UCD Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences Undergraduate Course Entry 2025
UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems
Scoil Na nAltrachta, an Chnáimhseachais agus na gCóras Sláinte UCD
BSc (Hons) Mental Health
BSc (Hons) Midwifery
UNDERGRADUATE
COURSE ENTRY
Does this sound like you?
• You enjoy working with people and helping others.
• You are a good communicator.
• You are an adrenaline seeker and like fast paced environments.
• You work well with others and with a team.
• You have a curious mind and are fascinated by people.
• You have an interest in biology and the workings of the body.
• You have good analytical skills and are a problem solver.
Studying UCD Nursing or Midwifery
YEAR 1 Engage with the principles
Biological Sciences CORE SUBJECT
Social Sciences CORE SUBJECT
Nursing or Midwifery Science Practice Placement (Hospital & Community)
Behavioural Sciences CORE SUBJECT
YEARS 2&3 Develop your knowledge & skills for clinical practice
Biological Sciences CORE SUBJECT
Social
Optional Year 2 Erasmus+ Programme (9 weeks) Nursing or Midwifery Science
YEAR 4 & 4.5 Prepare for professional practice
Nursing or Midwifery Science Practice Placement (Hospital placement including 36-week Internship)
BSc Nursing/Midwifery (Honours)
Practice Placement (Specialist, Hospital & Community Placements)
MSc (Midwifery)
MSc (Research) Lecturer
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
BSC (HONS) General Nursing
Why is this course for me?
Do you have good communication skills and have an analytical, problem-solving mind? Are you caring, empathetic and a team player?
If so, the BSc. in General Nursing in UCD is the ideal career choice for you. Our innovative degree course is taught by experienced lecturers in a friendly and supportive environment with state-of-the art facilities. It prepares you to become a Registered General Nurse who can work collaboratively to successfully manage the complex healthcare needs of the adult population.
What will I study?
You will study the theory and practice of nursing in a fully integrated way, establishing a strong foundation for your future career. Your lectures, workshops, clinical skills laboratories, and tutorials are delivered on our Belfield campus. Practice placements will enhance your learning and consolidate your knowledge and develop your nursing skills.
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
Completing this degree qualifies you as a Registered General Nurse. You can work in acute and chronic care in a variety of settings. There are career prospects for nurses to work in education, research or leadership/management, as well as excellent opportunities to build on your experience through work abroad. You can pursue further studies at higher diploma, graduate diploma, Masters and PhD level.
CAO Code DN450
CAO Points 2024 410
Length of Course 4 years
Places 164
Practice Placement Yes
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Leaving
Certificate Entry Requirements
O6/H7 in English, Irish, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject and two other recognised subjects.
Applicants who have previously failed to meet programme requirements in any Nursing or Midwifery programme or have any issues that would affect their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) will not normally be eligible.
Other School Leaving Examinations www.ucd.ie/admissions
Level 5 / 6 QQI-FET www.ucd.ie/FET
Mature Entry Route www.ucd.ie/ maturestudents
DARE Entry Route www.myucd.ie/dare
HEAR Entry Route www.myucd.ie/hear
YEAR 1
YEAR 2&3
MODULES INCLUDE: PLACEMENTS INCLUDE:
• Academic writing and reading in nursing and midwifery
• Foundations of nursing
• Scientific principles for healthcare
• Psychology and communication
• Medical-surgical nursing care
• Pharmacology
• Aging & health
• Ethical & legal context for practice
• Patient safety and microbiology
• Population health, diversity & research
• Practice placement in a hospital setting for approximately 11 weeks
• Core and specialist practice placement such as intensive care and maternity care
YEAR 4
• Preparing for internship
• Health, psychology & sociology
• Leadership & management
• Evidence-based practice in healthcare
• Nursing complex needs
• Practice placement and clinical internship which runs over 36 weeks
Assessment
Assessment is through a combination of end-of-trimester exams and continuous assessment, including assessment of performance on practice placements.
Professional Clinical Experience
Practice Placements, which form a significant part of the course are completed primarily in the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group or the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, and in numerous other clinical sites. The practice placement locations are centres of excellence, where you will work with multidisciplinary teams to provide high quality, patientcentred care. Students can be placed in any site on one or multiple occasions during their programme to enable them to achieve the necessary clinical learning outcomes.
Hear from BSc (Hons) General Nursing student Aliyah Sanusi
BSC (HONS)
Children’s and General
Why is this course for me?
Are you passionate about caring for all ages and impacting their lives positively during illness? If you are compassionate, resilient, reliable, a team player with a problem-solving mind, your journey as a student Children’s and General Nurse starts here!
