Overview

The Palliative Care M.Sc. at Trinity College Dublin is an interdisciplinary programme designed to help healthcare professionals develop a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to their clinical practice. This course allows students to critically explore palliative care service provision through a blend of academic rigour and practical application. It is delivered in partnership with St. Francis Hospice, Dublin, ensuring that the curriculum remains grounded in contemporary clinical excellence.

Why Palliative Care at Trinity College Dublin?

This programme is uniquely delivered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery in collaboration with St. Francis Hospice, providing students with access to leading experts in the field. Trinity College Dublin offers a flexible learning environment, utilising a blended approach that combines online modules with in-person teaching. Students benefit from a curriculum designed to enhance clinical leadership and governance skills, while the optional clinical practicum allows for supernumerary placements in diverse specialist settings.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: EUR 13040 per year
• European fee: EUR 6510 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is structured to provide a deep understanding of both the philosophical and practical aspects of palliative care. Students engage with core theoretical modules before progressing to advanced research and clinical electives. Modules may include:

• Palliative Care: Concepts, Philosophy and Debates
• Palliative Approaches to Pain and Symptom Management
• Psychosocial, Spiritual, and Therapeutic Issues in Palliative Care
• Theory and Practice of Enquiry Methods for Healthcare
• Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance
• Ethics and Law in Healthcare
• Clinical Practicum Palliative Care

In the second year of the Master's programme, students focus on advanced research skills, culminating in the completion of a substantial research dissertation.

Careers with Palliative Care

Graduates of this programme are well-positioned to advance their careers within the healthcare sector, particularly in specialist palliative care units, hospitals, and community settings. The course enhances eligibility for senior clinical roles and promotion to leadership positions. By developing advanced skills in symptom management and psychosocial support, practitioners can transition into specialist roles or pursue further postgraduate training and academic research in the field of health sciences.