-
Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
-
University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose University of Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at University of Galway is all about here.
-
About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
-
Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
-
Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
-
Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
-
Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
There are 128,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. Stay connected to your alumni community! Join our social networks and update your details online.
-
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Accessibility & LanguageDiabetes (Nursing) (MHSc/PDipHSc)
MHSc/PDipHSc (Diabetes) Nursing
College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery- Title of Award
- Master of Health Sciences
- Course Code
- MHSC-DIN; PGD-DIN
- Average Intake
- 5
- Delivery
- Blended Learning
- NFQ
- Level 9
- Award Type
- Major
- Next Intake
- September 2025
- Duration
- Year 1 (Postgraduate Diploma) Year 2 (Master's)
- ECTS Weighting
- MHSc 90 | PDip 60 ECTS
Why Choose This Course?
Course Information
Who is this course for?
This programme aims to prepare nurses to effectively contribute to diabetes nursing practice. The essence of diabetes nursing is the provision of individualised care to patients with diabetes. Caring for patients with diabetes requires nurses to have specialist knowledge and skills that meet the physical, psychological, mental and social needs of patients and their relatives. The multi-faceted nature of nursing in diabetes care settings encompasses the whole spectrum of care, from prevention to diagnosis to treatment and chronic disease management and this course encompasses that ethos.
Year 1 is theoretical-/clinical-based and represents 60 ECTS credits which is equivalent to a Postgraduate Diploma Diabetes at completion (which students can exit with, if they wish, at the end of Year 1).
Year 2 is research thesis based which builds on the knowledge and skills learned in Year 1 and represents 30 ECTS credits, thus providing a total of 90 ECTS (Year 1 & 2) which is the requirement for the awarding of a Masters Health Sciences Diabetes.
What will I study?
All students will undertake the full-time one-year Postgraduate Diploma in their first year. Upon completing both theoretical and clinical modules for this course, students can graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma (Diabetes Nursing) or they may progress to the second year of the Master of Health Science (MHSc) programme , provided they have achieved a minimum average mark of 60% across these modules in the first year.
A blended learning approach is adopted in the delivery of the Diabetes Nursing programme. Most of the programme is delivered online. Students are required to attend five face-to-face workshops across the programme.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours in diabetes care before completing this programme. Students may also be required to undertake additional placements to meet the programme’s learning outcomes.
GPN10: Diabetes (10 ECTS) [Semesters 1 & 2]
NU502: Advanced Research Methods (10 ECTS) [Semester 1]
NU605: Recognising & Responding to Client Deterioration (10 ECTS) [Semester 1]
NU921: Clinical Competence 1 (0 ECTS) [Semester 1]
NU623: Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice (10 ECTS) [Semester 2]
NU6439: Service Improvement (10 ECTS) [Semesters 1 & 2]
PO5101: Management of Diabetic Foot disease [Semester 2]
NU922: Clinical Competence 2 (0 ECTS) [Semester 2]
(Optional exit opportunity with PDip Diabetes or continue on for MHSc Diabetes.)
Year 2
Semester 1 & Semester 2
NU6515: Research Dissertation (30 ECTS)
Students’ clinical competency will be assessed by a practice portfolio (submitted end of Year 1 Semester 2). Students also complete practice-focused assignments throughout the whole of Year 1 programme. To be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Diabetes), students must pass each module at 40% and pass the clinical practice portfolio (Clinical Competence 1 & 2).
The clinical practice component forms an integral part of the programme. Students are required to complete at least 500 hours of specialist practice experience working with and caring for patients with diabetes in a variety of environments throughout the programme. This includes consolidating the experiences and opportunities that are available in their own clinical environments. The student will be expected to engage in the assessment, planning, delivery, and evaluation of care to patients with diabetes, with the support of a designated preceptor agreed upon with the programme director & clinical facilitator.
