Overview
This certificate offers you the ideal opportunity to develop knowledge and skills that can help prevent homelessness, while also teaching you more about the use of effective, supportive interventions with people encountering homelessness.
DCU has developed this programme in collaboration with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive and a range of Irish homelessness agencies. As a student on this programme, you’ll examine homelessness in society, and come to understand further the personal contexts and complex needs of people and families experiencing homelessness.
You’ll study part-time, covering three ten-credit modules over three semesters (one module per semester). You’ll learn in class seminars and workshops in DCU and in online lectures, learning activities and exercises. For each module, you’ll need to allow about 42 hours, not counting your own self-directed study time.
DCU People
Careers & Further Options
Careers
As a graduate of this course, you will have achieved a third level undergraduate certificate specifically related to the contexts, needs and effective support interventions among people who experience homelessness.
In addition to improving your knowledge and competence in working and developing practice in this area, you will have enhanced your professional profile and will therefore have a competitive edge in future employment and promotion.
Some of our recent graduates have opted for further undergraduate or postgraduate study in DCU and elsewhere.
In addition to improving your knowledge and competence in working and developing practice in this area, you’ll enhance your professional profile and broaden your career horizons.
- Advocacy
- Education
- Healthcare
- Mentor
- Outreach
- Support Intervention and Planning
DCU graduates are highly sought after by employers. Our Graduates work in environments ranging from large multinationals to SMEs, family businesses and start-ups across every sector.
DCU Careers Service has a number of learning and development initiatives in place for our students, giving them the skills they need for a successful career path.
Entry Requirements
Your current role should involve working (including assessment and support planning)with people experiencing homelessness
Educational attainment at Leaving Certificate level or equivalent (further information is available from the Course Co-ordinator)
Access to and ability to use a computer
No Entry Path
International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. For further information on international applications click here.
Course Structure
The Certificate consists of three modules delivered on a part-time basis over 18 months. The course involves attendance in two-day blocks every four to five weeks during each semester.
You will study the following topics:
- Concepts, definitions and classifications of homelessness; socio-economic and personal factors that influence pathways to homelessness; homeless prevention strategies
- The experience of homelessness and its effects on a person’s/family’s health and social functioning
- The process and practice of effective assessment, support planning and case management in relation to socio-economic needs (finance, housing, education, employment)
- Physical health, mental health and substance-use problems
- Methods and processes of working collaboratively with service users and health/social care agencies
- Assessment and Support Planning: Process and Practice
- Socio-economic Needs of People in Homelessness
- Health, Illness, Addiction and Homelessness
For more information on the course structure click here
Fees and Funding
How To Apply
Please see Application Procedures or E-mail ugadmissions@dcu.ie.
Applications are closed until further notice.
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.
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