Who is this course for?

Diabetes is a professional development programme designed for clinicians, nursing staff, and allied health professionals involved in the care of patients with diabetes. Its purpose is to deepen understanding of diabetes as a chronic condition, enhance recognition of its key features, and support best practices in optimising patient care. 

This fully online course is delivered over two semesters, providing a steady and structured learning pathway. It emphasises the multidisciplinary nature of diabetes management and the multisystemic impact of the disease. 

The programme is delivered by national experts with international research profiles, all based at the Galway University Hospital Diabetes Centre. 

As you know, the Chronic Disease Management Programme plays a crucial role in supporting structured care and providing remuneration for chronic disease management in general practice. This course significantly upskills clinicians working within that framework, equipping them to manage this patient group more effectively, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes. 

What will I study? 

The Diabetes programme runs over two semesters, beginning in September and continuing through to April of the following academic year. This extended structure supports steady learning and effective consolidation of knowledge, which is essential given the multisystemic nature of diabetes and the complexity of comprehensive care. 

The course covers both therapeutic and non-therapeutic approaches, as well as the wide-ranging impacts of diabetes on cardiovascular health, kidney function, podiatry, and ophthalmology. It also explores the growing role of medical technologies in disease monitoring, including blood glucose monitoring devices. 

This fully online programme consists of 10 units, each delivered by an expert tutor. Every unit includes an online discussion forum and a fortnightly live tutorial, ensuring continuous engagement and support throughout the course. The ten units are as follows: 

1. Diagnosis of diabetes
2. Diabetes control & monitoring; self-management education
3. Structured diabetes care
4. Lifestyle modification
5. Therapeutics of diabetes- glucose-lowering agents
6. Therapeutics of diabetes- insulin
7. Acute complications of diabetes; driving and travel for patients with diabetes
8. Preventing cardiovascular disease in diabetes
9. Preventing diabetic eye, kidney and foot disease
10. Diabetes and pregnancy. 

Curriculum Information

1. Expert-Led Instruction
   This course is delivered by clinical leads and thought leaders in diabetes care. All educators are clinicians based in the Diabetes Centre at Galway University Hospital, each with specialised expertise aligned to key components of this multidisciplinary programme
2. Interdisciplinary, Cohort-Based Online Learning
   Participants join a diverse learning community that reflects the multidisciplinary nature of diabetes care. Students come from a range of professional backgrounds- including medicine, nursing, nutrition, and public health- as well as from varied geographic locations, enriching the overall learning experience.
3. Practical, Competency-Focused Training
   The programme equips candidates with the practical skills needed to deliver high-quality diabetes care in both community and hospital settings. Learners develop competence in diagnosis, screening, behavioural change, therapeutic management (including lifestyle interventions), and the recognition and management of comorbidities associated with this multisystemic condition.
4. Educational Progression Pathway
   This stand-alone module serves as the clinical component of the Master’s in Diabetes. Completion of the module enables candidates to progress toward the full Master’s degree, supporting further academic and career development.
5. Specialist Led:
   Workshops are specialist-led and a key component of each workshop are case based discussions.
6. Collaborative Community:
   With the introduction of the Diabetes Cycle of Care Contract, the burden of chronic disease management is now recognised and remunerated in General Practice. 
7. Develop professional expertise:
   Competency in delivering a comprehensive management plan for their diabetic patients and improve the overall care of this patient group.
8. Master Core Concepts:
   Develop the knowledge and confidence to deliver an effective management plan based on up to date resources and support from multi-professional specialists from the diabetic patient group in general practice.

We believe our graduates are competent in delivering a comprehensive management plan for their diabetic patients and improve the overall care of this patient group. 

The focus of the course has led to significant advances in practice in how participants deliver their care to their diabetic patient group in primary care. Such advances include the development of a diabetic register and a recall system, use of in-practice diabetic clinics and the use of audit to monitor and improve care. Support from local specialists in diabetes care in this course also establishes a good link between the general practitioner, the practice nurse and secondary care. 

This course is fully accredited for CPD and also includes the CPD requirement for an audit. 

Specialist training in diabetes at postgraduate level will demonstrate an academic commitment to diabetes care and therefore will allow the graduate to be competitive in pursing future healthcare opportunities. ion.  

This course is fully accredited for CPD and also includes the CPD requirement for an audit.

This module will be delivered by experts in diabetic care through online distance learning and workshops.