To successfully meet the 500-hour practice requirement, the student will be required to work, for the duration of the first year of the programme, within practice settings that manage care for patients with diabetes. If needed, it may be possible to arrange clinical placements with the Diabetes Service at the University Hospital Galway, which will cover the full spectrum of Diabetes Care.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
RequiredGPN10: Diabetes
GPN10: Diabetes
Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10
Diabetes is a postgraduate module offered to health care professionals as a component of Masters in Diabetes, Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Primary Care and also as a stand alone module.The main learning objective of this module is to improve the management of patients with diabetes. This course has been developed so that the tutors and teachers involved are local experts and specialists in the area and involves a multidisciplinary approach. The aim of the course is to offer an excellent learning resource and also offer an opportunity to build support with specialists in secondary care. This module has been developed for allied health professionals including general practitioners, practice nurses, hospital and community nurses and dieticians and is aimed to address the learning needs of those managing patients with this condition. This course is ICGP accredited.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- • Demonstrate competency in diagnosis, screening and classification of patients with diabetes
- • Critically analyse the challenges of diabetes control, monitoring and self-management education
- • Implement appropriate structure of care for patients with diabetes
- • Integrate health behaviours methodology in the care of patients with diabetes
- • Demonstrate a clear understanding of the appropriate use of therapeutics in diabetes
- • Demonstrate the ability to recognise and manage acute and chronic diabetes complications
- • Implement appropriate screening and pathways of care for pregnancy and diabetes
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (65%)
- Oral, Audio Visual or Practical Assessment (35%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
- SEAN FINBARR DINNEEN 🖂
- PAUL WILLIAM GORMLEY 🖂
- BREDA KELLEHER 🖂
- MARI MORAN 🖂
- EVA FLYNN 🖂
- Derek O'Keeffe 🖂
Reading List
- "A Practical Guide to Integrated Diabetes Care" by n/a
- "Additional recommended and supplemental references per weekly unit." by n/a
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredNU921: Clinical Competence 1
NU921: Clinical Competence 1
Semester 1 | Credits: 0
(Language of instruction: English)
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
- MAURA DOWLING 🖂
- FRANCES FARRELLY 🖂
- SINÉAD HAHESSY 🖂
- ANDREW HUNTER 🖂
- BRONA MOONEY 🖂
- MARI MORAN 🖂
- MARCELLA HORRIGAN-KELLY 🖂
- CLAIRE QUINN 🖂
- ELAINE O'HARA 🖂
- Derek O'Keeffe 🖂
- Peter Carr 🖂
- Katherine Pigott 🖂
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredNU623: Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice
NU623: Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
This module will examine clinical governance and its role in supporting safe practice. Errors are inevitable in healthcare systems (Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, 2008). It is estimated that medical errors would rank 5 in the top 10 causes of death in the United States, ahead of accidents, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, if included on the National Centre for Health Statistics’ list (Joint Commission, 2005 p.7). In Ireland, the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (2008) acknowledge that healthcare will never be risk free but argue that it is critical that the systems in place are as safe as possible, that the right ‘checks and balances’ are in place and that learning results from mistakes. To ensure this happens it is important that programmes prepare nurses to promote and enhance clinical safety. The module is guided by the National Patient Safety Framework (The Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2005) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Patient Safety Curriculum Guide for Medical Schools (WHO, , 2009), National Patient Safety Strategy 2019-2024 (HSE, 2019) and the HSE Code of Governance (HSE, 2021).
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Examine the concept of ‘clinical governance’ in the Irish healthcare system
- Identify and evaluate the factors that determine the quality and safety of healthcare from the perspective of (i) the nurse or midwife (ii) the client (iii) the multidisciplinary team and (iv) the wider healthcare system
- Explore their role in promoting and enhancing safety as a member of the multidisciplinary team
- Critically evaluate risk assessment processes and issues relevant to their practice setting.
- Evaluate their contribution to quality improvement in their practice setting
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
- EIMEAR BURKE 🖂
- FRANCES FARRELLY 🖂
- SINÉAD HAHESSY 🖂
- CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
- MARI MORAN 🖂
- CLAIRE O'TUATHAIL 🖂
- CLAIRE QUINN 🖂
- Katherine Pigott 🖂
- Ciara O'Meara 🖂
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredNU605: Recognising & Responding to Client Deterioration
NU605: Recognising & Responding to Client Deterioration
Semester 1 | Credits: 10
The module aims to provide nurses with the specialised knowledge and skills to assess, prioritise, respond to and manage challenging acute care episodes. Supporting students to broaden and deepen their knowledge and skills has the potential to enable them to identify client deterioration more quickly and minimise avoidable emergencies.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse challenging acute care episodes and evaluate the appropriateness of different clinical interventions.
- Critically analyse client data and prioritise client problems relating to the signs & symptoms of Critical Illness & Client Deterioration, Cardiovascular disorders, Sepsis & Shock, , Renal & Neurological Deterioration and the acutely unwell diabetic patient
- Demonstrate the ability to observe, interpret and appropriately respond to the signs and symptoms of deterioration and knowledge of INEWS V 2.