Experience our innovative degree course, delivered by experienced lecturers in a supportive environment with state-of-the-art facilities. Embark on your journey to become a Registered Children’s and General Nurse, equipped to collaboratively address the intricate healthcare needs of infants, children, young people and adults.
What will I study?
You will study the theory and practice of children’s and general nursing in a fully integrated way, establishing a strong foundation for your future career. Your lectures, workshops, clinical skills laboratories, and tutorials are delivered on our Belfield campus. Practice placements take place in a variety of children’s and general healthcare settings, which will enhance your learning and consolidate your knowledge and develop your nursing skills.
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
Completing this degree qualifies you as both a Registered General Nurse and a Registered Children’s Nurse. Your future professional role can extend beyond clinical practice to encompass education, research and leadership/ management. There are also excellent work and travel opportunities in Ireland and throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Your continuing professional education may also include studies at Higher Diploma, Graduate Diploma, Masters and PhD level.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements
O6/H7 in English, Irish, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject and two other recognised subjects.
Applicants who have previously failed to meet programme requirements in any Nursing or Midwifery programme or have any issues that would affect their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) will not normally be eligible.
Other School Leaving Examinations
www.ucd.ie/admissions
Level 5 / 6 QQI-FET www.ucd.ie/FET
Mature Entry Route
www.ucd.ie/ maturestudents
DARE Entry Route www.myucd.ie/dare
HEAR Entry Route www.myucd.ie/hear
YEAR 1
YEAR 2&3
MODULES INCLUDE: PLACEMENTS INCLUDE:
• Academic writing and reading in nursing and midwifery
• Foundations of general & children's nursing
• Scientific principles for healthcare
• Psychology and communication
• Medical-surgical nursing care of the adult and the child
• Pharmacology
• Growth & development of the child
• Aging & health
• Community care & service of the child
• Ethical & legal context for practice
• Patient safety and microbiology
• Population health, diversity & research
YEAR
4&4.5
Assessment
• Preparing for internship
• Health, psychology & sociology
• Leadership & management
• Evidence-based practice in healthcare
• Nursing complex needs
Assessment is through a combination of end-of-trimester exams and continuous assessment, including assessment of performance on practice placements.
Professional Clinical Experience
The majority of practice learning takes place in our affiliated partner hospitals, all of which are national specialist centres of clinical excellence: Children’s Health Ireland (CHI)*, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and St Vincent’s Healthcare Group. Students may be placed on one or multiple occasions during their course to enable them to achieve the necessary clinical learning outcomes.
*During practice placements, students may be placed in any of the Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Group Hospitals which include: CHI at Crumlin, CHI at Temple St, CHI at Tallaght, CHI at Connolly and once it is opened, the new Children’s Hospital.
• Practice placement in a hospital setting for approximately 11 weeks
• Core and specialist practice placements such as intensive care and maternity care
• Practice placement and clinical internship which runs over 39 weeks in children’s and general wards
Hear from BSc (Hons) BSc Children’s and General student Roberta Liuleikyte
BSC (HONS) Mental Health
Why is this course for me?
If you want to care for the psychological, social, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of others, becoming a mental health nurse is the first step towards a highly rewarding career. This exciting degree prepares you to meet the mental health needs of adults and their families in the 21st century. You will study on campus and across a wide range of mental health services. You will develop the skills to engage with those suffering mental distress or illness, as well as their families, in a positive and collaborative way, empowering them to cope and recover.
What will I study?
You will study a diverse range of subjects related to understanding others emotionally, psychologically, physically, spiritually and socially. You will learn how to communicate in a therapeutic way and to support and assist people to self-manage their recovery.
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
Successful completion of this degree course qualifies you as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Upon registration, you can work in acute and community settings. Future professional career opportunities extend to leadership/management, clinical specialisation, research and education. You can pursue further education at postgraduate and PhD level.
CAO Code DN453
CAO Points 2024 367
Length of Course 4 years
Places 39
Practice Placement Yes
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements
O6/H7 in English, Irish, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject and two other recognised subjects.
Applicants who have previously failed to meet programme requirements in any Nursing or Midwifery programme or have any issues that would affect their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) will not normally be eligible.
Other School Leaving Examinations www.ucd.ie/admissions
Level 5 / 6 QQI-FET www.ucd.ie/FET
Mature Entry Route www.ucd.ie/ maturestudents
DARE Entry Route www.myucd.ie/dare
HEAR Entry Route www.myucd.ie/hear
YEAR 1
YEAR 2&3
MODULES INCLUDE: PLACEMENTS INCLUDE:
• Academic writing and reading
• Foundations in mental health nursing A & B
• Scientific principles 1 & 2
• Introduction to psychology & communication
• Mental health across the lifespan
• Specialist care groups
• Pharmacology
• Patient safety & microbiology
• Health promotion
• Aging & health
• Therapeutic interventions 1
• Acute mental illness
YEAR 4
• Therapeutic interventions 2
• Collaborative nursing practice for mental health
• Leadership & management
• Evidence based practice
• Health psychology and sociology
• Practice placement
• Practice placement (specialist & core mental health)
• Practice placement and clinical internship
Assessment
Assessment for the course is through a combination of end of trimester exams and continuous assessment. Practice placements are assessed using the National Competence Assessment Document, in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland’s Standards and Requirements.
