Master in Palliative Care Pgdip

Tuition is 20,929 USD per year. The application deadline for the Oct 2027 intake is Jul 15, 2027.

This programme focuses on the complex, nuanced realities of supporting individuals and families facing life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. It is designed specifically for qualified social workers—whether you are embedded in specialist palliative care teams, hospital settings, addiction services, or community mental health—to sharpen your practitioner confidence in addressing attachment, loss, and grief.

By integrating expert-led teaching from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, alongside contributions from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Queen’s Business School, the curriculum bridges clinical palliative care principles with leadership and systemic practice.

A Global Learning Community

Delivered entirely online, this course removes geographical barriers, enabling social workers from diverse international settings to learn alongside one another. The programme is aligned to the Specialist Award in Social Work via the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), ensuring that your advanced training meets rigorous professional standards while remaining immediately applicable to your current caseload.

Queen's University Belfast is a historic and research-led university located in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Founded as Queen's College Belfast in 1845 and established as an independent university in 1908, Queen's combines a long heritage with modern ambitions. The campus sits within a designated conservation area and serves a diverse community of around 24,915 students, including roughly 3,500 international students, creating a lively and inclusive environment for study and social life.

Academically, Queen's is a Russell Group member with strong disciplinary strengths and a clear focus on employability. The university hosts four flagship Global Research Institutes addressing Global Peace, Security and Justice; Cyber Security; Health Sciences; and Food Safety, offering students opportunities to engage with impactful research. Career-facing initiatives such as Degree Plus and targeted employer workshops enhance internships, placements and graduate prospects, while sustained investment in campus infrastructure has delivered new teaching facilities, a student centre and a cutting-edge clinical simulation centre for health-related programmes.

For international students, Belfast offers an affordable and welcoming city experience with rich cultural life and efficient transport links across the UK and Ireland. University support services help with arrival, visas and accommodation, and a variety of clubs, societies and volunteering options make it easy to build networks and gain practical experience. Queen's is a strong choice for students seeking rigorous teaching, active research opportunities and clear pathways into careers in the UK and beyond.