2024/2026
At Irish Hospice Foundation,
learning is integral to our mission to
work towards the best end-of-life
and bereavement care, for all.
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Welcome
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never
easy. Grief and bereavement are amongst
the most challenging experiences we will
ever have as human beings. Whether it takes
place over a long period of time or happens Accredited by the Royal College of
unexpectedly, the death of someone close is Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and National
difficult to come to terms with. Often, it’s University of Ireland, our MSc Loss &
only when it happens that we realise how Bereavement and MSc Loss & Bereavement
unprepared we are. Most people will be able (Clinical Practice) are two-year, part-time
to cope within their own social circle, but professional courses.
others, will need someone to support and
guide them. It takes a special kind of person They promote the core skills required for all
to be that someone. Someone who cares, professionals who encounter bereavement
empathises and truly understands, but also or loss in their role, with highly-specialised
someone with very specific skills and a desire grief training based on current evidence
to continually learn. and best practice. A central principle of this
training is our priority on self-care – we
We know the best response to bereavement believe you cannot care for others unless you
spans community, health, social services, have the skills to care for yourself first.
education and voluntary sectors. Our
understanding of grief has changed over In addition to real learning, which you will
recent years and we are better placed to plan be able to apply day-to-day, you will build
for, and provide, appropriate bereavement lasting relationships with other professionals
education and care. Irish Hospice in your community. In joining this
Foundation (IHF) place high value on loss programme, you will also become a member
and bereavement education with two of of our community of graduates including
our seven core strategic pillars dedicated to nurses, social workers, educators, counsellors
(i) bereavement (ii) education and transfer and psychotherapists and will have the
of learning, and we are passionate about support of our Education team over the
providing counsellors, psychotherapists, course of the two-year programme.
psychologists, healthcare workers, nurses
and bereavement co-ordinators with the Paula O’Reilly,
contemporary clinical skills and knowledge CEO, Irish Hospice Foundation
necessary to support clients who have
suffered a bereavement.
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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.
Aine McArdle
Bereavement Support Midwife
MSc Loss & Bereavement 2021 – 2023
Undertaking this MSc Loss and Bereavement was both a challenging and
rewarding experience. … The entire course was based around providing the
student with a deeper insight into bereavement and loss and the impact it has
on the individual, the family and wider society. Gaining an understanding
of the theories of grief and the wider impact it can have has given me more
confidence when I am supporting families experiencing perinatal loss within
my role as a bereavement support midwife.
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Dr Edel Quinn
Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychologist
MSc Loss & Bereavement 2021 - 2023
I frequently encounter bereavement and loss in my professional capacity
and, as such, sought specific training in the area. … The academic staff were
knowledgeable and passionate about the topic and committed to providing
a positive, practical and beneficial learning experience. … In addition, the
opportunity to develop connections with others who work in, or have a
particular interest in, the area of bereavement and loss has been invaluable.
Joan Garvey
Retired Emergency Dept. Nurse
MSc Loss & Bereavement 2021 - 2023
Completing the MSc in Loss and Bereavement has been a deeply enriching and
enjoyable journey for me. … I have gained a profound understanding of grief and
loss through the comprehensive course curriculum, expert guidance and constant
support offered by the staff and my peers. This experience has had a significant
positive impact on me, both personally and professionally. It has equipped me
with the knowledge and skills to offer valuable, informed assistance to those who
may require support in their journey through grief and loss.
Julianna Crowley
Healthcare Chaplain, Cork University Maternity Hospital | Cork
University Hospital
MSc Loss & Bereavement 2021 - 2023
The course provides a spectrum of information from grief theories, counselling
skills, to actively engaging with action research on the ground in a chosen area
of interest. The knowledge I have gained is of immeasurable value that has
enabled me in a professional capacity to become more competent and better
placed to provide the necessary bereavement support to those whom I meet
each day in both an acute healthcare setting and a maternity hospital.
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Background
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. The Royal College of Surgeons
of Ireland (RCSI) postgraduate programmes, in association with Irish Hospice
Foundation (IHF), are designed to impact on health, social and community
systems and ultimately 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 policy1 and
(1) ConnectingLives, 2016;
legislation2 makers to develop competencies in loss/bereavement and discussions
Palliative Care Competence about dying. Our programmes address some of the educational needs associated
Framework, 2014; National with these competencies.
Standards for Bereavement
Care following Pregnancy The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we think about loss and grief,
Loss and Perinatal Death,
2016. from mourning the death of a loved one, loss of significant relationships or
(2) Assisted Decision-Making loss of identity. We have never been so aware of what really matters to us. These
(Capacity) Act, 2015 programmes are designed to deepen the knowledge, skills and understanding of
professionals working in the field, in a supportive environment.
During 2020 we received new accreditation to allow for two distinct pathways.
The clinical practice pathway is for those working therapeutically with bereaved
people. The second pathway is a general education route for participants who
work in other areas of bereavement care including education, management, policy
and support.
These programmes aim to The programme is structured into three exit qualifications: Postgraduate
promote critical inquiry into Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters award.
the place of loss, death and
bereavement in Irish society
and in health and social care
systems. Course Structure
IHF and RCSI are now inviting applications for these part-time postgraduate
programmes delivered over two years.
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 workers, bereavement coordinators and others who design and implement
clinical bereavement interventions as part of their practice.
Modules are aligned into minor awards on the path to the MSc.
These awards are set out in Figures 1 and 2 on the next page and show the
accumulation of credits required for each variant of the MSc.
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Course Details
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Year 1
Loss, grief and bereavement models through the life span
Module Scientific research and conceptualisation of loss, bereavement and
1 grief has developed over the past 30 years – moving from staged
prescriptive understandings to more fluid and social constructionist
models. This module seeks to provide a thorough grounding in
historical, theoretical and contemporary thinking around grief and
loss. The module aims to explore how psychological theory has
evolved to explain, predict and ameliorate the human response to
loss and death.
Counselling in loss and bereavement
Module The core conditions of counselling are relevant to good bereavement
2 care. Basic counselling skills can and should be used by all who seek
to support the bereaved in professional and volunteering capacities.
These core conditions need to be made explicit and linked to our
knowledge about loss and bereavement.
This module will focus on the practical and theoretical aspects of
bereavement counselling and how it pertains to different work roles
and environments. Individual, family and group approaches will be
considered. The module will also provide a structure to facilitate
informed decisions about when and where to refer clients for
professional help.
Applied bereavement practice; preparing the self to work
Module with loss
3a MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice) only.
The module aims to distinguish and clarify the role and personal
responses in respect of bereavement support. It seeks to develop self-
insight into loss, death and a worldview and how these are manifest
in the relationship.
To equip students with advanced skills in self-reflection and self-
preparation. To enable them to stay present in loss and to manage
death anxiety and activation when working with bereaved clients.
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Year 1 (continued)
Organisational staff support and self-care
Module MSc Loss & Bereavement only.
3b Death is universal and comes to us all. Working constantly in the face
of loss and grief has an impact on individual carers. While there are
individual strategies, practices and insights which can be developed to
ameliorate specific stressors, organisations also hold responsibility for
developing healthy workplaces.
The aim of this module is to provide both a theoretical and experiential
basis for the development of self-care and staff care capacity.
Loss, death and bereavement in society
Module Our encounters with death and our experiences of grief and mourning
4 are not static. Contemporary Western death is institutionalised,
primarily happening in hospital and institutional care. Causes of death
shift in line with medical and social developments. Cultural, gender-
based, technological, ethical and political/social justice narratives all
impact on how death and bereavement are interpreted and managed
and individual psychological models are not sufficient to expand our
understanding of loss. New developments such as public health models
of dying and bereavement will be used to examine how death may be
managed in our communities and how compassion may be maximised.
A life-cycle approach will underpin the module.
The module aims to go beyond the individual perspective on loss,
bereavement and death and to examine broader influences on our
behaviour and attitudes.
Research appraisal
Module The research-practice gap is a feature of much social and health
5 research, and similarly is evident in the field of loss and bereavement. A
sound understanding of the limits of research methods and conclusions
and a strong competence in critical appraisal is appropriate to the
development of bereavement care.
This module aims to develop an understanding of research approaches
and to develop critical appraisal skills relating to statements about grief
and bereavement. Research specific to bereavement will be explored
and the contemporary sources identified. The mechanisms, dynamics
and current discourses around evidence-based decision-making and
evidence-based policy making will be explored.
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Year 1 (continued)
Advanced therapeutic practice and practitioner self
Module MSc Loss & Bereavement (Clinical Practice) only
6a A small proportion of the bereaved population experience complicated grief
and these symptoms can be targeted with a range of defined therapeutic
approaches, tested in the research literature.
The module aims to equip with advanced therapeutic techniques and
understanding of treating complicated grief. Further development of the self
will also be supported.
Range of loss and non-finite loss
Module MSc Loss & Bereavement only
6b Loss is an intrinsic feature of change. This module examines common life losses
and how they are theorised and supported.
This module seeks to identify the ways in which loss presents in a range
of situations, not always concerned with death. Specifically mental illness,
dementia, fertility and addiction will be examined with consideration also of
loss of place and role.
Policy and management in bereavement care
Module Bereavement impacts on all citizens of our society and an integrated approach
7 to bereavement care requires strategic direction. Bereavement care should be
integrated into national policy and priority in health and non-health areas. The
need to maximise natural support, to identify those at risk of poor outcomes
and to resource appropriate specialist service underpins a common framework.
This module identifies the broad context of bereavement care at community
and national level. It also identifies and critiques the main modes of
bereavement care, assessment, audit and governance of voluntary organisations.
Specific content is provided for maternity settings. The module aims to uncover
the features of excellent bereavement care at national, local and workplace level.
Year 2
Dissertation
Module The module aims to integrate learning into action, in order to promote the
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development of bereavement care in an area.
This module provides the directive content to prepare the final dissertation of the
MSc. An action research project will be devised, designed and executed.
