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DCU Age Friendly University

Age-Friendly Learning Opportunities at DCU

DCU is committed to widening access to higher education, including enhancing older community members' lives through innovative educational,  health and wellness programmes, arts and cultural activities.

Despite being a “young” university, seeing older people on campus at DCU is not unusual. There are many events and activities held on an ongoing basis that are open to anyone who wishes to join. We open Many possibilities to allow our participants to learn new skills at their own pace. 

The Age-Friendly University Initiative is developing and expanding. Below are examples of opportunities and activities open to older adults at DCU

This semester’s modules are designed to ignite your passion for learning and personal growth. 

 

Audit Modules Semester 1 September 2025

Choose a single module from a wide selection of undergraduate courses and experience university and campus life as it is today! Timetables will be issued at the beginning of September.

Module Owner Code Module Title  
BIOTECHNOLOGY BIO1000 10135 How life works 1
BIOTECHNOLOGY BIO1014 10157 Environmental Toxicology
BIOTECHNOLOGY BTE1014 10154 Industrial Bioprocessing
BIOTECHNOLOGY PHS1000 10138 Introduction Physiological Systems
BIOTECHNOLOGY STA1003 11610 Statistics
       
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY GEO1023 10749 Hazardous Earth
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY GEO1027 10752 Historical Geography of Ireland
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY HIS1009 10793 Making of Modern Ireland 1850-1998
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY HIS1039 10803 Criminal Punishment 1750-1950
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY HIS1041 10804 Witchhunting in Early Modern Europe
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY HIS1049 10809 Postwar Europe
       
DCU Institute of Education  HDE1002 10463 Social Contexts of Adolescence
DCU Institute of Education  EDU1056 10530 Social & Personal Development with Communication Skills
DCU Institute of Education  EDU1057 10531 Human Development Power Politics
       
DCU BUSINESS SCHOOL FBA1008 10678 Financial Theory
DCU BUSINESS SCHOOL ECO1014 10362 Development Economics
DCU BUSINESS SCHOOL PSY1093 11503 Psychology in Organisations
DCU BUSINESS SCHOOL MNA1046 11056 Introduction to People Management
       
LAW AND GOVERNMENT LAW1023 10889 The Law of Contract
LAW AND GOVERNMENT LAW1026 10892 Criminal Law
LAW AND GOVERNMENT POL1013 11397 The Irish Political System
LAW AND GOVERNMENT POL1016 11398 Introduction to Politics
LAW AND GOVERNMENT POL1018 11400 Introduction to International Relations Security
LAW AND GOVERNMENT POL1021 11402 Introduction to Global Goverance
LAW AND GOVERNMENT POL1029 11406 Conflict, Security and Peace
LAW AND GOVERNMENT POL1046 11413 The Politics of South Asia
       
ENGLISH LIT1000 10066 Irish Theatre
ENGLISH LIT1002 10322 Gender and Sexuality
ENGLISH LIT1017 10936 Introduction to Fiction:Short Story and Novel
ENGLISH LIT1018 10937 Genre: The Tragedy-Comedy Complex
ENGLISH LIT1023 10939 Shakespeares World 
ENGLISH LIT1024 10940 Romanticism in the Age of Revolutions
ENGLISH LIT1033 10943 Irish Writing
ENGLISH LIT1038 10945 Postmodernism
       
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC RET1004 11342 Justice and Peace
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC RET1008 11506 Introduction to Islam
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC RET1041 11526 New Testament: The Gospels
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC RET1045 11529 The God Question & the Problem of Evil
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC RET1048 11530 Theological Anthropology
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC RET1050 11532 Ecumenism
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC PHE1019 11344 Philosophy: Historical Introduction
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC PHE1023 11345 Bioethics
THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MUSIC PHE1025 12138 World Philosophies
       
COMMUNICATIONS SOC1000 10307 Introduction to Social Studies
COMMUNICATIONS MCO1019 10985 History & Structure of the Media
COMMUNICATIONS MCO1020 10986 Introduction to Communication Studies
COMMUNICATIONS MCO1024 10989 Sport Media and Society
COMMUNICATIONS MCO1028 10992 Digitial Media and Society
COMMUNICATIONS MCO1038 11000 Understanding Social Media
COMMUNICATIONS MCO1066 11015 Social Media, Journalism and Democracy
       
Nursing, Psych & Comm Health SOC1010 11545 Sociology, Health & Illness
Nursing, Psych & Comm Health HEA1027 11241 Public Health Nutrition
Nursing, Psych & Comm Health NUR1003 10778 Wellbeing across the lifespan 1
Nursing, Psych & Comm Health NUR1015 11238 Understanding Intellectual Disability 1
       
HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPO1006 11570 Introduction to Exercise Science
HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPO1028 11586 Exercise Referral & Physical Activity Promotion
       
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HDE1002 10463 Social Contexts of Adolescence

Love of Life Long Learning Programme 2025 Semester 1

The Love of Lifelong Learning Programme starts early October depending on the course. 

This programme offers customised modules on a range of subjects.

These are 8 week modules. The modules start from €90.00 - €160.00.

Payments can be made: Monday to Wednesday 9.30 to 12.30 by phone 01 700 5454

Call in Person to the AFU office Monday - Wednesday 9.30 - 12.30pm.

We cannot provide refunds once a course is booked.

Here is a sample of some of the modules available this semester:

  • Creative Writing
  • Psychology
  • Art Appreciation Class
  • Painting Class
  • Beginners and Intermediate Spanish
  • Opera

This semester’s modules are designed to ignite your passion for learning and personal growth. 

 

DCU in the Community 

Based in Ballymun, DCU in the Community is an outreach centre which acts as a bridge between the university and its local community. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities to people, including older adults, in North Dublin in order to widen access to those who have not previously had the opportunity to attend university and to promote equality in third level education. Since 2011, DCU in the Community has hosted a Summer School providing a wide variety of workshops and courses to the community. In addition to courses in Psychology and Digital Media DCU in the Community offer the "Bridge to Education" course aimed at mature students who wish to prepare to return to further education.

For more information, please visit the DCU in the Community Web siteor call 01 700 8800.

 

Other Programmes in DCU

The School of Theology, Philosophy and Music offer a variety of programmes of interest some of which are on a part-time basis on Thursdays and Saturdays.

The increased demand for the fitness programme Active for Life programme aimed at older people demonstrates DCU’s commitment to supporting active and healthy ageing.

These modules are from the undergraduate programmes and there are no entry requirements.  A student card and a DCU student email are issued with these modules which take place over 8 weeks for 2 hours each week. This option costs €120, and a Certificate of Participation is issued at the end of the module.  

To register complete the registration form below, and return it to us in person or by email at afuinfo@dcu.ie, with a copy of your ID and student number if you already have one. Emailed photos of the completed registration form and ID are acceptable.

Here is the registration form, and after registration, you can pay for the course by phone or by appointment in person at the AFU office AG40 on the Glasnevin Campus.

If you have any queries, don't hesitate to contact us at afuinfo@dcu.ie or telephone for assistance