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DCU in the Community
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DCU in the Community Courses

DCU in the Community Courses

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DCU in the Community offers educational and creative courses for adults of all ages. These short programmes are suitable for learners who haven’t engaged with higher education before, or those who wish to return to it. The courses are held on DCU Glasnevin campus as well as in Ballymun, Finglas and Cabra Libraries.

Community Courses 

DCU in the Community offers a range of 6-week taster courses in various university subjects. All courses consist of a 2-hour in-person session per week over 6 weeks. All courses take place on DCU's Glasnevin campus, except for Acrylic Painting Workshop Series as they are delivered in Ballymun Library. These courses are non-accredited, meaning there are no assignments or exams. We welcome all adults to attend these courses and give university-style education a try. Registration for each course will open approximately 30 days before the start date. See our courses below: 

 

Lectures in Your Library 

This is a 12-week programme delivered in partnership with Dublin Northwest Partnership and Ballymun, Finglas and Cabra libraries. This programme consists of 12 lecture-style seminars on university subjects; for example, Politics, Psychology and Media, delivered over 12 weeks across the 3 libraries in the catchment area. DCU lecturers deliver each session, encouraging discussion and debate across various topics and points. This programme is free of charge and there are no exams or assignments.

Lectures in Your Library will take place on from 4 March to 27 May 2026, sessions are scheduled on Wednesday Evenings from 6-8pm across Ballymun, Finglas and Cabra Library. The three subjects that will be covered are Political Theory, Psychology and The History of Witchhunting. 

 

Keys Dates: 

Psychology, in Ballymun Library (4-25 March) 

History of Witch-hunting, in Finglas Library (1-22 April) 

Political Theory, in Cabra Library ( 29 April - 20 May) 

Graduation / Information on Further Education, in DCU (27 May) 

Follow this link for more information and to register

Headstart in the Community

Headstart in the Community is a 10-week programme for adults who want to explore their educational opportunities. The goal of this programme is to build confidence and prepare you to make the next step in your education journey. The course helps you to identify your skills, strengths, and goals. You’ll also learn about the available opportunities and supports as you consider re-entering education. Classes are interactive and informative, including meetings with guidance counsellors and tours of both a college of further education and Dublin City University. The course is free of charge, and there are no exams. This course is delivered in partnership with DCU Access.

This programme is to be delivered in Autumn 2026, with dates to be confirmed. 

Go to the Headstart in the Community webpage for more information

For more information, email Luke Quinlan (luke.quinlan@dcu.ie) or Laurence van Der Haegen (laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie)

Audit Modules - Age Friendly University

For those considering entering, re-entering or sampling higher education, it is possible to undertake a single module from a wide selection on offer at DCU. Modules range from social science, law and politics to digital media and journalism.  This allows older adults to sample various areas of study without committing to a longterm degree. These modules are from undergraduate programmes, with no entry requirements, assignments or exams. Upon registering, students receive a student card, a DCU student email, and a certificate of participation. 

This initiative is run by the DCU Age Friendly University - Follow this link to the AFU Learning Opportunities webpage.  

For more information, contact Grainne Reddy (grainne.reddy@dcu.ie). 

 

 

For more information, email DCU in the Community (community@dcu.ie) or phone us on 087 742 3041

To learn of new and upcoming courses and to be the first to know when registrations open, join DCU in the Community's mailing list. 

Follow this link to register for the DCU in the Community Mailing List.