Palliative Care

The Graduate Diploma Palliative Care is an interdisciplinary programme designed to enhance your existing knowledge and skills in caring for patients with life limiting illness. Possessing this enhanced level of expertise will enable you to become a valuable member of the multidisciplinary team providing palliative care and further enhance the care provided to patients in your current area of practice who have a range of complex symptoms that need impeccable assessment and management. You will be well positioned to work in a variety of care settings both nationally and internationally. Many graduates have assumed varying roles in the palliative care services CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.



On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Graduate Diploma Palliative Care from the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems. The programme is recognised nationally (since its inception in 1997) and is a highly regarded qualification for health care professionals caring for patients with life limiting illness who require palliative care.



NFQ Level: 9 (60 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Graduate Diploma

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS42370: Palliative Care,Philosophy,Concepts and Debates

NMHS42540: Palliative Approaches to Symptom Management

NMHS43270: ResMethodsAppliedtoHealthcare

NMHS42820: Psychosocial, Spiritual and Therapeutic Issues in Palliative Care

NMHS43140: Developing Leadership Competency

NMHS42350: Clinical Practicum

Documents Required:

- Academic Transcripts including date and grading of Degree award (non UCD only)

- Current photocopy of NMBI registration and pin

- Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Pages of Passport (non UCD only)

- Professional Reference Form

- Nurse applicants: Completed Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form signed by the nomine

- Nurse Applicants: Declaration 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.

60

Delivery: On Campus

X791: 1 year full-time

X792: 2 years part-time

GradDip Palliative Care (X791) Full Time

EU fee per year - € 8860

nonEU fee per year - € 17070


***Fees are subject to change


Your programme fees are available at the links below. You can search by programme title, keyword or major code. Please note that fees published on the links below are inclusive of the student levy, which must be paid by all students.

X791: Graduate Diploma Palliative Care

Full-Time: Commencing September 2025



X792: Graduate Diploma Palliative Care

Part-Time: Commencing September 2025



Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

The Graduate Diploma Palliative Care will provide you with the comprehensive knowledge and skills required for caring for patients with life limiting illness who require palliative care. Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for Palliative Care, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of care settings both nationally and internationally. Many graduates have assumed varying roles in the palliative care services CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.