

1. State the capacity in which the referee knows you
2. Clearly recommend you as suitable for this programme

References must be:

• On headed paper (official letterhead)
• Include referee’s full professional contact details (phone no. + professional email, no Gmail, etc.)
• Dated within the last 3 months before submission

Struggling to obtain one? Contact the team, they can supply a reference template.

Statement of Interest (~300 words)

Write a concise piece addressing:

1. Which specific aspects of the course and its opportunities appeal to you most
2. How your life experience, work background, and qualifications make you a strong fit
3. How you plan to use the knowledge and skills in your future career or endeavours
4. Any additional personal/professional motivations for applying.

We do not accept applications or documents via email (or any other method outside the official portal). Email submissions cannot be processed.

How to apply:

1. Visit springboardcourses.ie and create an account (or log in).
2. Find your course and click Apply Now.
3. Complete the self-declaration and application form.
4. Upload all required documents directly in the portal.
5. Review and submit, you can save drafts and track progress.
6. You can go back and add more documents to the already submitted application.
   Simply navigate to the 'Welcome, [Your Name]' section, click the downward-pointing triangle, and choose 'Applications'.

If you experience technical difficulties with the Springboard+ portal, please contact technical support by emailing: support@vidatum.com.

Technical Requirements (Essential for Online Participation)

All students must have reliable access to:

• 💻 Laptop or desktop computer (mobile phones not suitable)
• 📹 Webcam
• 🌐 Stable internet connection

These are required for all online components.

Questions or Need Guidance?

Contact the recruitment team: springboard@tcd.ie or (086) 032 0487.
We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds and are happy to discuss individual circumstances.

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide official evidence of English language proficiency. This course requires Trinity Band B (Standard entry).

The accepted tests and minimum required scores are:

Important notes:

1. Test results must be no more than 2 years old at the start of the course.
2. If you have completed a primary degree (Level 7, 180 ECTS at a minimum) entirely through English, you may request an exemption. You must provide official documentation from the awarding institution confirming that the degree was delivered wholly in English.
3. For Duolingo, scores refer to Integrated Scores. 

For the most up-to-date information on English language requirements, please visit: https://www.tcd.ie/study/english-language-requirements/

For specific enquiries about the tests, contact the relevant organisation:

• TOEFL: www.ets.org/toefl
• IELTS: www.ielts.org
• Cambridge: www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/

Attendance & Participation Requirements

📅 Attendance is compulsory. All scheduled classes (in-person and online) must be attended live and in real time. Classes are not recorded.

✅ Minimum requirement: Students must achieve at least 80% attendance across all live lectures and workshops to remain in the course.

🤝 Full engagement is essential. Active participation in classes, whether on campus or online, is a core part of the programme’s experiential learning approach.

Assessment & Progression

📊 No traditional exams. The course uses continuous assessment only.

Your progress is evaluated through:

• 👥 Group projects
• 📝 Individual assignments
• 🎤 Presentations

To progress in the programme, you must maintain at least 80% attendance throughout the entire course.

These requirements support the hands-on, interactive nature of the programme. Consistent attendance and engagement are essential for success and progression.

First Student Card (TCard)

✅ Once you have completed your registration in my.tcd.ie, you are eligible for your TCard (student ID card). Next steps → Visit this page for full instructions on how to collect or activate your card: 🔗 https://www.tcd.ie/academicregistry/service-desk/id-cards/

TCD Library Access

📚 Entry to the Library is strictly by a valid Library ID card.
For more details about library admissions and using your card: 🔗 https://www.tcd.ie/library/using-library/admissions/

Student Leap Card

Our postgraduate certificate programmes are offered part-time only.
Important note on Student Leap Cards: Student Leap Cards are available only to third-level students who are:

• Enrolled in full-time education, and
• Aged 16–18 or 26 and over.

Because our postgraduate certificate programmes are part-time, students in these programmes are not eligible for a Student Leap Card.

Graduation ceremonies for postgraduate certificate programmes are arranged by the Trinity Graduation Office.

All eligible final year taught postgraduate students will receive details of their upcoming commencement ceremony and confirm their attendance at their ceremony through their my.tcd.ie intray messages.

If you cannot attend your graduation, you may choose to graduate in absentia. This can be selected on receipt of your formal invitation. Candidates who have not responded to their invitation will not have their degree conferred and will be expected to apply to have their degree awarded in a future ceremony.

Please note, Trinity Graduation Office cannot provide you with your degree parchment until your degree has been formally conferred by the University during a formal graduation ceremony.

For more information, please go to https://www.tcd.ie/academicregistry/graduation/

We're here to answer your questions and guide you forward.

📧 Email: springboard@tcd.ie
📞 Phone: (086) 032 0487

We'd be delighted to assist you!