Course Details

Course Code(s):
GCACPRTPAD/GCACPRTFAD
/
GCACPRTPBD
Available:
Part-Time
Full-Time
Intake:
Spring
Autumn/Fall
Course Start Date:
September / January
Duration:
1 Year Part-Time / 1 Year Full-Time
Award:
Postgraduate Certificate
Qualification:
NFQ Level 9 Minor Award
Faculty: Education and Health Sciences
Course Type: Taught, Professional/Flexible
Fees: For Information on Fees, see section below.

Contact(s):

Name: Sarah Dillon
Email: sahpgcert@ul.ie
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Brief Description

The Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert) in Advanced Clinical Practice is designed to enhance graduates’ critical thinking and develop evidence-based practitioners as future leaders of effective services. Students select from a wide range of elective modules (from project management to intercultural care) to fit their specific practice needs. Graduates will obtain in-depth knowledge of an area of Health Sciences to apply to their professional practice. 

(M) Microcreds available:

Modules listed within the Programme Content with an (M) beside them are MicroCreds and can be taken independently.

The PG Cert in Advanced Clinical Practice is designed to expand existing professional knowledge and to produce high quality evidence-based practitioners, who are better positioned to develop their individual disciplines as well as the wider health agenda. This programme offers students the opportunity to critically examine and reflect on their own practice and to implement mechanisms of change to enhance current practice.

This highly flexible programme can be individually tailored to your professional needs. Rather than a prescribed course of study, students can select modules that support their needs, ranging from project management, lean thinking and leadership to intercultural care and applied psychology, with many other options in between. In addition to these electives, you will complete a core module of either research methods or evidence-based practice, to equip you with the knowledge needed to be an evidence-based practitioner. Among the elective offerings is the Independent Learning Modules which provide the option for you to put forward a specialist topic and receive one-to-one supervision to develop your skills/knowledge in relation to this topic. The output you produce from this module can be tailored to your professional needs: e.g. a clinical guideline, an evidence summary, a mini dissertation or a suite of resources, amongst other things. You may choose to progress your professional development via the Master of Science in Advanced Healthcare Practice, which follows the same practitioner-focused course design.

In short, this programme equips graduates with the tools to excel in developing their professional knowledge in an area meaningful to them.

Objectives: Graduates will obtain in-depth knowledge of an area of Health Sciences to apply to their professional practice and will develop skills to enhance their work as an evidence-based practitioner. Graduates will reflect critically on their own and others’ learning styles and practice.

Programme Aims: 

On successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:

  • Discuss professional issues relating to the provision of healthcare services
  • Examine the different sectors of patients/clients, service providers and models of service, and their differing needs
  • Source, critically appraise and synthesise the most up to date research 
  • Acquire an advanced level of clinical reasoning and critical thinking
  • Develop advanced level assessment and identification of service need in the student’s area of clinical practice
  • Integrate research knowledge with clinical expertise and patient preference to establish the means of providing cost-effective, high quality clinical services​

Students complete 30 ECTS, to include one core module PY5021 Evidence Based Practice: (12 ECTS) and additional modules selected from a suite of electives available in the School of Allied Health and across the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, School of Engineering and Kemmy Business School. To allow for flexible learning opportunities, online modules are available, however, please confirm this with the module leader/course director before registering. Please note that module availability is subject to change.

Autumn Semester

Spring Semester

 

Core Module

  • PY5021 Evidence Based Practice (12 ECTS) (O)

 

 

Autumn Electives

Spring Electives

 
  • NS6040 Intercultural Care (9 ECTS)
  • PS6042 Qualitative Research in Methods in Psychology (6 ECTS) 
  • PY5022 Independent Learning Module 3 (9 ECTS) (O)
  • MN6041 Project Management in Practice (6 ECTS) (O)
  • CT6102 Applied Behaviour Change (9 ECTS) (O)
  • NS6038 Promoting Quality & Safety in Healthcare (12 ECTS) 
  • CT5031 (Research methods) (12ECTS) (O)
  

(M) A MicroCred is a single module within a larger further award (eg. Certificate, Diploma, Masters). By taking a micro-credential you may be eligible to apply for a credit exemption should you progress to study for a further award.

(O) Online module- this module has previously been delivered online. Please confirm with module leader/course director.

For further information on specific modules, please search by module code in  book of modules.

 

Who Can Apply

Healthcare clinicians with a professionally and academically accredited BSc (Hons) (level 8 National Qualifications Authority of Ireland recognised) or equivalent in a health profession* at a minimum award of 2.2 hons level or above. Applicants with an award of below 2.2 will be considered at the discretion of the Course Director. Candidates may be interviewed as part of the admissions process.

*Health profession such as; Doctors, Nurses, Health and Social Care Professionals. Health and Social Care Professionals encompasses the list of professions regulated under the Health and Social Care Professions Act (2005) Ireland. These are clinical biochemist; dietician; medical scientist; occupational therapist; orthoptist; physiotherapist; podiatrist; psychologist; radiographer; social care worker; social worker; speech and language therapist. Other health professionals (e.g., paramedic, dentist) may be admitted on approval from the course director.

What to Include with your Application

  • Qualification transcripts and certificates
  • A copy of your birth certificate or passport
  • If your qualifications have been obtained in a country where English is an official language this will suffice
  • If this is not available, the following additional documents must be provided:
  • English translation of your qualification(s)/transcripts AND
  • English language competency certificate
  • Please click here for Further Information on English Language Requirements

 

EU  Part time €2,034

Non-EU Part time €7,358

Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office website. All fee related queries should be directed to the Student Fees Office (Phone: +353 61 213 007 or email student.fees.office@ul.ie.). Fees are subject to change.

Please click here for information on funding and scholarships.

 

 

Wesley Mulcahy, Senior Occupational Therapist in Acute Paediatric Neurology in CHI, Crumlin

I have undertaken a Postgraduate Certificate in the School of Allied Health and am now completing the Advanced Healthcare Practice MSc in 2020. The course has been a perfect blend of classes, online and self directed learning which has allowed me to complete it in line with the demands on my job. I work full time, and have been able to complete my studies around this. The modules undertaken have allowed me to complete projects with a very direct impact on my practice, including case studies, pathway development and culture change projects. This has allowed the study to have a very applied, practical element and as such, doesn't feel separate from my clinical practice.