| Code | PDTST |
|---|---|
| Duration | 24 Months |
| Teaching Mode | Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info. |
| Qualifications | PG Dip |
| NFQ Level | Level 9 |
| Fees | €2,250 per annum See Fees and Costs for full details. |
| Closing Date | Applications open early 2025. Register your interest at the link above to receive info. |
| Next Intake | September 2025 |
| Course Delivery Method | Online |
| Venue | Online |
| Start Date | September 2025 |
Course Outline
Our Postgraduate Diploma in Trauma Studies is delivered by the Department of Criminology at UCC in conjunction with WAVE Trauma Centre in Belfast.
The overall aim of the WAVE Trauma Centre as a cross-community, voluntary, regional organisation is to offer care and support to anyone bereaved, injured or traumatised through the 'Troubles' of Northern Ireland. Since its establishment in 1991, WAVE has offered direct support to over 5,000 individuals. WAVE service delivery includes Advocacy & Casework Services; Complementary Therapies; Counselling & Psychotherapy; Outreach Support and Welfare Advice. Other services include Trauma Training; Transgenerational/Youth services and Truth, Justice & Acknowledgement. By bringing the expertise of the WAVE team together with the programme staff in UCC, we aim to deliver a course that will allow students to develop their knowledge and understanding of trauma, both in a theoretical but also in an applied manner.
This course focuses on both the individual and societal implications of trauma and draws on examples and experiences from individuals who survived, and societies emerging from, violent political conflict; however, this is only one aspect of the curriculum that informs our approach. The course deals with trauma as a universal process and the experience of the WAVE team, both in Northern Ireland, in the Balkans and in the UK informs the content and the delivery of this programme. Please see below a short introductory video about the course.
Year 1 (30 credits)
- CR6801 Trauma and Victimology: Key issues, methods and structures (5 credits)
- CR6802 Research Methods (5 credits)
- CR6803 Trauma and Addiction: Key issues, methods and structures (10 credits )
- CR6804 Trauma and Post-traumatic Growth (10 credits)
Year 2 (choose 30 credits)
- CR6805 Complex Loss: Grief, Trauma and Social Context (10 credits)
- CR6806 Social Approaches to Trauma: Family, society and international (10 credits)
- CR6807 Public Health Challenges in Post Conflict Societies (10 credits)
- CR6808 Trauma and Frontline Workers (10 credits)
Course Queries
For Academic Queries and Course Content Queries please contact the Programme Coordinator Joan Cronin at joancronin@ucc.ie
For Online Application Support please click here.
If you require further assistance with your online application please contact the Programme Administrator Louise Fleming at l.fleming@ucc.ie.
Important Notice: Course Registration Deadlines
Once the course has reached full capacity we will no longer be accepting applications.
We strongly recommend early application to secure your place on the course.
Additional Teaching Mode Information
This course is delivered online on Monday evenings with occasional lectures on Thursday evenings.
Course Practicalities
The course will begin with an orientation week. This involves engaging with tutors online, completing a library tutorial online, and familiarising yourself with the online learning platform. Throughout the duration of the course, students will have access to both academic and pastoral support via both ACE and their module tutors.
As a guide, 5-credit modules will involve students engaging with:
- Self-directed study (self-directed learning with online programme materials)
- Online moderated activities - personal online tutoring and online group discussion
- Written assignments
- Reading and reflective practice
We recommend that students set aside approximately 10-15 hours a week over the course of a 12-week semester (depending on if the module is 5 or 10 credits).
This course is not a practise based course, but does address issues that some participants may find upsetting and triggering. Given this, it must be noted that the course is not delivered in a therapeutic environment and students should be mindful of the impact engaging in some topics may have on their own well-being.
Assessment
All modules on this course are based on a continuous assessment model. Assessments will include essays, reflective work, case studies and research projects.
Who Teaches this Course
- Dr Orla Lynch (UCC Programme Academic Director)
- Ms Yasmine Ahmed (UCC)
Why Choose This Course
This course is designed and delivered by University College Cork and the WAVE Trauma Centre Northern Ireland. WAVE is a grassroots, cross-community, voluntary organisation formed in 1991 to support people bereaved of a spouse as a result of violence in Northern Ireland. It was expanded later to incorporate the needs of children and young people and anyone injured or traumatised through ‘the Troubles’. WAVE has also worked in international conflict contexts. This course is academically grounded in trauma theory, however, it draws heavily on the research and experiences of its teaching team who have worked extensively with conflict-related trauma. Although there is primarily a focus on conflict trauma, this is set in the context of wider trauma theories within the field of trauma studies. The course focuses on a psycho-social framework for understanding trauma which captures the breadth of responses to trauma in situations of complex, repeated, and/or enduring traumatic experience.
Trauma is so often assumed to be an individualised experience. The true cost of trauma is however much higher as the relatives of those suffering from trauma also experience the impact of the phenomenon. Trauma provokes ill health, disrupts family relationships, impairs functioning, leads to substance abuse, and in some cases when grief becomes intolerable, leads to suicide. This course brings together an experienced team of academics and practitioners in order to address the complexity of trauma and investigate the means through which both the individual and society can be relieved of its impact.
Requirements
- Candidates must hold an honours (NFQ level 8) primary degree with a minimum 2H2 in a relevant discipline. Relevant disciplines include, but are not restricted to: psychology, sociology, criminology, social work, counselling, conflict studies, women's studies, epidemiology, medicine and nursing
- Candidates without an NFQ level 8 award are eligible to apply, subject to the approval of the programme Academic Director if they can demonstrate at least three years professional experience in a related field – examples include (but are not restricted to) therapeutic practice, community work/engagement experience, government/policy experience and medical/para-medical experience
- English Language Requirement; Please see here PG English Language Entry Requirements | UCC | University College Cork | Ireland
- Technical Requirements: To access and interact with the course content, assignments and assessments etc. students will require access to at least a PC/ Laptop running Windows 7 or later and Mac OSX 10.7.4. Common plug-ins such as Microsoft Silverlight, Java, and Flash will also be required. Students must have access to MS Office or an equivalent suite of applications such as Libre Office. They must also have access to a modern standards-compliant web browser. UCC recommends either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox
- To engage productively and successfully with the content, basic technical computer skills such as familiarity with word processing, web browsing, and email are recommended.
Fees and Costs
€2,250 per annum
On application, students pay 50% of the fees. The remainder is due by January 31st.
For further information on fees and financial supports please click here.
How To Apply
To Apply for this course please follow the steps below:
When you log into the Application Portal:
Click Apply Online
Select Start a new Adult & Continuing Education Application
During your online application you will be required to upload the following documents:
- Application Statement
- Birth Cert or Passport
- Passport Photo
- Curriculum Vitae
- Fee Declaration Document
- English Language Requirement
- Transcripts [if applicable]