MSc Loss & Bereavement and MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice)
The MSc Loss & Bereavement and MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice) is a collaborative programme from Irish Hospice Foundation and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
The final places remain for the MSc Loss & Bereavement programmes commencing this September. Applicants are invited to apply by the extended deadline of July 26, 2024. Applications can be accessed and completed on the RCSI website.
Testimonials
Dr Cathal Delaney
Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor and RCSI Lecturer
MSc Loss & Bereavement 2021 – 2023
"The MSc in Loss and Bereavement has been an incredibly rewarding experience both personally and professionally. Working as a non-consultant hospital doctor, the learning during the master’s has deepened my knowledge of bereavement and increased my confidence in recognising grief and supporting patients and families experiencing loss. The teaching staff are extremely supportive, and I am very grateful to my classmates for the shared learning and collaboration. I would highly recommend this master’s to any healthcare professional."
Deirdre Callis
I.A.C.P. accredited Therapist and Supervisor | Head of Family Support Service
MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice) 2021 – 2023
Working within the charity sector as Head of Services for families with rare genetic disorder has allowed me to develop an insight into loss like never before. … We as an organisation have been able to apply the learning from the MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice) at a strategic level with the design and introduction of a new bereavement policy. We have introduced new supports for the team, and I have been able to apply key interventions at clinical level. I would highly recommend this master’s to any counsellor/psychologist or service working within the community and believe the more professionals who are engaging and learning about the topic of bereavement and loss will add such value at many levels.
About the Course
Loss and bereavement are universal life experiences. While they have been the subject of major scientific and social study over the past 30 years, the application of our new knowledge lags behind. These postgraduate programmes are designed to impact on health, social and community systems and ultimately to enhance quality of life. They are rooted in contemporary scientific research as well as being designed against a policy and professional regulation backdrop. There is an increasing impetus with Irish policy and legislative makers to develop competencies in loss/bereavement and discussions about dying. Our programmes address some of the educational needs associated with these competencies.
This programme offers two distinct pathways:
- MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice): The clinical practice pathway is for those working therapeutically with bereaved people.
- MSc Loss & Bereavement: The second pathway is a general education route for participants who work in other areas of bereavement care including education, management, policy and support. This structure is to bundle modules into clear exit qualifications ranging from Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma to MSc.
For MSc Loss & Bereavement, applications are invited from representatives of a wide range of professional disciplines who wish to develop a deeper understanding of loss and grief at individual and societal level or whose work/volunteering roles involve the organisation of bereavement support in community, health or other areas of general bereavement care.
For MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice), applications are invited from mental health professionals, such as counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, social worker bereavement coordinators and others who design and implement clinical bereavement interventions as part of their practice.
Download the Course Brochure for more details on the course structure.
The courses are part-time over two years. There are seven modules in year one (5 at 10 credits, two at 5 credits) and a dissertation in year two. A 10-credit module consists of 250 hours of learning including lecture time, self-directed learning, course preparation, examination time, and supervision. The two-year programme equates to 90 credits and it is devised to support Level 9 learning outcomes.
These programmes aim to promote critical inquiry into the place of loss, death and bereavement in Irish society and in health and social care systems. Through this process, we aim to equip practitioners and managers to promote and provide a range of appropriate supports in their communities, work places and professional practices.
A range of assessment methods will be employed. These include written coursework, reaction papers and a dissertation/work-based project in year two.
This is an RCSI programme, run in association with Irish Hospice Foundation. It is accredited by RCSI and National University of Ireland as a Level 9 qualification.
MSc Loss & Bereavement
Applicants must possess a Level 8 degree in a relevant area or equivalent demonstrated through a defined Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
RPL requires demonstration of significant professional experience in social/health care in a loss/bereavement related area or as a bereavement support volunteer; completion of CPD and other training relevant to loss and bereavement; evidence of personal insight into loss history.
MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice)
The participants on this course will be mental health professionals, such as counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, social worker bereavement coordinators and others who design and implement clinical bereavement interventions as part of their practice.
All candidates must possess
Current accreditation/membership through a national body overseeing counselling/psychotherapy/psychology or other relevant clinical practice, and a relevant Level 8 degree (or equivalent as demonstrated through RPL). RPL involves demonstration of formal training in counselling/ psychotherapy; significant professional experience, including client caseload, in loss/bereavement related work; clinical supervision and evidence of personal insight into loss and bereavement.
All candidates must fulfil the NUI entry requirements or be eligible for matriculation.
An academic transcript will be requested. An academic transcript lists your complete academic history: programmes attended, a breakdown of marks/grades achieved, the degree awarded, your overall grade and conferring date.
International degrees’ equivalency is to be verified by using the NARIC service from QQI.
All modules must be successfully completed before a candidate can progress to the subsequent year of the programme.
Applicants MUST APPLY ON LINE. Applications can be accessed and completed on the RCSI website by July 26, 2024.
When applying on the RCSI website, please select the correct pathway, either MSc Loss & Bereavement OR MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice). Applications submitted to the wrong pathway will need to be resubmitted.
Applications will be processed through Irish Hospice Foundation, and final selection may be based on interview. In completing your application form, please provide full details of your experience and potential to apply learning in your work or volunteering role. This application form will be used for selection purposes.
Please email Jennifer Leech if you have any questions on the application process: [email protected].
For the MSc Loss & Bereavement, applications are invited from representatives of a wide range of professional disciplines who wish to develop a deeper understanding of loss and grief at individual and societal level or whose work/volunteering roles involve the organisation of bereavement support in community, health or other areas of general bereavement care. We welcome applications from a diverse range of professionals, including psychologists, chaplains, bereavement midwives, social workers, nurses, doctors, teachers, emergency first responders, among others.
For the MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice), applications are invited from mental health professionals such as counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, healthcare workers, nurses, social workers, bereavement coordinators and others who design and implement clinical bereavement interventions as part of their practice.
Please note: These are not the only roles we consider. We are open to applicants from a variety of backgrounds and occupations.
If you’re considering applying but don’t know if the programme is right for you, please contact:
Jennifer Leech
Education Administrator, Irish Hospice Foundation
[email protected]
01 679 3188
For EU students (non EU students, please contact for rates).
A non-refundable deposit of €1,000 is required on acceptance.
Year 1 fees: €5,000
Year 2 fees: €5,000
Cancellations up to three weeks prior to the course commencing will be given a full refund, minus a cancellation fee of €500. Thereafter, no refunds will be made.
Get in Touch
If you have a query regarding the MSc Loss & Bereavement or
MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice), please reach out to:
Jennifer Leech
Education Administrator, Irish Hospice Foundation
[email protected]
01 679 3188
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