Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

We welcome educators from all backgrounds, disciplines and levels of experience here at the Innovation Academy. Anyone who designs and delivers learning experiences can benefit from this postgraduate diploma or certificate in Education course.

This course is for:

• Passionate educators wanting to enhance your teaching practice. 
• Educators ready to take a step up in your career.
• Anyone feeling stuck as an educator, keen to reignite your passion.
• Anyone new in their post – or new to Ireland – looking for a supportive network and new approaches.
• Teachers, Lecturers, Program Managers, Education Technologists, Teaching and Learning professionals… to name a few.

So what are you waiting for?  

By the end of the postgraduate Professional Certificate or Diploma in Creativity & Innovation for Education course, students will:

• Explore creativity, innovation, and approaches to lead change in education.
• Discover new approaches in education from around the world.
• Build a peer network of friends, contacts and collaborators.
• Learned from a faculty of educators who have ‘walked the walk’.
• Gain a UCD Professional Certificate (15 ECTS) or Diploma (25 ECTS).
• Be ready to improve the learning outcomes for your students.
• Be ready to accelerate your career

View All Modules Here

This course will be delivered across 3 modules, over 3 weeks.

Module 1 Online: Creativity & Innovation: Tues 29 October – Fri 1 November 2024

Module 2 Online: The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Mon 17 – Fri 21 February 2025

Module 3 Online: Leadership Development: Sat 12 April, Tues 14 – Fri 17 April 2025

Classes are live online in the mornings from 9:30am and will finish at either 1:30pm / 4:30pm each day. For days where afternoon tasks are assigned, they will be a mixture of self-directed learning, reflective learning, and group or individual work.

ProfCert Creativity & Innovation for Education (F221) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 1500
nonEU    fee per year - € 3000

***Fees are subject to change

There are a limited number of other bursary places available for the Professional Certificate. Please see the bursaries’ T&Cs below.

90% Bursary Deadline: 6 September 2024

50% Bursary Deadline: 20 September 2024

*Full bursaries are available for UCD Academic and Teaching Staff. Please apply to the UCD Staff Programme here

Bursaries T&Cs

• Please note that any bursary can only  be applied towards the Professional Certificate fee (€1,500).
• Bursaries are reserved for applicants without access to institutional or other funding.
• A limit of x2 bursaries per institution can be allocated.
• Applicants must indicate in their motivation letter if they wish to apply for a bursary.

This is a level 9 Professional Certificate (15 ECTS)

Students have the option to complete an additional module (10 ECTS) to elevate their qualification to a Level 9 Professional Diploma (25 ECTS in total)

“The three weeks I spent doing the Professional Certificate in Creativity and Innovation for Education were among the best three weeks in my 25-year career.” Dr Linda Dowling Hetherington, Lecturer

“I think there can be a misconception that what’s interesting can’t be useful and vice versa. This programme is both.” Ailish O’Halloran, Deputy Provost

“I was keen to push myself, to get out of my comfort zone and to be more future looking in how I approached my work as an educator.” Sean Gallagher, Referee Development Manager

UCD Innovation Academy sits at the cutting-edge of education in Ireland, and the world. 

We’ve been challenging students to see the world differently since 2010, when we became one of the first universities to offer experiential learning experiences. 

Our team has been innovating ever since, shaping and refining our courses with input from some of the world’s best. Thousands of students have passed through the Academy, and each one has played their part in making our courses better and better. We have countless examples of our alumni accelerating their careers and changing the world from within organisations or as entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs. 

Students at the Academy also have access to the latest technology to support their creativity. The IA MakerSpace provides a playground for innovation, testing, and prototyping to bring your ideas to life. 

As if that wasn’t enough, we’re a part of UCD, ranked among the top 1% of higher education institutions in the world. We’re Ireland’s global university and ranked Ireland’s best for graduate employability. And we currently have Professor Sir Mark Welland​, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge acting as our External Examiner. 

Here at the Innovation Academy we have everything you need for a learning experience you’ll never forget.

The following entry routes are available:

Step 1

Click Apply above and begin the application. Please ensure all personal details and general questions are completed before trying to submit.

Step 2

Upload the required documents (listed below). 

A) A CV that outlines your experience as an educator.

B) A Letter of Motivation outlining:

• Why you want to do this course at this time?
• What you can contribute to the course?
• What you would like to achieve from the course?
• If you are applying for a 90% or 50% bursary, please state this in your letter of motivation. Limited bursaries are reserved for applicants without access to institutional or other funding.

C) A copy of your academic transcript to show that you have a level 8 qualification. (If you are a graduate of UCD, please include a Word document or PDF with your name and UCD student number). Alternatively, you can apply through Recognition of Prior Learning. Please note that a parchment will not meet the requirements.

D) If English is not your first language, an English language qualification is required for admission to our courses. Click here for English Language Requirements for UCD.