• Professor Francis Finnucane
• Ciara Heverin
• Helen Burk
• Professor Derek O Keeff
• Eva Flyn
• Dr Lyle McVicke
• Aine Cunningham
• Dr Nuria Farre
• Dr Aonghus O Loughlin

This course runs for three months from September to December. This is a fully online course consisting of ten distance learning units supported by two online clinical workshop days. This course will be delivered by experts in diabetic care through online distance learning and workshops. 

This course consists of ten online learning units supported by two online clinical workshop days. Each unit lasts 1-2 weeks and is tutored by a designated specialist. Through online learning with weekly units and two online clinical workshop days the following key areas are covered:  

1. Diagnosis of diabetes
2. Diabetes control & monitoring; self-management education
3. Structured diabetes care
4. Lifestyle modification
5. Therapeutics of diabetes- glucose-lowering agents
6. Therapeutics of diabetes- insulin
7. Acute complications of diabetes; driving and travel for patients with diabetes
8. Preventing cardiovascular disease in diabetes
9. Preventing diabetic eye, kidney and foot disease
10. Diabetes and pregnancy. 

The workshops are specialist-led and a key component of each workshop are case based discussions. The workshops include: 

• Lifestyle and diabetes
• Obesity
• The diabetic foot
• Therapeutics in diabetes, monitoring devices, blood pressure management in diabetes, diabetic emergencies, insulin and pumps
• Behaviour change in chronic diseases
• Diabetes cycle of care, practice IT system support 

How Will I Be Assessed? 

This course will be assessed through online participation and e-tivities and an end-of-course assignment. The breakdown for this assessment is as follows: 

• 45%: continuous assessment (e-tivities and online participation)
• 55%: practice-based assignment on completion of course 

Course queries: 
eva.flynn@universityofgalway.ie 

Programme Director  
Dr. Eva Flynn 
General Practitioner and Assistant Professor, Discipline of General Practice, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, University of Galway  
Clinical Science Institute, University of Galway  
T: + 353 91 494 213  
E: eva.flynn@universityofgalway.ie 

This is an optional section. If you do not complete it, the section will not appear in the accordion.  

As part of the RPL in Higher Education project the RPL team in the University is encouraging Programme Directors provide RPL information. If you have any questions about RPL, please contact:  

Suzanne Golden 
Recognition of Prior Learning Project Lead/ Flexible Learning Development Officer
E: suzanne.golden@universityofgalway.ie 

On successful completion of this course, the learner should be able to: 

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of diabetes, including its pathophysiology, multisystemic effects, and clinical manifestations. 
2. Apply both therapeutic and non-therapeutic approaches to the management of patients with diabetes. 
3. Integrate evidence-based strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of diabetes and its associated comorbidities.
4. Utilise medical technologies, including blood glucose monitoring devices, to support effective disease management.
5. Work effectively in a multidisciplinary team, recognising the roles of various healthcare professionals in diabetes care.
6. Critically evaluate and apply clinical guidelines, research, and best practices to improve patient outcomes.
7. Demonstrate competency in patient education, behavioural change support, and lifestyle interventions.
8. Reflect on experiential learning to inform clinical decision-making and professional development.
9. Communicate clinical knowledge effectively through both written and oral presentations, individually and in group settings. 

Minimum Entry Requirement

Allied health care practitioners that are currently involved in the care of patients with diabetes, including general practitioners, practice nurses, hospital-based nurses, dietiticians and podiatrists, are welcome to apply. 

Academic entry requirements standardised per country are available here.  

English Language Entry Requirements 

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language proficiency of IELTS score of 6.5 is required (with no less than 6.5 in Writing and no less than 6.0 in any other band) or equivalent.  

More information on English language test equivalency are available here.  

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.   

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.  

Postgraduate Excellence Scholarships 

This scholarship is valued at €1,500 for EU students applying for full-time taught master's postgraduate courses. You will be eligible if: 

• You have been accepted to a full-time taught master's course at University of Galway,
• You have attained a first class honours (or equivalent) in a Level 8 primary degree.  

An application for the scholarship scheme is required (separate to the application for a place on the programme). The application portal for 2025 is now open and available here. Applications will close on the 30th September 2025. Full details available here.  

Global Scholarships

University of Galway offers a range of merit-based scholarships to students from a number of countries outside of the EU. Visit here for schemes currently available.

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.