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LHP Skillnet is proud to team up with The Department of Health on a new initiative which aims to support residential care providers in building nurse expertise in the field of Gerontology.

This initiative will provide one fully funded place on a Postgraduate Gerontological Nursing course for one nursing staff member in each private residential care centre in the country.

About the Initiative

If you are registered provider of a nursing home in the private sector in Ireland, you can nominate one member of your nursing staff for this fully funded place. Each programme has its own academic entry requirements.

Requirements

Places on each course are limited. Successful applicants will be required to participate in an impact and evaluation study for LHP Skillnet and the Department of Health.

Eligible Programmes

The following four universities will be participating in this initiative. This page provides an overview of the courses available. Learn more about admission criteria, syllabus, assessments and more by visiting each university’s official course portal.

Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

Commencement Date: 25th September 2025
Programme Duration: 18 months

Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

Location
  • Mayo/Sligo/Letterkenny
Delivery Mode

  • Blended Learning (3 on-campus days per module)

Entry Requirements

  • Applicants must hold at leat a 2.2 degree.

  • NMBI-registered with 1+ year post-registration experience.
  • Currently employed in older-person sector with 6+ months of experience in that sector.

  • Formal letter from DON to confirm student employment and designated mentor.

Modules
  • 1
    Advanced Research Skills (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Written assignment (4,000 words)
  • 2
    Contemporary Legal & Professional Issues (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Written assessment 100%
  • 3
    Advanced Professional Leadership & Management (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Module learning, coursework & assignment 100%
  • 4
    Ageing, Health Assessment & Management in the Older Person (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Course work (3,000 words), HSE online course; practice portfolio
  • 5
    Contemporary Approaches to Care of the Older Person (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: E-tivity 20%; assignment 80%; practice portfolio pass/fail
  • 6
    Dementia, Delirium & Other Mental Health in Older People (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: E-tivity 20%; assignment (case study) 80%; practice portfolio pass/fail

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)

Commencement Date: 1st September 2025
Programme Duration: 12 months

Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI)

Location
  • Dublin
Delivery Mode
  • Online
Official Page
Entry Requirements
  • Applicants must be on the NMBI Register.

  • Applicants must be working in the sector for the duration of the programme.

  • Applicants must hold a NFQ Level 8 qualification; applicants with lower qualifications may still be eligible to join through RCSI’s supported pathway programme, subject to an assessment of prior learning and experience.

Modules
  • 1
    Advanced Research Methods (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Written assessment 100%
  • 2
    Advanced Leadership & Management (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Written assessment 100%
  • 3
    Advanced Professional Practice (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Portfolio pass/fail, case studies 100%
  • 4
    Biopsychosocial Perspectives of Older Persons (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Oral presentation 30%, written assignment 70%
  • 5
    Contemporary Issues, Legislation & Quality Improvement in OPS (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Poster 30%, written assignment 70%
  • 6
    Dementia and Mental Health Disorders in Older Adults (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Written assessment 100%

Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

Commencement Date: 1st September 2025
Programme Duration: 12 months

Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

Location
  • Dublin
Delivery Mode
  • Blended Learning (20 on-campus days over 2 semesters)
Official Page
Entry Requirements
  • Applicants must be on the NMBI Register with 2+ years post-registration experience, 1 of which in OPC.

  • Applicants must hold at least a 2.1 degree.

  • RPL may be considered.

  • English competency as set out by the university.
Modules
  • 1
    Principles of Integrated Care in Gerontological Nursing (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: 3,000 words written assessment
  • 2
    Biopsychosocial Principles of Gerontological Nursing (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Presentation 100%
  • 3
    Advancing Gerontological Nursing Practice (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: 3 hours written exam (3 out of 4 questions)
  • 4
    Clinical Placement – Gerontological Nursing (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Continuous assessment based on core practice placement competencies (pass/fail)
  • 5
    Leadership, Quality Improvement & Governance (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: 3,000 words written assignment
  • 6
    Theory & Practice of Enquiry Methods for Healthcare (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: 500 words written assignment; 4,500 words narrative literature review

University College Cork

Commencement Date: 1st September 2025
Programme Duration: 12 months

University College Cork (UCC)

Location

  • Cork

Delivery Mode

  • Blended Learning (7 on-campus days per semester)

Official Page
Entry Requirements
  • Applicants must be on the NMBI Register with 6+ months post-registration experience.

  • English language requirement (IELTS6.5, 6.0 individual skills completed within last 2 years).

Modules
  • 1
    Optimising Health & Well-being in Older People (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Group work presentation, written clinical assessment, written assignment
  • 2
    Evidence-based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: Assignment/E-tivity/search strategy, E-tivity/MCQ, Evidence appraisal
  • 3
    Professional, Ethical & Legal Decision-making in Practice (5 ECTS)

    Assessment: Written assignment
  • 4
    Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 ECTS)

    Assessment: Clinical assessment min. 170.5 hours, clinical competencies (pass/fail)
  • 5
    Clinical Leadership & Management for Practice Enhancement (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: E-tivities, poster presentation
  • 6
    Promoting Positive Ageing and Planning for End of Life (5 ECTS)

    Assessment: E-tivity, oral presentation
  • 7
    Contemporary Approaches to Dementia, Stroke & Mental Health in Later Life (10 ECTS)

    Assessment: E-tivities/online quizzes, assignment
  • 8
    Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 2 (5 ECTS)

    Assessment: Clinical assessment min. 170.5 hours, clinical competencies (pass/fail)

Application Process

  • 1
    Please complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) Form below (one submission per person, please.)

    The application deadline for fully funded places through LHP Skillnet is Friday, 27th June 2025.

  • 2

    You will receive an access link to the Application Form.

  • 3

    Complete the Application Form, including choice of university (numbers in each institute are limited and will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis). All applications must be accompanied by a letter of confirmation from your registered provider for you to avail of this course.

  • 4
    Applicants are approved by LHP Skillnet for funding and their names are passed on to the chosen institute.
  • 5

    After you have been approved, you can apply to the chosen institute for your Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing.

PLEASE NOTE: ANYONE WHO APPLIES DIRECTLY TO A UNIVERSITY WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING UNDER THIS INITIATIVE.

Express Your Interest

We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their interest in the Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing so far. Our team is currently processing your submissions.

Our Expression of Interest form for 2025/26 is now closed. Those who have submitted their information will be contacted shortly. Thank you for your patience.

In the meantime, please direct any questions to Helen (helen@lhpskillnet.ie).

Programme Flyer

Downloadable PDF of available diplomas

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