Intellectual Disability Nursing

Top 50 Ranking

University College Cork (UCC) is ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide according to the major World University Rankings and is ranked as one of the top 50 Nursing Schools. According to the QS rankings, UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery is ranked as the top School of Nursing in Ireland and is the top-ranked subject at UCC. The Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Josephine Hegarty notes:

The top 50 QS ranking is certainly a huge achievement for UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. The ranking is a testament to all the hard work of our incredible students, faculty, and clinical partners. We’re extremely proud of the achievement and look to continue to push boundaries in ensuring academic excellence in Nursing and in advancing research capabilities and impact.

The BSc (Hons) Intellectual Disability Nursing course at UCC is a highly sought-after course, as evidenced by the consistently high points required for entry to the course.

We can offer you a wide variety of clinical placements across a number of university hospitals and community facilities, representing all of the major Intellectual Disability specialties. We can also offer opportunities to study abroad and have a large suite of postgraduate courses available to our graduates to facilitate further study needs.

Non-EU applicants are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such applicants are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.

To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements visit our qualification comparison page and refer to our International Office page for more information.

The course aims to provide you with sound clinical nursing skills (and the supporting knowledge base) necessary for starting your professional career as an Intellectual Disability Nurse. These skills will be further developed through clinical experience and further study at postgraduate and in-service levels.

You will also develop skills in independent thinking, problem-solving, and analytical and clinical decision-making, as well as fundamental research utilisation and application skills.

Upon graduation, you may seek employment as an Intellectual Disability Nurse. Intellectual Disability Nurses work in a wide range of areas including acute care, respite care, community facilities, residential facilities, workshops, schools, retirement care, and home nursing.

Traditionally, Irish nurses are highly regarded by other countries, enhancing work opportunities abroad, in particular in the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US.