UCC Adult courses

Mindfulness Based Wellbeing Online/Blended - MSc

Course Fact File
CodeMSCMBW
DurationTwo years
Teaching ModePart-Time
QualificationsMSc
NFQ LevelLevel 9
Fees€10,000 Year 1: 5,200 Euro. Year 2: Part One 1,200 Euro Part 2: 3,600 Euro See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date20th June 2024
Next IntakeSeptember 2024
Venue

UCC Campus / Online Blended

Start DateSeptember 2024

Course Outline

This MSc in Mindfulness Based Wellbeing trains students to teach mindfulness in schools, the workplace and in everyday life. Mindfulness can assist with developing greater resilience, stress reduction and self-regulation while at the same time developing greater self-awareness and better engagement with people, teams, challenges and opportunities.

Year one of this programme explores the foundations of mindfulness and examines the eastern philosophy of mindfulness and how it engages with western psychology. It explores the central themes incorporated in Mindfulness Based interventions and develops an appreciation for their inclusion. The attitudes of mindfulness are explored while the student is challenged to reflect on and contextualise the role of mindfulness practice in everyday settings and particularly in their own life and in their own personal mindfulness practice. Part one offers the student the opportunity to choose between receiving training on the teaching of mindfulness in school settings or in Organisational / workplace settings.

Year two of the programme explores the role of self-compassion in mindfulness while also exploring Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT). It examines the role of mindfulness in the therapeutic setting and in the building and maintaining of productive relationships. Finally the student is trained to teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT / MBSR). Please see below a short introductory video on the course. 

Course Details

YEAR 1 

AP6811 Foundations of Mindfulness (10 Credits)

AP6812 Mindfulness Teaching and Personal Practice (15 Credits)

And either:                            

AP6813 Teaching Mindfulness in Schools (20 credits)

                                    or

AP6814 Teaching Mindfulness in the Workplace (20 credits)

 

YEAR 2 PART 1

AP6815 Mindfulness Based Interventions and Relationships (15 Credits)

 

YEAR 2 PART 2

AP6816 Research dissertation on the Teaching of MBCT / MBSR (30 Credits)

 

Course Queries

For Academic Queries, Programme timetable and Course Content Queries please contact the Programme Coordinators:

Pat O Leary at p.oleary@ucc.ie,  087 3298052

For Online Application Support please click here. 

If you require further assistance with your online application please contact the Programme Administrator Noreen Delea at n.delea@ucc.ie. 

 

Course Practicalities

Lectures are delivered over weekends / evening classes / day workshops. There is continuous assessment in the form of assignments and mindfulness logs. Garda vetting will be completed. Weekend lectures in year one (four in total) and a year two retreat will be face-to-face. All other evening and day workshops will be delivered online. (Year two retreat will cost approximately €250 in addition to fees for food, accomodation etc).

Evening classes online will generally take place on a Monday or Friday evening from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

Why Choose This Course

This programmes trains the student to teach mindfulness in schools or in the workplace and to teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy programmes (MBSR / MBCT). The Post Graduate Certificate will equip the student to teach mindfulness in schools or in workplace settings in year one while in year two the Post-graduate Diploma further deepens knowledge and practice. Completion of the MSc trains students to teach the full MBSR or MBCT programmes in both face to face and online settings. This MSc brings together a team of lectures with extensive experience in the delivery of mindfulness training in diverse settings and to a wide range of audiences. The fostering of wellbeing in schools is now a central value in educational settings. The workplace too is increasingly conscious of the duty of care which it has for all of its employees. Having a mindfulness trainer as part of a staff offers a cost effective way of providing wellbeing support to employees in the workplace or to students in schools. Classes are delivered at evenings, over weekends, one day workshops and during a residential training retreat. Students on this programme not only develop a strong personal practice but also learn to teach mindfulness and to facilitate mindfulness groups. Students should have access to a group with whom they can deliver mindfulness training as part of their preparation in year one and two.

 

Skills and Careers Information

On completion of this MSc programme the student will have learned the skills required to teach mindfulness training in a diverse range of settings. This training prepares the student to engage with wellbeing within their current place of work or to deliver training in Mindfulness Based Interventions including in wellbeing to other audiences.

This programme will support you to develop your own private mindfulness practice and, as a consultant practitioner, to identify and research areas of specialisation that complement your particular area of interest within the mindfulness domain. 

Requirements

Applicants should:

  • Normally hold a level eight honours degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Mindfulness Based Practice (Level 9) or equivalent qualification within a relevant field such as health care, education, social care, family care or workplace development. Applicants whose primary degree is not within these disciplines may still apply if they have at least five years of relevant professional experience within within a relevant field such as health care, education, social care, family care or workplace development.All applicants must also:
  • Have completed a teacher-led 8-week mindfulness course (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction)
  • Have a regular meditation practice of mindfulness meditation, preferably as taught in MBSR and MBCT.

An interview forms an important element in assessing a candidate’s suitability for the programme, final decision on the inclusion of a candidate onto the programme will be determined by this process.

Fees and Costs

Total MSc: 10,000 Euro.

Year 1:  5,200 Euro. Year 2: Part One 1,200 Euro  Part 2:  3,600 Euro

For further information on fees and financial supports please click here

How To Apply

Applicants need to be aware of the IT student checklist below before applying:

  • You will need access to a laptop or desktop computer running a modern supported operating system with all software updates.
  • Some of UCC’s services (e.g. the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment) link to an external site and also have mobile apps for iOS and Android Devices that you may wish to use as part of your studies.  However, we recommend using your desktop web browser for submission of assessments.
  • You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. In general, we recommend the Chrome Web browser (Important Note: Internet Explorer will not work with Canvas).
  • We recommend a reliable broadband connection with at least 2Mbps or more.
  • You will require an Office suite of software (Microsoft Office or equivalent) and a PDF reader. You should always use the latest version of this software.  All UCC students will have access to Office 365 which includes software such as Word/Excel/Powerpoint etc. once registered.

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 

On the 2nd tab Academic Level 
 
Select the following options:
 
Academic Level: Adult Continuing Education (ACE at UCC)
Course Type:  ACE Part-time Courses
Academic Programme: The course title you are applying for.
 

During your online application you will be required to upload the following documents:

  • Application Statement
  • Birth Cert or Passport
  • Passport Photograph 
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • English Language Test Report [if applicable]
  • Transcripts [if applicable]
  • 50% of the fees are required to complete your application. 



 

Year 1 Modules

Year 2 Modules

Year 3 Modules

Year 4 Modules

For queries regarding course content or timetables please contact

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