Be a registered nurse on the General Nurse or Psychiatric or Intellectual Disability division of the register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI);?

Have a minimum of one year of post-registration experience (exclusive of post-registration courses);?

Be currently employed as a nurse in a setting where he/she has opportunities to care for older people and have a minimum of 6 months experience in this specific clinical setting;?

Satisfy the selection panel of ability to complete the programme;

Provide written evidence of support from their Director of Nursing and Clinical Unit Manager guaranteeing practice placement in a setting where he/she has an opportunity to care for older person patients/clients for the duration of the programme. Alternatively, where necessary, agreement that the applicant is facilitated to undertake additional practice in a suitable placement setting focused on care of the older person.;?

Have an honours bachelor’s degree at NFQ Level 8 in nursing or a comparable qualification. Applicants who do not hold an Honours degree or Higher Diploma (Level 8) or Postgraduate Diploma (Level 9) must demonstrate that they have successfully completed (in the previous four years) a module at Level 9. Please consult the professional credit awards at Level 9 at:?www.universityofgalway.ie/pca/pca.html.?

Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.

An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).

Next start date September 2026

This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

In the educational preparation of nursing colleagues who complete the PGDip/Masters of Health Science (Gerontology) programme the ethos of viewing “later years as a time of new beginnings and new possibilities” is paramount.

This programme develops your skills and knowledge to support the achievement of individual optimum health and well-being in older age adapting a biopsychosocial focus moving beyond the considerations of absence of disease and infirmity while embracing the older person’s complete physical, mental and social well-being.

The PGDip/Masters of Health Science (Gerontology) equips you with the broad skills needed to meet the needs of older persons across a wide variety of settings acknowledging older people as valuable active citizens who deserve the support and empowerment of service provision to enact a fulfilled life.?

Graduates of this programme have gone on to complete further studies as clinical nurse specialist, advanced nurse practitioners and PhDs. Graduates have also developed their professional careers becoming clinical nurse managers, directors of nursing, clinical nurse specialists, advanced nurse practitioners and community nurse practitioners.