Professional Clinical Experience
Practice placements form a significant part of the course and are completed primarily in Saint John of God Hospital or Community Healthcare East and in other Dublin and Wicklow based Health Service sites. Students may be placed on one or multiple occasions during their course to enable them to achieve the necessary clinical learning outcomes
Hear from BSc (Hons) Mental Health student Augustina Rivera
BSC (HONS) Midwifery
Why is this course for me?
From the moment a woman becomes pregnant, it is the start of a journey leading to one of life’s greatest miracles: the birth of a baby. The term “midwife” means “with woman”. If you are interested in working with women, their newborn babies and their families during pregnancy and childbirth, then midwifery is the career choice for you. The focus and philosophy of midwifery in UCD is the promotion of women-centred care.
What will I study?
The initial focus is on the foundational knowledge and skills required for midwifery practice. Each year, these will be developed and strengthened through theory and practice. In your final year, you will also focus on professional issues.
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
Successful completion of your degree entitles you to register as a Registered Midwife (RM) with The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)*. On registration, career opportunities are available to you in both hospital and community settings in Ireland and abroad, including Europe, Australia and New Zealand. You can pursue further specialist qualifications through graduate diplomas, Masters and PhD degrees.
*Registration in Ireland does not automatically provide a licence to practise abroad.
CAO Code DN452
CAO Points 2024 519
Length of Course 4 years
Places 21
Practice Placement Yes
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements
O6/H7 in English, Irish, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject and two other recognised subjects. Applicants who have previously failed to meet programme requirements in any Nursing or Midwifery programme or have any issues that would affect their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) will not normally be eligible.
Other School Leaving Examinations www.ucd.ie/admissions
Level 5 / 6 QQI-FET www.ucd.ie/FET
Mature Entry Route www.ucd.ie/ maturestudents
DARE Entry Route www.myucd.ie/dare
HEAR Entry Route www.myucd.ie/hear
YEAR 1
YEAR 2&3
• Essence of midwifery practice
• Scholarship of enquiry
• Anatomy, sciences & physiology
• Psychology related to the profession of midwifery
• Communication & interpersonal skills
• Midwifery practice during normal pregnancy & childbirth
• Complexities in pregnancy & childbirth
• Complexities of the newborn
• Pharmacology
• Patient safety
• Ethical & legal aspects of midwifery practice
• Practice placement in a hospital setting for 11 weeks
YEAR 4
• Research, leadership & management
• Obstetric emergencies
• Enhancing knowledge & clinical skills for midwifery practice
• Practice placement in specialist areas
• Practice placement and clinical internship
Assessment
Assessment is through a combination of end-of-trimester exams and continuous assessment, including assessment of performance on practice placements.
Professional Clinical Experience
Practice Placements, which form a significant part of the course, are completed across a number of sites. You will attend practice placements in the internationally renowned National Maternity Hospital (NMH) and a linked maternity unit e.g. in Wexford General, Regional Hospital Mullingar and St Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny. Students will be placed on one or multiple occasions during their course to enable them to achieve the necessary clinical learning outcomes.
Hear from BSc (Hons) Midwifery student
Katie Lee
Breakdown of Practice Placement and Theory
Note: The breakdown of theory and clinical hours is subject to change.
International Study Opportunities
In second year, trimester 2, you have the opportunity to study in Europe for a trimester. See www.ucd.ie/nmhs/courses/international/erasmusexchange
Get in touch with our International Programme Manager Paddy Glennon paddy.glennon@ucd.ie or +353 1 716 6432.
Note: Placements are subject to the host institution being able to facilitate placement weeks.
Our Clinical Partners
GET IN TOUCH
UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems Office Room B106, Health Science Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4.
t: +353 1 716 6407 or +353 1 716 6569 e: grainne.connor@ucd.ie or tina.saul@ucd.ie w: www.ucd.ie/nmhs
@ucdsnmhs @snmhs.official @snmhs.official
This booklet is intended to assist prospective UCD students and the information is given in good faith. It is not, however, an official publication of the university and does not bind the university in any way. The information provided in this booklet is correct at the time of going to press but degree programmes are subject to continuing development in line with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland Midwifery Registration Programmes Standards and Requirements. The university reserves the right to make changes at any time, before or after a student’s admission.
