Professional Certificate in Skin & Hair Follicle Science (X935)

Interactive Online Teaching

All aspects of the course delivery  are online, via webinars. As this is an interactive course with a Q & A session at the end of each live-streamed lecture, we strongly suggest that students attend the live sessions. However, webinars will also be available for limited playback unless otherwise specified.

All relevant course materials, including lecture slides in PDF format (non-downloadable), and webinars ( non-downloadable) will be made available on UCD’s Virtual Learning Environment (Brightspace), during teaching term they are delivered in and during revision periods.

Assessment and Qualification

There will be a multiple-choice question (MCQ)-based assessment (single correct answer) held at the end of the trimester. Assessment session will be based on lecture content. The exams will be e-proctored to ensure academic robustness. Students will need a device with integrated webcam and microphone, which meets the e-proctoring software minimum system requirements for invigilation purposes.

• Students will receive an overall Pass/Fail mark at the end of the course.

This course is set at Level 9 National Framework Qualification and is a  special purpose 10-credit award.

Applicants should have a BSc (NFQ Level 8 or international equivalent) in a Biology-based or Life Sciences-based degree from a recognised Irish or international third level institution in subjects allied to medicine i.e., anatomy, physiology & pathology; pharmacology, toxicology; pharmacy;analytical Sciences; and laboratory Practice.

Part-Time option suitable for:

Domestic (EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

This course is a University College Dublin-awarded Professional Certificate aimed at:

• Candidates working in or wishing to work in the Pharmaceutical, Personal Care, Allied Healthcare, and similar settings, with an interest in skin and hair/hair follicle science in health and disease.

• Graduates from a biological, biomedical, biochemical, bioengineering, and/or general life sciences background, clinicians (including nurses) and other professionals working in industrial or academic research environments.

Equips graduates with an understanding of the biomedical science of human skin and hair follicle. Lectures will share comprehensive insights into the biology of human skin and hair/hair follicle, in health and in mild physiological variations (some alopecias, dry skin, sensitive skin etc). 

1.Knowledge and Understanding:

Participants will develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of human skin and its appendages (principally the hair follicle and nail) and will enhance their knowledge of the scientific basis of skin function. They will also develop an understanding of the impact of skin and its appendages on our well-being. 

On completion of the Professional Certificate, participants should have the following competencies: 

● Have a comprehensive introductory knowledge of the biology of human skin 

● Have a comprehensive introductory knowledge of the human hair follicle (principally of the scalp) 

● Have a comprehensive introductory knowledge of the nail 

● Have a comprehensive introductory knowledge of skin aging 

● Have a comprehensive introductory knowledge of skin and hair follicle pigmentation 

● Have a comprehensive introductory knowledge of gender and geographic ancestry-related aspects of the skin and its appendages. 

● Have a comprehensive introductory knowledge of wound healing in the skin 

● Have a comprehensive introductory knowledge of skin and hair follicle stem cells 

● Appreciate the basics of skin and hair care issues 

2. Applying Knowledge and understanding:

Webinars will be interactive, allowing the participants to actively engage with the lecturer and facilitating discussion by the participants with experts in the field of skin and hair follicle science. The single assessment at the end of the trimester will evaluate the participant’s ability to contextualize their knowledge and understanding of the subject. The course puts assessment at the centre of learning, by incorporating an applied understanding of the topics including via problem-solving, critical analysis and evidence-based personal (non-medical) care. 

On completion of this Professional Certificate in Skin and Hair Follicle Science we will expect the student to be able to: 

● Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the biology of skin and its associated appendages or adnexa 

● Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of how the skin and its appendages vary by age, gender, and geographic ancestry. 

● Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the skin and hair follicle responds in wound healing 

● Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the basics of personal care to physiological or sub-clinical variations in the human skin and hair follicle. 

3. Making judgements: 

Throughout this lecture series there will be a significant emphasis on the need for self-directed learning and the importance of understanding skin/hair-related research. Critical appraisal of scientific literature will be a major feature of all lectures, so as to be able to separate fact from fiction. 

On completion of the Professional Certificate participants should have the following competencies: 

● Critically appraise the current human skin and hair follicle science landscape 

● Develop a structured approach to critical appraisal of the cutaneous scientific literature 

● Assess the contribution of cutaneous research to the development of personal care strategies for human skin and hair follicle. 

● Evaluate personal learning and develop learning skills 

4. Communication and working skills: 

On completion of this Professional Certificate in Skin and Hair Follicle Science we will expect the applicants to be able to: 

● Ensure that skin and hair variations are not inappropriately dismissed as trivial or unimportant to the individual. 

5. Learning skills: 

● Participants should further develop a multitude of learning skills. During this interactive webinar series participants will be encouraged to further explore the content of every webinar through self-directed learning and critical appraisal of current literature. 

● Participants will also be requested to reflect on their webinar-based content and apply what they have learnt to their current occupational contexts where appropriate. Interactive webinar-based question and answer sessions should further develop their ability to ask pertinent skin/hair personal care- relevant questions.

ProfCert Skin & Hair Follicle Science (X935) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 1500
nonEU    fee per year - € 2500

***Fees are subject to change, correct as of April 2021.

To see EU Fee eligbiility criteria, please see this helpful guide to EU Fees; see here for  EU-Fee Assessment process.

Note 1: Onus is on student to make an official EU Fee Assessment application, if they believe they have been assigned to the wrong fee status.

Note 2: Presuming they meet the EU Fee eligibility criteria, notwithstanding Brexit, UK students will still be eligible for the EU fee rate. 

Prof Cert Skin & Hair Follicle Science PT (X935) Duration: 4 Months (Part Time) 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: 20th September 2021 at 17:00

Application Process/Guidelines:

Please note: If you are applying to UCD for the first time you must register an account. Returning applicants may sign in to an existing account. Once logged in, to find our course go to ‘Course Finder’ and search for X935. Applicants must meet UCD's English Language Requirements.

A detailed, step-by step guide to the UCD online application process is available here.

• Having paid the application fee and received an e-mail receipt, you must continue to complete the application process by pressing “submit”. An e-mail confirming a successful application will be sent to you within 24 hours.
• You can track the status of your documentation online. Log in to your account. Click on your submitted application, which will bring up an application summary. The application requirements are listed at the end of the summary.
• In most cases, applicants will be required to pay an applciation fee.

Apply Now*

The Lead Teaching Faculty member will be Prof. Desmond Tobin, Full Professor of Dermatological Science,  an active skin and hair follicle researcher (https://people.ucd.ie/desmond.tobin)  & Director of the UCD Charles Institute of Dermatology, with occasional lectures delivered by invited specialists.

Academic Course Director:

Professor Desmond J Tobin

UCD Charles Institute of Dermatology, UCD School of Medicine,
University College Dublin, Belfield, D4, Ireland

E-mail: desmond.tobin@ucd.ie

For further course information email postgrad.skinhaircert@ucd.ie