Intellectual Disability Nursing

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements

2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7
Science: O6/H7

• A laboratory science subject (biology, physics, chemistry, physics & chemistry (joint) or agricultural science)
• Three other subjects (may include Irish or English and a laboratory science subject not included already) or have equivalent second level educational qualifications to the foregoing.
• The minimum educational requirements may be accumulated over not more than two sittings of the leaving certificate examination or an equivalent examination.

Advanced and Equivalent Entry:

• QQI FET/FETAC Entry
• Advanced Entry - Years 2,3,4 or 5
• Non-EU Applicants
• Mature Entry Route

Additional Applicant Requirements

1. Fitness to Practice - All applicants will be required to undergo a full medical examination, to establish that they are medically fit to take up the profession of nursing. 

2. Garda Clearance - All applicants will be required to complete Garda Vetting Application Forms. Please note the following with regard to vetting procedures once registered with SETU Waterford:

• Applicants will be provided with relevant forms and documentation for vetting within Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
• It is mandatory for applicants who have resided abroad for a period greater than 6 months since the age of 12 years to provide SETU Waterford with a Police Clearance Certificate from those countries.
• Clinical placements can only be arranged for students on receipt of satisfactory clearance.
• Further information re Garda/Police clearance is available from the Nurse Allocations Office, SETU Waterford at 051 845601.

Graduates may practice as a Registered Intellectual Disability Nurse within the Irish healthcare sector and voluntary services.  Universally Irish nurses are highly regarded by other countries thus enhancing work opportunities.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Following qualification it is possible to specialise in a number of areas within intellectual disability nursing i.e. challenging behaviour, multiple and complex disabilities. Alternatively graduates may choose to pursue advanced studies in nursing education or nursing management.

Practice Placements at SETU

Practice placements are a vital part of your nursing education. In line with European directives and NMBI requirements, students complete a minimum of 81 weeks of supervised clinical experience over the four-year programme. SETU offers a wide network of high-quality placement sites across Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Carlow, including both HSE and voluntary services, with additional specialist placements available for some programmes. These placements provide diverse acute and community learning environments where you can apply theory to practice, develop professional values and achieve the competencies required for entry to the nursing register. All placements are planned and coordinated by the Nurse Allocations Office to ensure they meet national standards and support your development as a safe, caring and competent practitioner.