Program Overview

MSc in Human Factors in Patient Safety

The MSc in Human Factors in Patient Safety is a two-year program designed to expand the skills and knowledge required to become involved in and lead patient safety initiatives. This interprofessional program improves personal effectiveness through teamwork, leadership, and communication and develops research skills.

Award

• Masters

Duration

• 2 years

Mode of Delivery

• Online - Part-time

Credits

• 90 ECTS

Next Start Date

• September 2026

Program Description

The program is suitable for all healthcare professionals, including surgeons, physicians, anaesthesiologists, emergency medicine doctors, obstetricians, pharmacists, nurses, and midwives, as well as safety and quality managers. It covers various aspects of human factors in patient safety, including error and safety in acute healthcare, personal effectiveness and non-technical skills, leadership of process and quality improvement, professionalism and advanced communications, and research methods.

Modules

Year 1

• Error and Safety in Acute Healthcare: Introduces patient safety with a systems perspective, exploring foundational and seminal literature.
• Personal Effectiveness and Non-technical Skills: Improves personal effectiveness and team performance factors in healthcare settings.
• Leadership of Process and Quality Improvement: Explores theoretical principles and practical strategies behind quality improvement in healthcare.
• Professionalism and Advanced Communications: Explores professionalism, ethical practice, and advanced communication, including end-of-life care.
• Research Methods: Studies various research methodologies and develops a proposal for a research dissertation.

Year 2

• Research Dissertation: Conducts an independent research or quality improvement project presented as a ready-for-publication research paper.

Assessment Format

• Formative assessment includes participation in classroom activities and group work.
• Summative assessment for the majority of the modules involves:
  • A 2,000-word assignment.
  • Participation in a group project and presentation.
  • A 300-word submission to a weekly discussion forum.
  • Dissertation including a publication-ready research article accompanied by an extended literature review.

Accreditation and Recognition

• The program is accredited by the National University of Ireland, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), and RCSI.

Admissions

Entry Requirements

• This is an inter-professional program. Applications are invited from all those working in healthcare.
• To be eligible, you must hold a Bachelor of Medicine (MB) or a primary degree in a health and social sciences field with a qualification achieved at the level of 2.2 honors.
• All candidates must also provide evidence of at least two years' postgraduate work experience in healthcare.

Supporting Documentation

• CV.
• Copy of passport.
• Copy of educational transcripts.
• Proof of sponsorship (where applicable).
• A 500-word response to the question 'Why is healthcare still not safe?'.
• Letter from current employer.
• Evidence of English language qualification (where applicable).

Fees and Funding

• Postgraduate Diploma: €6,150 (Year 1 – EU and non-EU fee).
• MSc: €4,000 (Year 2 – EU and non-EU fee).
• Payment Structure:
  • PgDip (Year 1):
    • First payment (on acceptance of offer): €1,545.
    • Second payment (November): €3,000.
    • Third payment (February): €1,605.
  • MSc (Year 2):
    • First payment (September): €2,500.
    • Second payment (January): €1,500.

Discount for Teams

• A 10% discount is available when you apply with a colleague or friend from the same workplace (minimum two applicants).