Who is this course for?  

The programme aims to provide students with the necessary in-depth evidence-based knowledge, skills and competencies to provide quality care to highly dependent children as they live with life-limiting illness and may face the end-of-life.  

What will I study?  

Full-time students will complete three core and three specialist modules in the first year (60 ECTS). Eligible students will then complete a research dissertation (30 ECTS) in their Masters year. 

• Range of specialist modules: Includes specialist modules in the Care of the child & family with Palliative / Complex Needs, Quality of life & symptom management, Specialist understanding of complex care for children.
• Range of Modules: Includes Service improvement, clinical Governance, Advanced research and clinical competency modules.
• Clinical Placements: Students have the opportunity to work in specialist children’s complex / palliative care placements.
• Master core concepts: Develop a solid foundation in understanding the needs of the child and family in this context and help you understand the evolvement of the specialty, explore the approach to specialist practice in children’s palliative and complex care with an emphasis on also providing an overview and understanding for adult-orientated palliative care practitioners.
• Skill development: Focuses on developing in- depth comprehension of the philosophies of palliative and complex care for children and their families and the application of key concepts in relation to quality of life and the assessment and management of illness and symptoms.
• Develop professional expertise: Hone the skills required to succeed in diverse roles, including acute and community based roles.
• Improve communication skills: Learn to effectively communicate with children, families, multi-disciplinary teams and other associated health care and professional team members.

The Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Children’s Palliative / Complex Care) is facilitated by both the teaching teams at University of Galway and UCD. The programme designed for Registered Nurses working with children and adolescents with complex or life limiting conditions. The programme aims to provide students with the necessary in-depth evidence-based knowledge, skills and competencies to provide quality care to highly dependent children as they live with life-limiting illness and may face the end-of-life.  

The clinical practice component forms an integral part of the programme.  Students are required to attain 500 hours specialist practice experience of working and caring for children in a variety of complex and/ or palliative care environments over the programme. This includes consolidating the experiences and opportunities that are available in their own clinical environments. This is a requirement for specialist practice with the NMBI (2018). 

The student will be expected to engage in the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to children with life limiting illness and self-identify personal programme learning goals with the support of a designated mentor and agreed with the programme director.  To successfully meet the requirements of 500 hours of practice, the student will be required to work, for the duration of the first year of the programme, within practice settings that manage the care of children with palliative or complex conditions. 

You are also required to spend 2 weeks in specialist Paediatric Palliative /Complex Care to allow you to fulfil the competencies of a CNS in paediatric palliative and complex care. Placement length depends on the learning opportunities available to students in their current work setting

Accrediting Body 

The course is accredited with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and is the first of its kind in Ireland.

Graduate Opportunities  
Our graduates work in varying areas on completion of the programme including: 

• Community PHNs - Home care specialist co-ordinator for children with complex needs
• Contract Agencies - Lead CNM nurses co-ordinating and managing Paediatric home care packages
• Children’s Nurse Co-ordinators (formally Children’s Outreach Co-ordinator)
• Clinical Nurse Specialists (Children’s Palliative Care)
• Clinical Nurse Specialists with a special interest in children’s palliative care
• CNM- Lead Nurses in Respite Centres
• Voluntary - CNM Hospice at Home Service
• CNM- Disability School
• Staff Nurse Paediatric Cardiology with special interest in Children’s palliative care
• Neonatal staff nurse with special interest in children’s palliative care
• CNM- Intensive Care Unit 

• Deirdre Fitzgerald
• Prof Maria Brenner 
• Cheryl O Connor 

How will I learn? 

Year one is a blended learning programme and is delivered using a combination of on-line learning and face-to-face skills teaching.  Each module runs over a minimum of 10 weeks.  Modules have guided learning packs comprising of four to five units.  Each pack provides a study guide for the student and includes, directed learning activities (both on-line and practice based), key reading, reflective points and e-tivities.

Students will be supported on-line as they work through each unit, using the virtual learning environment Canvas.  Students will be expected to engage in blogs, to respond to posted questions or activities and to complete e-titivies.   

The face-to-face / online teaching component (workshops) will take place at intervals throughout the semester.  Workshops will focus on key skills and application.  Modules build on each other and their order has been considered carefully.  Students will complete practice-focused assignments throughout the programme.   

