Program Overview

Clinical Chemistry (M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip.)

NFQ Level 9

Overview

This advanced taught Masters programme in Clinical Chemistry is offered on a part-time basis over two years and is delivered by a panel of national and international medical and scientific experts in the discipline. The Clinical Biochemistry Unit at Trinity is part of the School of Medicine and is Ireland’s only such facility. It is supported by the largest clinical biochemistry service in the country, with state-of-the-art clinical laboratories at Tallaght University Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, and Naas General Hospital.

Course Details

• Awards: NFQ Level 9
• Number of Places: 15 Places
• Next Intake: September 2025
• Course Coordinator: Dr Ann Leonard
• Course Director: Dr Gerard Boran
• Closing Date: 31st July 2025

Admission Requirements

Applications must have:

• An Honours degree (at first, 2.1, or 2.2 level) in a health sciences or biomedical discipline, or a medical, dental or nursing degree; OR
• Membership or eligibility for membership of the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine; OR
• Have two years current or previous work experience in clinical biochemist or medical scientist posts. Applicants applying under Point (2) should provide documentary evidence, such as a letter from the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine, confirming their membership or eligibility for membership.

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Structure

The course runs every Friday during term times over two years (5 terms) at the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences complex at Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24. In addition, some selected lecture blocks take place in St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8 and in the Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin 1.

Course Content

Students take five taught modules: Clinical Chemistry I and II; Endocrinology and Metabolism I and II; and Quality Assurance and Laboratory Management. Students also complete a research dissertation. Six workplace assignments and a logbook of eight cases must also be submitted during the course.

Career Opportunities

The course has been running since 2005, and many of our past students have gone on to complete higher specialist medical training in chemical pathology or reach senior scientific positions in laboratory medicine. Graduates will also advance their career prospects both in terms of promotion eligibility and post-graduate training, as well as open the doors to further academic research, including a Ph.D. programme.

Is This Course For Me?

Most of our students are medical scientists, clinical biochemists or medical doctors who already have some knowledge of laboratory or clinical medicine and wish to develop a special interest in Clinical Chemistry. All students must either have a concurrent appointment in a clinical laboratory or a suitable laboratory placement for the duration of the course.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, click here.

Assessment

The course is assessed by a written and OSPE examination at the end of each module. Students must also submit a series of six marked assignments, a logbook of eight cases, and a research dissertation conducted in the students own base laboratory. A viva voce examination is held at the end of the course. Further details can be found in the Course Information Manual. It is possible to obtain a Diploma in Clinical Chemistry instead of an M.Sc. by completing all taught modules and examinations/assessments except the research dissertation, however, the vast majority of students prefer to obtain the full M.Sc.