Leading & Innovating in Health Systems

The Graduate Diploma in Leading and Innovating in Health Systems is one of a number of programmes offered by the UCD IRIS Centre for Interdisciplinary, Research, Innovation & Education in Health Systems.



The Graduate Diploma is a 60-ECTS-credit, QQI Level 9 interdisciplinary programme that is taken over two years.



Holders of the Graduate Diploma can obtain the MSc in Leadership, Innovation and Management for Healthcare by undertaking a further 30 ECTS credits of study.



The programme will contribute to your personal and professional development by enabling you to identify, analyse, critique and evaluate the ways in which you and your colleagues currently lead and manage. You will acquire the capacity to locate ways of leading and managing within relevant conceptual frameworks and to situate them in systems, policy, organisational and team contexts.



You will be prepared to be a more responsive, effective and resilient leader and manager who thinks and practices strategically and innovatively to improve patients' and colleagues' experiences of the health system.



You will be equipped with theories, concepts, models, frameworks, tools, techniques and research findings that will enable you to develop a deep appreciation of how the health system works and how you can maximise yours and your colleagues' contribution to it.



The programme aims to:

• enhance awareness of the ways in which you and others practice leadership and management

• develop an appreciation of the contribution of systems and design thinking to your practice

• enable you to acquire and apply knowledge to improve the systems and processes that underpin the delivery of safe, high-quality, responsive, integrated and person-centred care

• enhance your understanding the nature of health policy formulation and implementation

• develop and strengthen your strategic sensing capabilities in order to enhance strategic capacity, engagement and alignment in your organisation

• develop and strengthen your creative, innovative and knowledge management capabilities.



NFQ Level: 9 (60 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Graduate Diploma

Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:

Year 1 modules, new entrants.

NMHS32280: Improving Process in HS

NMHS42700: Quality, patient safety and outcomes

NMHS43830: Collectiv Lship&Effect Teamwrk



Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:

Year 2 Modules. NOTE: For students who commenced the programme in 23/24 please select NMHS32280, NMHS42700 and NMHS43830. For new students commencing the programme in September 24/25 please select NMHS32280, NMHS42700, NMHS43830 in Year 1 and NMHS44190, NMHS44200, NMHS44210 in Year 2.



NMHS32280: Improving Process in HS

NMHS42700: Quality, patient safety and outcomes

NMHS44190: GlobalHealth Landscape&Ldrship

NMHS44200: Health Systems&Health Policy

NMHS43830: Collectiv Lship&Effect Teamwrk

NMHS44210: Strategy&Innovation in HS

Applicants will normally hold an NQF Level 8 academic award but consideration will be given to applicants with relevant and appropriate qualifications and experience working in the health system



Experience in a management and/or leadership role is desirable



A willingness to explore your own leadership and management practices and their impact on the systems in which you work is essential.



You are welcome to contact the Programme Director, Professor Martin McNamara (martin.mcnamara@ucd.ie) to discuss the programme and its suitability for you before you make your application.



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 (https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax) for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

1 year, part-time

Delivery: Blended

X873: Graduate Diploma Leading and Innovating in Health Systems

Graduate Diploma



Part-Time: Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

The knowledge, understandings and skills acquired throughout the programme will prepare you to make a significant contribution as a leader and manager in a number of areas and at many levels in the health system, including:

• Organisational development

• Strategy design and implementation

• Policy design and implementation

• Quality and service improvement

• Clinical leadership and management

• Innovation

• Practice development

• Education

• Management and administration