DCU in the Community Courses
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:
This course will demonstrate how psychology can be used to understand criminal behaviour and how this has changed over time. Participants will get an insight into how this understanding is applied to develop interventions that support crime reduction.
Day: Monday
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Dates: 5th October - 9th November
Duration: 6 weeks
Venue: DCU Glasnevin Campus
Registration: Follow this link to register
This course explores the Irish Revolution from the 1916 Rising to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, examining political change, violence, imprisonment, and the creation of a revolutionary counter-state. In seminars with hands-on discussion of original historical documents, participants will develop a deeper understanding of how independence was achieved.
Day: TBC
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Dates:TBC
Duration: 6 weeks
Venue: DCU Glasnevin Campus
Registration: TBC
Unleash your creativity in the Acrylic Painting Workshop Series, designed to welcome adult artists of all skill levels. Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or looking to refine your technique, our guided sessions provide a supportive environment to explore your creativity and socialise with like-minded individuals within the community. This series of workshops are delivered in partnership with Ballymun Library.
Day: Saturday
Time: 10:30 - 12:30
Dates:12 September - 17 October
Duration: 6 weeks
Venue: Ballymun Library
Registration: Registration is now closed. For all queries contact luke.quinlan@dcu.ie
Physical and mental illnesses are experienced differently across cultures which raises the question "is it all in our heads?"; for example, does the ‘Man Flu’ really exist?. Throughout this course we will answer questions like these through examining the intersections of physical and psychological health, as well as how both are impacted by culture and meaning we make of the world around us. Key topics include: The differences in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses across cultures, the evolution and use of superstitions to combat illness, as well as the ways in which psychology can be used to impact global health.
Registration: Registration has closed. For all queries, please contact Luke.quinlan@dcu.ie
This six-week course examines how history is politicised and used to serve power, shape political agendas, and legitimise authority through a series of case studies ranging from colonial empires to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Participants will explore how historical narratives are constructed, challenged, and mobilised, and why these processes continue to influence contemporary conflicts.
Registration: Registration has closed. For all queries, please contact Luke.quinlan@dcu.ie
Unleash your creativity in the Acrylic Painting Workshop Series, designed to welcome adult artists of all skill levels. Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or looking to refine your technique, our guided sessions provide a supportive environment to explore your creativity and socialise with like-minded individuals within the community. This series of workshops are delivered in partnership with Ballymun Library.
Registration: Registration has closed. For all queries, please contact Luke.quinlan@dcu.ie
Learn how to navigate a world of climate change through fiction. In these uncertain times, how can the “stories we tell” better enable us to be climate conscious individuals? Can art and literature make this world a better place? Join this class to engage in some lively debates about climate change, the relevance of literature, and much more. Come, read, tell your stories, and be creative this spring, by joining this Climate Fiction course offered by DCU in the Community.
Registration: Registration has closed. For all queries, please contact Luke.quinlan@dcu.ie
This six-week course explores how climate and sustainability issues are communicated in the media, from news and social media to everyday conversations. Participants will develop practical skills to critically assess information, understand misinformation, and create a simple media piece focused on climate and sustainability.
Registration: Registration has closed. For all queries, please contact Luke.quinlan@dcu.ie
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.
The next Lectures in Your Library programme will take place later in the year - keep an eye on here for upcoming details, or follow this link to register for our mailing list.
Headstart in the Community
Headstart in the Community is a 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 by DCU Access in partnerships Education and Trianing Boards across North Dublin.
Follow this link to DCU Access's 'Preparing for the Transition to College' webpage
For more information, contact 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.