The programme is comprised of six theory modules and one practice module (assessed by practice competency portfolio).   

While undertaking the programme students will continue to work in an approved paediatric palliative or complex care setting 

How Will I Be Assessed? 

Throughout the programme, your progress is assessed through various coursework and exams, including reports, essays, presentations, and computer assignments. 

Programme assignments are structured so as to allow students to explore “new” knowledge in the reality of their practice, thus providing them with an opportunity to integrate theory and practice. 

1. Continuous Assessment - The moderator (a lecturer) will provide written feedback on e-tivities.  Blogs and e-tivities provide students with the opportunity to clarify their understanding, debate key issues with peers and the moderator and consider how to apply their learning in their practice. There will also be written assessments associated with each specialist module.
2. Examinations - There is an MCQ associated with the module on Symptom Management.
3. Project Work - there will be a poster presentation.

Course queries: 
Deirdre.fitzgerald@universityofgalway.ie 

Programme Director(s):  

Deirdre Fitzgerald,
Lecturer in General Nursing
School of Nursing and Midwifery 
College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences 
E: deirdre.fitzgerald@universityofgalway.ie 

University of Galway recognises that knowledge and skills can be acquired from a range of learning experiences. This is in line with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) goals which aim to recognise all learning achievements by supporting the development of alternative pathways to qualifications (or awards) and by facilitating the recognition of prior learning (RPL). 

Minimum Entry Requirements 

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System. 

Please note all applicants register for the 1-year postgraduate diploma, with the opportunity to transfer to the second year of the MSc programme at the end of the first year if they meet the relevant eligibility criteria 

English Language Entry Requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language proficiency of IELTS score of 6.5 is required (with no less than 6.5 in Writing and no less than 6.0 in any other band) or equivalent.  

More information on English language test equivalency are available here.  

Supporting Documents 

You will be required to provide supporting documentation as part of your application. You can check here what supporting documents are required for this course.  

Garda vetting is required for this programme. This will be organised by the University of Galway after you have registered for your studies. Also the following information will be sought following acceptance of your place: 

• Certificate of your immunisation status
• Evidence of Children First certification
• Evidence of Handwashing certification
• Moving and Handling certification
• Signed Confidentiality Agreement for Children's Hospitals Ireland

You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here.  

Please review the entry requirements set out in the section above.  

You will be required to upload supporting documentation to your application electronically. See the section above on entry requirements for further information on the supporting documentation required for this course.  

Closing Dates 

For this programme, there is no specific closing date for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotes will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle.  

Notes 

• You will need an active email account to use the website and you'll be guided through the system, step by step, until you complete the online form.
• Browse the FAQ's section for further guidance.

Fees for Academic Year 2026/27

For 26/27 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 1.8% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,500 towards your tuition (2026/27).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here. 

Postgraduate Excellence Scholarships

This scholarship is valued at €1,500 for EU students applying for full-time taught master's postgraduate courses. You will be eligible if: 

• You have been accepted to a full-time taught master's course at University of Galway,
• You have attained a first class honours (or equivalent) in a Level 8 primary degree.  

An application for the scholarship scheme is required (separate to the application for a place on the programme). The application portal for 2025 is now open and available here. Applications will close on the 30th September 2025. Full details available here.  

Global Scholarships

University of Galway offers a range of merit-based scholarships to students from a number of countries outside of the EU. Visit here for schemes currently available.  

The Victoria Thompson Scholarship

This scholarship is for the advancement of children’s palliative care in Ireland 

Value: €4,000 (comprising a Bursary from The Victoria Thompson Scholarship and The University of Galway Foundation)) 

This scholarship honours Victoria Thompson who lived for exactly nine months and needed palliative care as a result of a rare disease / life limiting condition. She died in June 2012.  

This Scholarship is only open to first year and current students undertaking the Galway University/UCD MSC in Health Sciences (Children’s palliative care and complex care programme). Applicants for scholarship(s) are invited to write an overview (800 words) outlining how this programme will assist them in developing their practice in specialist nursing for children’s palliative care/complex care. All applications will be anonymised and undergo a panel review.  The panel decision is final. 

Application Process 

Students applying for full time postgraduate programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here. 

Our application portal opens on the 1st October each year for each the following September. 

Further Information 

Please visit the postgraduate admissions webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.