Who is this course for?  

The Postgraduate in Nursing (Education) is designed for individuals from diverse nursing backgrounds who have already completed a Master’s degree and are eager to develop a specialised skills set for effective teaching and learning. This programme offers the practice skills and expertise in nursing education to help you succeed. 

This course welcomes applicants with a background in nursing who hold a Masters degree.  

This programme provides you with the opportunity to combine professional and academic qualifications with an expertise in teaching.  The programme will enable you to meet both the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and the wider needs of nurse education.   

Students will gain understanding in advanced educational topics, such as curriculum design, teaching and learning strategies, student engagement, assessment and evaluation methods and the integration of technology in education.  

On completion of this programme you will be able to: 

• Demonstrate a knowledge base that enables high levels of judgement, discretion and decision making in nursing and midwifery education. This must include education theory, the psychology of learning and related sociological perspectives.
• Develop a critical awareness of the legislation in nursing and health care and the standards and requirements for nursing registration education programmes.
• Demonstrate the synthesis and integration of knowledge from a broad range of disciplines that inform and develop nursing education practice.
• Contribute to the design, development and implementation of education and training programmes for nursing. Effectively develop curricula, being cognisant of the programme intent, clinical reality and the financial resources available.
• Develop advanced communication skills in order to present balanced arguments and engage with confidence in academic and multi-professional debates.
• Conduct a comprehensive nursing education and training needs assessment to support the provision of responsive flexible and innovative education programmes in nursing.
• Demonstrate the value of nursing through the generation of nursing knowledge and innovative educational practice.
• Undertake 100 hours teaching practice placement in an HEI/ Centre for Nurse Education, and complete two teaching competency assessments which will be assessed by an RNT.     

What will I study? The programme comprises of three specialist educational modules. A teaching e-Portfolio and two teaching competency assessments undertaken over two semesters.

Core Education Modules: 

• NU625 Teaching Effectively 
• NU644 Student Centred Teaching & Learning: Active Engagement Strategies 
• NU597 Design for Learning 
• NU643 Teaching Portfolio 
• NU332 Teaching Assessment 1 
• NU543 Teaching Assessment 2 

Accrediting Body 

The Postgraduate in Nursing (Education) is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) as a Category Two course. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration to the NMBI registry as Registered Nurse Tutors (R.N.T) on completion of the programme. 

• Dr. Brona Mooney (Programme Director)
• Dr. Christina Lydon
• Dr. Siobhan Smyth
• Ms. Sinead Hahessy
• Ms. Ciara O’Meara
• Ms. Margaret Maguire
• Dr. Orlaith Hernon 

How will I learn?

The Postgraduate in Nursing (Education) combines innovative teaching methods with practical, hands-on learning to ensure a comprehensive educational experience. You will learn through a mix of interactive lectures, seminars and workshops led by expert faculty. Real-world educational examples, case studies, exercises will enable you to apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems you may encounter as a nurse educator. 

Group projects and collaborative activities will enhance your teamwork and communication skills, while individual assignments and the final dissertation will help you develop independence and critical thinking.  

Throughout the programme, you will have access to cutting-edge resources, to support your learning and professional growth. 

How Will I Be Assessed? 

Throughout the programme, your progress is assessed through various coursework, including essays, e-tivities, class presentations and teaching assessments. 

Course queries: 
brona.mooney@universityofgalway.ie   

Programme Director(s):  

Dr Bróna Mooney 
Assistant Professor in Nursing,  
School of Nursing and Midwifery
College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences  
E: brona.mooney@universityofgalway.ie   
T: 091 495395 

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). 

This programme is designed to provide early and mid-career nurses with the skills and knowledge needed to engage with a variety of educational roles in clinical practice and higher education. 

Further, students may apply for exemption(s) from some programme modules based on equivalent courses already completed. Further information is available on the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning website.

All applicants must meet the following entry requirements: 

• Have a Master’s degree at NFQ Level 9 in Nursing/Health Sciences or a comparable qualification. 
• Be a registered nurse on the General, Mental Health, Children’s or Learning Disability Nurse divisions of the active register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; or hold a professional nursing qualification deemed to be equivalent by University of Galway;
• Have practised as a nurse for three years post-registration (exclusive of post-registration/educational programmes);
• Have negotiated a teaching practice placement in a third-level School/Department of Nursing Education or Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Education establishment, which will provide the opportunity to meet the teaching practice requirements of this programme. This is negotiated directly by the applicant prior to applying for the programme and a letter of support needs to be uploaded with the application to the programme. 

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

The following supporting evidence must be uploaded with your application: 

• Proof of identification, i.e. copy of Passport or Drivers Licence
• Curriculum Vitae with details of three or more years of clinical practice experience.
• Proof of current registration with NMBI which is valid to the end of the year that you are applying in.
• Transcript of your masters degree
• Transcript of your undergraduate in nursing degree
• Transcript/s of other third level qualifications
• Teaching practice letter from a High Education Authority (HEI)/ Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Education (CNME) who are providing you with the opportunity to undertake 100 hours of teaching practice during the course of your studies. 

Please note: 

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed until all supporting evidence is provided. So, it is best to have all the required documents collated and submitted at the time of your application to avoid delay in you receiving a response to your application. 

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, the closing date is the 31st of May.

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 2025-26 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. 

Marie Keating Foundation

The Marie Keating Foundation awards an education bursary each year to the successful applicant to the value of €3000.00 paid directly to the university fee’s department.  In return the successful candidate will receive training and support in delivering the HSE endorsed school’s Cancer Awareness Programme (CAP) for 1st - 6th year secondary school students. The CAP programme focuses on raising cancer awareness and prevention as part of the SPHE (Social Health & Personal Education) curriculum. Details of the scholarship will be provided by the Programme Director of the Master of Health Sciences (Nursing Education). 

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 until the 31st of May.   

Further Information 

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