- Implement appropriate nursing interventions that meet the individual client’s needs.
- 5. Demonstrate knowledge of current technologies to support the provision of safe and effective care to acutely ill clients, including point of care technology ultrasound in Covid -19, and supportive educational technologies e.g. AHA Guidelines on the Go’ and ‘The Who Academy’ mobile learning resources.
- Integrate research findings in the provision of evidence based care to acutely ill clients.
- Use ISBAR to communicate clearly and effectively with other members of the multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrate awareness of the importance of psychological care as a nursing priority including sensitivity to the needs of clients and/or relatives under stress
- Demonstrate knowledge of the principles underpinning the technical/clinical skills addressed in this module such as– Assessment tools, ABG’s, ECGs and rhythm strips analysis, interpreting blood results, haemodynamic monitoring, CVP, central line management, monitoring consciousness level, High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP), Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP),
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
The above information outlines module NU605: "Recognising & Responding to Client Deterioration" and is valid from 2025 onwards.Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredPO5101: Management of Diabetic Foot Disease
PO5101: Management of Diabetic Foot Disease
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
The management of diabetic foot disease requires a multi-disciplinary approach, expert knowledge and a dedication to service provision and service development underpinned by evidence based practice approach. The increasing pace of change and complexity in management of diabetic foot disease has shaped the design of this module. The focus is to ensure students have the capacity to remain current and are capable of updating themselves on new interventions and approaches to the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease. The goal is to teach for life-long learning. Therefore, the module has been carefully designed in stages (see Stages 1- 5) which build on one another with the aim of ensuring that students have a thorough understanding of and in-depth knowledge of the principles of prevention and management, and how these can be applied to diabetic foot disease. Clinical care will be considered in the context of multi-professional management which will involve an appreciation of National and International Guidelines in addition to a range of strategic healthcare polices and initiatives. Students will develop critical reasoning techniques and problem solving skills which will be verified by evaluation of evidence to enable sound judgements to be reached and effective multi-professional communication to take place. These themes will be developed with particular relevance to the student’s work setting.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Critically analyse research and evidence underpinning the multi-professional management of manifestations of diabetes in the lower limb and foot
- Appraise relevant policy and position documents relating to management of diabetes in the lower limb and foot
- Formulate problem solving strategies that relate to assessment, diagnosis and treatment strategies for people with diabetes.
- Evaluative and explore areas of uncertainty, ambiguity, limitations of knowledge and current innovations in managing people with diabetes.
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
- FIONA LOWRY 🖂
- CAROLINE DAWN MCINTOSH 🖂
- MARI MORAN 🖂
- AMANDA WALSH 🖂
- GEORGINA GETHIN 🖂
- CLAIRE MACGILCHRIST 🖂
- Olga Carey 🖂
- Duygu Sezgin 🖂
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredNU502: Advanced Research Methods
NU502: Advanced Research Methods
Semester 1 | Credits: 10
. This module is designed to enable students to explore the methodological and practical issues of research. It will help students determine the appropriate research design for research questions in their practice and provides an opportunity for students to debate, challenge and clarify research issues. This module will also help students understand the systematic review process and types of reviews, Finally, the module prepares students to develop a research protocol.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by ‘evidence-based practice’
- Discuss theoretical perspectives on research methodology
- Formulate an answerable clinical question using the PICO approach
- Develop a database search strategy
- Explain the key characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of the main qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
- Articulate a research problem and formulate a research question or hypothesis as appropriate to guide the conduct of a study
- Justify the use of appropriate data collection, sampling, and data analysis methods for qualitative and quantitative research
- Discuss rigour in the context of quantitative and qualitative research
- Discuss evidence synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research
