Adolescent Health (MSc)

Applications to the MSc in Adolescent Health will be evaluated by the programme board which will review a range of criteria, including the applicant’s academic record, relevant professional experience, and overall motivation and suitability for the programme. Successful candidates will have a strong undergraduate record with a minimum of a 2.2 in Level 8 in the social sciences, health sciences, medicine, or a cognate discipline. Applicants with a Level 7 with extensive experience working with adolescents will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are also required to submit a Personal Statement that highlights their commitment to the field of adolescent health. Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation. Applicants should also include a resumé.

International applicants are required to have an equivalent degree and results from their undergraduate university. Applicants from countries where English is not the official language must submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score of a 6.5 is required on the IELTS.

Why choose this programme?

• You will receive interdisciplinary training in adolescent health grounded in a public health approach.
• You will enjoy the flexibility of a blended learning approach, which combines asynchronous activities, live class sessions via zoom, and a series of on-campus workshops held the first Saturday of each month throughout the academic year.
• You can choose to complete the programme either on a full-time (one year) or part-time (two year) basis, allowing you to complete the programme around your personal schedule.
• You will learn to define the health and developmental needs of adolescents, design strategies to address those needs, and evaluate the effectiveness of adolescent health policies and programmes.
• You will complete an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE), such as a community-led project, narrative review, or independent research leading to a thesis. Your ILE final project will be on a topic of your choosing and tailored to your personal interests and professional goals.
• When you leave this programme, you will have the necessary knowledge and skills to work with and on behalf of adolescents, and to promote and improve the health of adolescents locally, nationally, and globally 

Employment and career opportunities

The MSc in Adolescent Health arms students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to make a difference on the health and well-being of adolescents in their community and around the globe. Our students learn about the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional needs of adolescents and further their understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by this age group. Through our rigorous curriculum, students develop their critical thinking, analytic, communication, leadership, decision-making, and key public health skills. Graduates are prepared to work in a vast array of organisations both nationally and internationally including health care, consulting firms, departments of health and education, hospitals, not-for-profit organisations, schools, universities, and many, many more.

When you complete this programme, you’ll be able to:

• Appraise the developmental changes that occur during adolescence
• Identify the emotional and physical needs of adolescents and apply them to practice
• Demonstrate an understanding of common physical and mental health illnesses/conditions in adolescents- aetiology, their management, and their impact on daily living
• Demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate strategies required to optimize effective communication with adolescents
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the complexity of the needs, challenges and abilities of adolescents

By the end of this course, students are expected to aqcuire the following skills:

• Planning and conducting adolescent-based research
• Effectively communicating with adolescents, applying evidence-based communication frameworks
• Outlining and ability to critically evaluate the professional role and responsibilities associated with the provision of services to adolescents

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.

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. 

Professor Michal Molcho
Discipline of Children’s Studies
School of Education
E: Michal.Molcho@universityofgalway.ie