Nursing & Midwifery - Cancer Nursing - Beaumont Hospital

Advance your theoretical knowledge and develop a critical and questioning approach as you explore professional, clinical, leadership and managerial issues relevant to care of the oncology patient.



Enhance your clinical practice by developing an in-depth knowledge of the principles of oncolcogy nursing along with knowledge in major cancer areas, choosing modules most approriate for your practice. Through the development of key research skills, you will be supported to explore evidence supporting safer patient care in this setting and emerging trends in this area.



This programme is delivered part-time by the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery via an active blended learning approach including self-directed learning and live online classes approximately once every week in Semester 1. Specialist module teaching occurs in Semester 2, delivered by clinical teachers in Beamont hospital with a mix of in person and online teaching.



Further support is provided through the module lead, programme director and regular online drop-in sessions.



The award title for this course is Postgraduate Diploma Nursing (Cancer Nursing).



This course is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications



Suitable for

This programme is suitable for registered nurses working in oncology settings in Beaumont Hospital or affiliated sites.

What you will learn

Advanced Research Methods

Advanced Leadership - Professional & Clinical

Professional Critical Reflexivity and Competence

Core Concepts of Cancer Care Nursing

Major Adult Cancers

Supportive Care in the Oncology and Haematology Setting

Applicants must hold an NFQ Level 8 qualification. However, applicants who do not hold a Level 8 qualification may still be eligible to join the programme through our supported-entry pathway programme. This is subject to an assessment of prior learning and experience.



Must have an active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.



Must be working in the National Maternity Hospital, The Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital or in another site which has been audit approved for the duration of the programme.



Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirements above, you may still be eligible to apply through recognition of prior learning (RPL). RPL is the assessment of knowledge, skills and competence previously acquired.



Learning occurs in many contexts which include work, involvement in social and community activities, or learning through life experience generally. RPL does not give credit for experience as such; rather it considers the learning that was acquired as a result of the experience.



RPL may be used to gain:



Admission to courses/programmes where a person may not have obtained the standard entry requirements.

Exemptions from course modules which duplicate the learning outcomes an individual has already demonstrably acquired through prior learning.



English language requirement exceptions

English language requirements for Postgraduate programmes are published at

https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/postgraduate/policies-and-guidelines/english-language-requirements



If you have completed undergraduate/postgraduate full-time studies in the medium of the English language (three or more years cumulatively) or are registered with the NMBI, you are exempt from these requirements.

1 year



Mode of delivery

Hybrid - Part-time

Fees and funding

•Total fees: Fees are currently being reviewed for 2020/21 and will be released shortly.


Please note

•Your annual fees include the €45 NUI fee.

•There is a non-refundable online application fee of €50.

•Fees can be paid by bank transfer, cheque (made payable to 'RCSI') or bank giro. Full details on fee payment will be emailed to you shortly before the commencement of your programme.

•You can pay your fees in three instalments – one payment of 40% is due before you commence the programme, while the remaining payments can be paid in two 30% instalments in November and February of your year of study.

•If you meet the criteria for a Non-EU student please contact us for more information on fee payments

Next start date September 2025

Graduates of this postgraduate diploma who wish to take a further step may enrol onto the master's programme – the MSc Nursing (Cancer Nursing) – and undertake Year 2 of the full programme, completing a systematic review.