- Create a plan with clear rationales for data collection, sampling, data analysis and rigour to be used when conducting a primary qualitative or quantitative study or evidence synthesis
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
- MAURA DOWLING 🖂
- BERNARD MCCARTHY 🖂
- BRONA MOONEY 🖂
- MARI MORAN 🖂
- CLAIRE O'TUATHAIL 🖂
- SIOBHÁIN SMYTH 🖂
- AMANDA WALSH 🖂
- DECLAN DEVANE 🖂
- FIONNUALA JORDAN 🖂
- STEPHEN KENNETH BRADLEY 🖂
- Peter Carr 🖂
- Katherine Pigott 🖂
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredNU6439: Service Improvement
NU6439: Service Improvement
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
This module will allow the student the opportunity to plan and implement, with their manager, and an academic facilitator, a service improvement initiative. The project will focus on an issue of relevance to client care or service improvement and must be supported by the student’s line manager and/or clinical facilitator. Examples of the types of projects include: completion of a defined literature review supporting some aspect of unit work, preparation of a patient education leaflet (supported by an evidence based rationale presented separately), development of a patient education pack (supported by an evidence based rationale presented separately), development of a strategy to reduce waiting time, an initiative that will improve patient/staff safety, development/implementation of guidelines/policies, an initiative that improves the quality of patient services or the work environment, an initiative that saves time/money or any issue/problem/change that can be addressed through action. This work must be completed within a calendar year.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Critically examine a practice issue and contribute to service improvement
- Integrate and apply learning from other modules
- Work collaboratively with peers and clients
- Become an autonomous and independent learner
- Develop the skills and knowledge needed to implement a change in clinical practice
- Develop their skills of analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and reflection
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
- MAURA DOWLING 🖂
- FRANCES FARRELLY 🖂
- SINÉAD HAHESSY 🖂
- CATHERINE MEAGHER 🖂
- MARI MORAN 🖂
- MARCELLA HORRIGAN-KELLY 🖂
- CLAIRE QUINN 🖂
- DEIRDRE FITZGERALD 🖂
- Duygu Sezgin 🖂
- Martina Giltenane 🖂
- Katherine Pigott 🖂
- Ciara O'Meara 🖂
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredNU922: Clinical Competence 2
NU922: Clinical Competence 2
Semester 2 | Credits: 0
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
- MAURA DOWLING 🖂
- ANDREW HUNTER 🖂
- BRONA MOONEY 🖂
- MARI MORAN 🖂
- ANNE O'GRADY 🖂
- DEIRDRE ROCHE 🖂
- MARCELLA HORRIGAN-KELLY 🖂
- ELAINE O'HARA 🖂
- Derek O'Keeffe 🖂
- Peter Carr 🖂
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Year 2 (30 Credits)
RequiredNU6515: Research Dissertation
NU6515: Research Dissertation
Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30
Students will be required to undertake a piece of primary research or an evidence synthesis on a topic relevant to their practice area. Students will be assigned a research supervisor who will support them in undertaking this work.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrated knowledge of ethical requirements and procedures by negotiating access to research site/participants by securing ethical approval from the appropriate Research Ethics Committee in the case of primary research. Or in the case of evidence synthesis/secondary data analysis, demonstrate knowledge in the process of negotiating access to full text data not available in the library databases.
- Developed a research question(s) of significance to area of of significance to their specialist nursing/midwifery professional practice or a problem statement(s) based on a review of evidence-based literature.
- Identified and apply an appropriate method(s) to achieve the objectives of the research question (s)/ hypothesis for primary data collection, or in the case of secondary data analysis, employ valid and reliable method(s) for processing and analysing archived research data
- Critically discuss research findings with reference to the methods used, current literature and professional practice.
- Prepared a scholarly report (Option A) research article (Option B) ready for publication which will demonstrate accurate expression, analysis, and synthesis of the research subject.
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
- GLORIA AVALOS 🖂
- MIRIAM BRENNAN 🖂
- EIMEAR BURKE 🖂
- DYMPNA CASEY 🖂
- MAURA DOWLING 🖂
- ANNE FALLON 🖂
- FRANCES FARRELLY 🖂
- SINÉAD HAHESSY 🖂
- ANDREW HUNTER 🖂
- BERNARD MCCARTHY 🖂
- TERESA MEANEY 🖂
- BRONA MOONEY 🖂
- MARI MORAN 🖂
- CLAIRE O'TUATHAIL 🖂
- SIOBHÁIN SMYTH 🖂
- PATRICIA HEALY 🖂
- GEORGINA GETHIN 🖂
- DECLAN DEVANE 🖂
- MARCELLA HORRIGAN-KELLY 🖂
- FIONNUALA JORDAN 🖂
- CATHERINE HOUGHTON 🖂
- STEPHEN KENNETH BRADLEY 🖂
- CLAIRE QUINN 🖂
- MARION O'REGAN 🖂
- Derek O'Keeffe 🖂
- Peter Carr 🖂
- Katherine Pigott 🖂
- Ciara O'Meara 🖂
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
- Clinical Facilitator: An experienced nurse specialist in Diabetes care acts as the programme’s clinical facilitator, supporting students in reaching their learning outcomes in practice.
