Best of the rest: Postgraduate courses

Royal College of Surgeons Ireland

MSc in healthcare management

The MSc in healthcare management is designed to develop health professionals as reflective practitioners, to enhance their skills, confidence and awareness in their management and leadership roles and to apply evidence-based strategies to the development of their organisations.

It develops students’ abilities to challenge assumptions and to question values, beliefs and policies underpinning health and healthcare, at individual and organisational levels.

The course is part-time over two years and costs €12,500. Applicants should have a primary degree and three years of experience in the healthcare sector. Most students are already employed when they come on the programme and seek to progress their careers within and between organisations. Cost: € 12,500 over two years

Griffith College Dublin

MA in journalism and public relations

This is a new course to equip learners with the skills to address the demands of a media industry that is undergoing sustained and systematic change, while also specialising in public relations. The programme concentrates on journalism and public relations from the perspective of a PR content creator and strategic planner who understands the media industry and is able to research, formulate and implement communication plans and strategies.

The course is a one-year, full-time or two-year part-time course. Applicants must have a 2.2 degree and a basic knowledge of the media and PR industries; entry is by interview. Cost: €6,800

Dublin Business School

Master of Business Administration (MBA) with streams

This programme allows students to study for a pure MBA or to choose a specialist route with their MBA award in any of six streams: HRM, project management, finance, information systems, cloud computing or marketing. The course includes advanced theory and practice relating to management. Students need a minimum 2.2 honours degree, an equivalent professional qualification or a Higher Diploma in Business level 8 conversion programme.

Graduates typically progress into positions of management in a diverse range of organisations. Cost: full-time €7,900/ part-time €4,590

St Patrick’s Drumcondra

Master of Education in specific learning difficulties (dyslexia)

This is the first course of its kind in Ireland, and was developed in co-operation with a number of voluntary and statutory organisations. It is designed to improve the skills levels in schools for those working with young people who have dyslexia.

It provides teachers with a high-quality level of professional knowledge and understanding which enables them to teach and assess students with dyslexia or a specific reading or writing difficulty. This qualification is internationally recognised.

Applicants should be qualified primary, secondary or further education teachers and should have a minimum honours 2.2 degree.

The course is offered over two years part time, with classes on Friday evenings and Saturday. Cost: €3,893 pa (with the possibility of an additional €500 charge in year two, to be confirmed)

National College of Art and Design

PhD through practice in design

NCAD offers a range of research-based postgraduates, including an MLitt in education, a PhD in fine art, a PhD in visual culture and a PhD in design. The PhD through practice in design involves producing a body of work within a critically reflective frame of enquiry. Students are expected to make a significant contribution to a major field of research.

The doctorate normally requires a minimum of three years full-time study, but it may take longer. Students undertake practical work and a written text of 20,000 to 40,000 words in this structured programme which requires active engagement with a community of researchers within and beyond NCAD. PhD candidates often work closely with a principal investigator on a major research project.

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2.2 honours degree and proof of recent written work or evidence of recent design work. Cost : €5,400 full-time/ €2,700 part-time

National College of Ireland

MSc in data analytics

This course aims to produce graduates who will be leading practitioners in data analytics, currently a major growth area for Ireland. It is a one-year, full-time course or two years part-time.

The course targets people with both technical and business focused interests in data analytics and is delivered using academic research, industry-defined practical problems and case studies.

It’s particularly suited to graduates with technical or mathematical problem solving skills, so those from disciplines that don’t contain these skill sets will be required to demonstrate their aptitude. Students are required to have a 2.2 honours degree or higher. Cost: €8,950

Hibernia College

Professional Master of Education (PME) in post-primary education

Over the past decade, Hibernia College’s online courses have given the more established providers of teacher education a serious run for their money, with their qualifications highly regarded by schools.

The PME – the recognised postgraduate qualification for post-primary learning – is one of their popular options, combining online content, virtual learning environments and face-to-face delivery.

It’s a QQI level 9 course over 24 months, recognised by the Teaching Council with applications on a rolling basis. Cost: €12,400