Nursing - Gerontological Nursing

Meeting the healthcare and social care needs of older people requires expert assessment and careful planning by a range of disciplinary experts with specialist knowledge of ageing and altered health. If you are a nurse working in an older persons’ care setting, and you are committed to the provision of excellent care, the MSc in Gerontological Nursing offers an exciting and innovative way to further your career and enhance your professional development. This programme is designed to provide nurses with an opportunity to develop, enhance and maintain the specialist skills required to care for older adults in a variety of acute and community care environments.



What Will I Learn?

The MSc in Gerontological Nursing will be awarded to students who have completed the requirements of the Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing, and who complete the MSc research and dissertation module NMHS43870 Diss: Evidence Synthesis (30 ECTS).



The UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems provides graduate programmes to prepare nurses and midwives to excel as caregivers and as leaders. Many of the School’s graduates have gone on to assume key clinical and leadership positions in their discipline, both nationally and internationally. This programme will provide you with an opportunity to develop, enhance and maintain the specialist skills that are required to care for older persons.



The MSc in Gerontological Nursing aims to provide students with the requisite knowledge and discipline-specific skills for their specialist role in gerontological nursing in a range of care settings. The Programme will build on students’ prior knowledge and experience in either older person’s care services or in tertiary care. The Programme will:

• provide an advanced educational experience which will develop the student’s capacity for independent judgement and problem-solving skills.

• provide an educational framework to support the development of analytical and critical skills for an enquiring and creative approach to the theory and practice of gerontological nursing.

• develop the student’s capacity to respond to changing needs in gerontological nursing.

• develop the student’s capacity to identify and integrate best evidence into gerontological nursing practice.



NFQ Level: 9 (90 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Master of Science

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS44020: Evid synthesis & translation

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have completed the Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing or equivalent (NQAI Level 9)



Documents Required

• Tanscript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant

• A current photocopy of NMBI registration

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport

• Professional Reference Form(original form)

• Signed Declaration Form from employer (original form)

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



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL may be granted in respect of individual modules if applicants can demonstrate that the modules' learning outcomes have been achieved through prior credentialled or experiential learning. In some cases, where an applicant does not meet the prerequisites for entry to a programme, an RPL application may be considered.



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 full-time.

Delivery: On Campus

X916: MSc Gerontological Nursing

Master of Science



Part-Time: Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught