Nuala McGuinn
Director of the Centre for Adult Learning & Professional Development, NUI Galway
Valerie Leahy
Postgraduate Recruitment Officer, NUI Galway
It is never too late to find the right career path, universities now offer a wide variety of opportunities to help people upskill or change their career direction at all stages of their professional lives.
People are increasingly choosing a “lifelong learning path” after graduation for many reasons. These include a wish to enhance their employability prospects, increase their earning potential and prepare for emerging skills. They may opt to do a full-time, part-time, evening class, or online course.
The university offers a range of upskilling and postgraduate courses that are developed based on industry needs and are inspired by cutting-edge research, designed to take lifelong learners to that next level.
Our courses offer key technical skills, but through course delivery and assessment also develop graduates professional skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and decision-making which prepare them for the everchanging workplace of the future.
Ranked globally within the top 2% of Universities, NUI Galway is a leading university for graduate employability. The university’s postgraduate students and adult learners learn in a vibrant and exciting university, where innovation and creativity thrive.
“With over 200 taught courses and 150 research options available, students have immense choice in subjects, specialities and modes of study,” explains Valerie Leahy, Postgraduate Recruitment Officer. Courses are available full-time, part-time and some are even blended learning, featuring on-campus and virtual classes.
Students develop practical, professional competencies which are highly relevant, immediately transferable to the workplace and are aligned with industry needs.
Nuala McGuinn
Flexible learning options
Courses which provide upskilling opportunities for career advancement are available in flexible, 1-2 year options in subject areas such as science and engineering, information technology, languages, business, management and social science.
“Students develop practical, professional competencies which are highly relevant, immediately transferable to the workplace and are aligned with industry needs,” highlights Nuala McGuinn, Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development. They undertake assignments based on work-based problems and study collaboratively with fellow students in authentic learning scenarios.
Short, accredited micro-credentials are also in development and will be available from September providing professional development opportunities in specialist skills areas in an agile, as-needs basis.
Funding and other supports
The university offers a range of scholarships to support postgraduate studies, with flagship scholarship schemes including the Taught Master’s Scholarships and the Hardiman Research Scholarships.
Funding for part-time courses is available through Springboard+, Skillnet and adult learning scholarships. Additional supports are available in study skills, academic writing as well as student mentoring and peer learning supports.
With part-time applications opening from the 1st April and post-graduate applications currently available, it is the ideal time to research your options and apply.
For more information on postgraduate courses visit: www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses
For more information on part-time, professional courses visit: www.nuigalway.ie/adultlearning/courses