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Assessment
There are no exams but there will be continuous assessment based on a
range of methods. These include written assignments, reaction papers and
a dissertation/work-based project in year two.
Accreditation
This is an RCSI programme run in association with Irish Hospice Foundation.
It is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the National
University of Ireland as a Level 9 qualification.
Admission Requirements
MSc Loss & Bereavement and associated minor awards PGDip and PGCert
Applicants must have 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) and associated minor awards PGDip
and PGCert
The participants on this course will be mental health professionals such as counsellors,
psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, bereavement coordinators and others who
design and implement clinical bereavement interventions as part of their practice.
Applicants should hold
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.
For all applicants
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.
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Time Commitment
The programme runs from September 2024 to June 2026. One class held online once a month, usually on
Saturday and two class will take place face-to-face over two consecutive days (Thursday and Friday) later in the
month. Classes in Year 1 commence at 9:15 am and finish at 5:30pm
Classes for Year 2 are normally held in two day blocks once a month (Mondays and Tuesdays). As the format
is blended, some classes will be face-to-face and others will take place online. The exception to this is at the
beginning of Year 2 (September 2025) where there will be a requirement to attend for three days. These dates
will be made available before September 2025.
Participants are expected to attend all sessions and to devote time to the self-directed learning and assignments
associated with the programme.
While contact hours or lectures make up 30 hours per module, this course is designed relative to the QQI and ECT
systems. A guideline of 250 student hours per module to include contact time, course work preparation, self-directed
learning and reading is suggested, although individual students may vary in the time commitment required.
From time to time, there may be a change to this timetable. You will be notified of any changes
in a timely manner via email and Moodle.
Timetable
Year Module Day Month Format
2024 Induction Day Wednesday September 4 Classroom
M1 Loss, Grief & Bereavement Models Saturday September 7 Online
through the life span
M1 Loss, Grief & Bereavement Models Thursday September 12 Classroom
through the life span
M1 Loss, Grief & Bereavement Models Friday September 13 Classroom
through the life span
M2 Counselling in Loss and Saturday October 5 Online
Bereavement
M2 Counselling in Loss and Thursday October 10 Classroom
Bereavement
M2 Counselling in Loss and Friday October 11 Classroom
Bereavement
M3(a) Applied Bereavement Practice Saturday November 2 Online
(Clinical Practice group)
M3(b) Organisational Staff Support Saturday November 2 Online
(General group)
M3 (a) Applied Bereavement Practice Thursday November 7 Classroom
(Clinical Practice group)
M3b Organisational Staff Support Thursday November 7 Classroom
(General group)
M1 Loss, Grief & Bereavement Friday November 8 Classroom
Models through the life span and M2
Counselling in Loss and Bereavement
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Year Module Day Month Format
2024 M5 Research Appraisal Saturday December 7 Online
Integration Day and RCSI Library Thursday December 12 Classroom
M3a Applied Bereavement Practice Friday December 13 Classroom
Clinical Practice Group)
M3b Organisational Staff Support Friday December 13 Classroom
(General Group)
Year Module Day Month Format
2025 M 6(a) Advanced Counselling and Saturday January 11 Online
Practitioner Self
M6(b) Range of Loss and Finite Loss Saturday January 11 Online
M 6(a) Advanced Counselling and Thursday January 16 Classroom
Practitioner Self (Clinical Practice group)
M 6(b) Range of Loss and Finite Loss Thursday January 16 Classroom
(General group)
M5 Research and Integration day Friday January 17 Classroom
M4 Loss, Death & Bereavement in Saturday February 8 Online
Society
M4 Loss, Death & Bereavement in Thursday February 13 Classroom
Society
M4 Loss, Death & Bereavement in Friday February 14 Classroom
Society
M7 Policy & Management in Saturday March 1 Online
Bereavement Care
M7 Policy & Management in Thursday March 6 Classroom
Bereavement Care
M7 Policy & Management in Thursday April 10 Classroom
Bereavement Care
M7 Policy & Management in Friday April 11 Classroom
Bereavement Care
Integration Day Thursday May 8 Classroom
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Staff
The programmes are directed by the professional staff of Irish Hospice
Foundation with core modules and inputs from the academic, hospice,
and community sectors in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Application and Selection Procedure
Applicants MUST APPLY ONLINE. Applications can be accessed
and completed on the RCSI website through the following links:
www.rcsi.ie/pgbereavementstudies
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.
Participants
Participants on the course will reflect a range of disciplines from clinical
therapy, social work, psychology and non-clinical backgrounds – e.g.
nurses, teachers and community, voluntary and statutory personnel.
Fees
For EU students (non EU students, please contact for rates).
A non-refundable deposit of €1,000 is required on acceptance.
Year 1 Fees: €5,000.00
Year 2 Fees: €5,000.00
An invoice for the balance of fees will be issued at beginning of August
2024 and payment will be required by Friday 6th September 2024. Fees
are eligible for tax relief.
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.
Location
All classes will be delivered in a blending learning format.
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