Short Courses Content
CPD | Nursing
Dementia Care
This Postgraduate Certificate provides a comprehensive and progressive understanding of dementia, spanning theoretical foundations through to advanced clinical practice.
| Duration | 1 academic year |
| Delivery | Blended |
| Fees from | No Fee |
| Start date | To be confirmed |
Students examine neurobiological, psychological and social dimensions of dementia, alongside ethical, legal and cultural considerations that influence assessment and care. The programme strengthens leadership, reflective practice and evidence-informed decision-making to enhance person-centred care and support for families. It is ideal for nurses working across acute, community, primary care, care home and specialist dementia services who wish to advance their expertise and influence service improvement.
For provisional timetables, please refer to the section below titled Delivery.
Fees
| Commissioned Health Trust | No Fee |
| Self Funding / Fee Paying - 2026/27 | £2,568 |
Tuition fees and other charges are set by the University and are subject to change. | |
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have a professional qualification in Nursing, Midwifery, or Allied Health and Social Care Services. See Selection Criteria for full requirements.
The Programme
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Course Content
This Postgraduate Certificate comprises three 20 credit modules:
Foundations of Dementia Care (Semester 1) – This module explores the theoretical foundations that inform high-quality, evidence-based dementia care. It enables students to develop an advanced understanding of the neuropathological, psychological, social, and environmental dimensions of dementia and to critically analyse how these influence assessment, intervention, and service delivery. Emphasis is placed on translating theory into practice through critical reflection, ethical reasoning, and leadership in person-centred care.
Advanced Dementia Care Practice (Semester 2) - This module enables students to develop and demonstrate advanced competence in the delivery of high-quality, evidence-informed dementia care. It focuses on enhancing clinical decision-making, leadership, and person-centred practice in complex and dynamic care environments. Students will apply research evidence, ethical reasoning, and professional judgement to improve outcomes and experiences for people living with dementia, their families, and carers.
HSN7076 – Evidence Based Practice - Students will examine the principles and seven step process of Evidence Based Practice, including reflection on practice, identifying topics of inquiry, forming searchable clinical questions, locating appropriate evidence sources, interpreting research quality, and evaluating how evidence informs decision making, quality improvement and practice development.
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Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will graduate with a Post Graduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Advanced HealthCare Practice (Dementia Care).
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Delivery
Students should note that delivery may be via blended learning, with a mix of online and face to face classes as detailed within the module timetable on Canvas.
Autumn (AUT) teaching commences w/c Monday, 21 September 2026 (Week 1) and finishes w/c Monday, 14 December 2026 unless otherwise advised.
Spring (SPR) teaching commences w/c Monday, 18 January 2027 (Week 18) and finishes w/c Monday, 27 April 2027 unless otherwise advised.
Venue for first class listed below - thereafter, students should check the Weekly Planner facility on QSIS for remaining venues.
First Semester
(Day)
(Time)
TBC
Second Semester
TBC
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Selection Criteria
Applicants shall normally hold a relevant 2.2 Honours degree or above, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.
Applicants who do not hold a 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) may be considered on a case-by-case basis where they can demonstrate evidence of successful study at Level 6 in a healthcare related subject.
Applicants must provide evidence of at least 20 CAT points at Level 3/6. Certificates must clearly state level of study and credit worthiness in order to meet the entry requirements.
In addition, applicants accessing postgraduate certificates must be working in the relevant clinical area.
International Trained Nurses/Midwives: If you hold an international qualification you will need to provide a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability. This should be obtained prior to submitting your application. You can apply for a statement through the ENIC website: Statement of Comparability (enic.org.uk)
How to apply
We will advertise again in June 2026 for September 2026 entry.
Please complete the form below if you’d like to join our mailing list and be notified when applications reopen.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST - CPAD PROGRAMMES
For any queries, please email cpadsnam@qub.ac.uk.
Please note that these courses are not open to international applicants living outside the UK/ROI.