- Interdisciplinary Learning: Two modules on the programme are shared with other Healthcare professionals.
Graduates of the programme can apply for a clinical nurse specialist role in Diabetes care.
Practice Education
The clinical practice component forms an integral part of the programme. Students are required to complete at least 500 hours of specialist practice experience working with and caring for patients with diabetes in various environments throughout the programme. This includes consolidating the experiences and opportunities that are available in their own clinical environments. The student will be expected to engage in the assessment, planning, delivery, and evaluation of care to patients with diabetes, with the support of a designated preceptor agreed upon with the programme director & clinical facilitator.
To successfully meet the 500-hour practice requirement, the student will be required to work, for the duration of the first year of the programme, within practice settings that manage care for patients with diabetes. If needed, it may be possible to arrange clinical placements with the Diabetes Service at the University Hospital Galway, which will cover the full spectrum of Diabetes Care.
Accrediting Body
The course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
How will I learn?
The MHSc/PGD Diabetes Nursing combines innovative teaching methods with practical, hands-on learning. You will learn through a mix of interactive lectures, seminars and workshops led by expert faculty with a focus on evidence-based practice.
How Will I Be Assessed?
Throughout the programme, your progress is assessed through various coursework and exams, including essays, computer-based quizzes and presentations.
Course queries:
maura.dowling@universityofgalway.ie
Programme Director(s):
Dr Maura Dowling,
Senior Lecturer in Nursing,
School of Nursing and Midwifery
College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences
E: maura.dowling@universityofgalway.ie
T: 091 493833
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).
Graduates of the programme will be able to:
- Demonstrate ethically sound decision-making in relation to the care of patients living with diabetes
- Demonstrate evidence-based knowledge and skills in the care of patients with diabetes
- Demonstrate the ability to contribute to the professional body of knowledge related to diabetes
- Advocate with other health care professionals for patients with diabetes
- Assess risk and promote a safe environment and quality patient care
- Contribute to multidisciplinary team planning
- Contribute to the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality care for patients with diabetes
Accreditations & Awards
Meet our Employers
Entry Requirements and Fees
Minimum Entry Requirements
Candidates must hold an Honours Level 8 primary degree in Nursing, Midwifery or Children’s Nursing.
Applicants who do not hold an honours degree or postgraduate diploma (Level 9) may apply but must clearly demonstrate the capacity to complete the programme at this level, and must successfully undertake a minimum of one 10 ECTS module (Level 9) offered as a Professional Credit Award.
Supporting Documents
You will be required to provide supporting documentation as part of your application. You can check here what supporting documents are required for this course.
Evidence of current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
To be considered for entry to the programme, applicants must meet the following entry requirements:
- Be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland in the divisions of Nursing, Midwifery or Children’s Nursing.
- Hold an active nursing registration.
- Have a minimum of one year’s post-registration experience.
- Be working in an approved healthcare setting in Ireland where people with Diabetes are managed.
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, there is no specific closing date for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotes will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle.
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 2025/2026
| Course Type | Year | EU Tuition | Student Contribution | Non-EU Tuition | Levy | Total Fee | Total EU Fee | Total Non-EU Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Full Time | 1 | €7,750 | €17,500 | €140 | €7,890 | €17,640 | ||
| Masters Full Time | 2 | €3,500 | €17,000 | €140 | €3,640 | €17,140 |
*Fee quote for Y2 are for those commencing the course in AY 25/26
Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26). 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.
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 for entry the following September.
Further Information
Please visit the postgraduate admissions webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.
Why University of Galway?
World renowned research led university nestled in the vibrant heart of Galway city on Ireland's scenic West Coast.
Contact the School of Nursing and Midwifery
Áras Moyola, Upper Newcastle, Galway
Downloads
Meet Our Alumni
Course Introduction
Preparing nurses to effectively contribute to diabetes nursing
Diabetes is a global health emergency, projected to affect over 600 million people by 2030 (10% of the world’s population). The WHO classifies it as an epidemic, a view echoed in Ireland’s HSE policy. Poorly managed, it leads to major cardiovascular risks. Effective care requires managing blood sugar, pressure, and lipids, alongside promoting healthy behaviours. Yet these targets are difficult to achieve. With rising prevalence and pressure on health services, specialist diabetes training for clinicians - especially nurses in multidisciplinary teams is urgently needed.
