Key facts
Qualification & Course Explainer
Level 9 Graduate Certificate (35 ECTS)
The Spring intake for this course will commence on 4th Feb 2025. Register your interest to keep up to date with future intakes. Link to apply coming soon.
Hear from Programme Director Dr Lollie Mancey about this course below.
Course Dates
Module 1 Creative Thinking & Innovation
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 Feb – 6 March 2025.
Live online classes from 9:30am to 1:30pm each day with self directed learning in the afternoon.
No classes 14 Feb – 23 Feb (school holidays)
Module 2 Entrepreneurial Thinking & Innovation
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 24 March – 8 May 2025.
Live online classes from 9:30am to 1:30pm each day with self directed learning in the afternoon.
No class 11th April – 27th April (school holidays) or Bank Holiday Monday 5th May.
Module 3 Entrepreneurial Career Plan
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 12 May – 27 May 2025.
Live online classes from 9:30am to 1:30pm each day with self directed learning in the afternoon.
As the programme involves continuous assessment, students must attend all class sessions.
How it's delivered
This course consists of three modules and is delivered part-time live online on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am – 1.30pm.
An average of 8-10 additional hours per week is required for self-directed learning, reflective learning, and group or individual work. See module dates above.
Fees and Funding
€4,000 (EU) or €4,000 (Non-EU)
This fee is 100% or 90% funded for eligible applicants through the HEA Springboard+ Initiative – Apply here for funding.
FREE for eligible jobseekers: those who are currently receiving eligible DEASP Payments.
FREE for returners to work and carers.
90% subsidised (student pays €400) eligible individuals in employment or self-employment, and the formerly self-employed.
See How to Apply for eligibility criteria.
What Our Students Say
“The Innovation Academy gave me the tools to unlock this idea and launch my social enterprise.” Shane Cogan
“The Innovation Academy provided me with the tools and techniques to pursue my business ideas, but also allowed me to learn about myself and what I am capable of.” Sharon Keegan
“The four and a half months at the Academy fundamentally changed my mindset in terms of my career goals and gave me confidence.” Shane Reilly
Information Events & Deadline to Apply
16 October: Online Information Session
Join us on Wednesday, October 16th from 1pm – 1:45pm and discover more about our Spring 2025 courses. Learn how this program will help you to unlock your inner entrepreneur, explore your creativity, develop creative problem-solving skills and embrace innovation. Discover the course structure, learning outcomes, funding options available and whether this course best suits your career goals.
Deadline to Apply: 20 January 2025
Overview
Unlock your creativity!
No specific business idea or start-up experience is required. Through this course you will gain the tools, skills, mindset, and confidence to enable and empower you to transition to the next stage of your career – whether you aim to re-enter the workforce, start your own business venture or social enterprise, or reinvent your career.
Learn from doing through hands-on activities and challenges to explore creative thinking and develop an entrepreneurial mindset to identify opportunities and take action, while building a peer network with fellow participants. You will receive tailored support as you explore your career options, identify your chosen path and develop a plan for success.
Our funders
Who is it for?
Perfect for lifelong learners if you are keen to change direction and reinvent yourself and your career.
You might be;
- unemployed or formerly self-employed,
- a carer or returner to work, a career changer,
- an aspiring entrepreneur or intrapreneur or,
- someone keen to take a more innovative approach to the workplace.
Keen to start seeing the world differently?
See How to Apply for a summary of the application procedures and funding eligibility for this course.
These are subject to change.
Course structure
This fully immersive learning experience is delivered through live online sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings. An average of 8-10 additional hours per week is required for self-directed learning, reflective learning, and group or individual work.
This is a very social course, and you’ll collaborate with your fellow innovators on practical team challenges and projects.
You’ll learn from Innovation Academy’s inspiring educators and leading industry guest speakers.
Course delivery and timings
The course is delivered through live online classes and is split into 3 core modules, totalling 35 ECTS.
Module 1: IA40110 Creative Thinking and Innovation (10 ECTS)
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 Feb – 6 March 2025.
9:30am to 1:30pm each day with self directed learning in the afternoon.
No classes 14 Feb – 23 Feb (school holidays).
Module 2: IA40260 Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovation (15 ECTS)
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 24 March – 8 May 2025.
9:30am to 1:30pm each day with self directed learning in the afternoon.
No class 11th April – 27th April (school holidays) or Bank Holiday Monday 5th May.
Module 3: IA40500 Entrepreneurial Career Plan (10 ECTS)
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 12 May – 27 May 2025.
9:30am to 1:30pm each day with self directed learning in the afternoon.
As the programme involves continuous assessment, students must attend all class sessions.
- Why choose us?
- Learning outcomes
- How to apply
- Assessment
- Who leads this course?
- Career opportunities
UCD Innovation Academy sits at the cutting-edge of education in Ireland, and the world.
We’ve been challenging students to see the world differently since 2010, when we became one of the first universities to offer experiential learning experiences.
Our team has been innovating ever since, shaping and refining our courses with input from some of the world’s best. Thousands of students have passed through the Academy, and each one has played their part in making our courses better and better. We have countless examples of our alumni accelerating their careers and changing the world from within organisations or as entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs.
Students at the Academy also have access to the latest technology to support their creativity. The IA MakerSpace provides a playground for innovation, testing, and prototyping to bring your ideas to life.
As if that wasn’t enough, we’re a part of UCD, ranked among the top 1% of higher education institutions in the world. We’re Ireland’s global university and ranked Ireland’s best for graduate employability. And we currently have Professor Sir Mark Welland, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge acting as our External Examiner.
Here at the Innovation Academy we have everything you need for a learning experience you’ll never forget.
By the end of the Graduate Certificate in Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, you will:
- Acquire a toolkit that helps you to validate and execute new ideas using key frameworks and methodologies.
- Cultivate a personal brand identity and build your creative confidence.
- Develop and understand the entrepreneurial mindset that enables you to realise your career aspirations.
- Use prototyping and pitching skills to solve real-world problems.
- Apply learning to be able to develop business models for new ventures.
- Build a peer network of contacts and collaborators who have the skills to lead change in organisations and start new ones.
- Develop a skill set that entrepreneurs need and employers value including creative thinking, collaborative problem solving, communication & presentation skills, team working & networking skills.
- Collaborate effectively and gain exposure to new perspectives and alternative skill sets.
- Gain knowledge through informative online fireside chats with external speakers.
- Leave with a clear action plan to reimagine and relaunch your career.
- Gain a joint Level 9 qualification awarded by University College Dublin.
Deadline to Apply: 20 January 2025
Please note that applications are reviewed and places offered on a rolling basis so we encourage you to apply early to secure a place on the programme.
If you have any questions or would like to speak with a member of the Innovation Academy team about your application, email us at innovation.academy@ucd.ie or call us at 01 716 2065. We’d be happy to support you staring your education journey.
How To Apply
If you are an international student or ineligible for Springboard funding, please see ‘Applying Directly to UCD’.
This programme is funded through the Higher Education Authority Springboard+ Initiative, with 90 – 100% funding available to eligible applicants, for full-time residents in the Republic of Ireland.
Funding:
- FREE for eligible jobseekers: those who are currently receiving eligible DEASP Payments.
- FREE for returners to work and carers.
- 90% subsidised (student pays €400) eligible individuals in employment or self-employment, and the formerly self-employed.
Step 1)
Begin your Springboard application here.
Step 2)
Upload the required documents listed below:
A) Current CV
B) Letter of Motivation (one page), addressing the following:
- Why you want to do the course at this time
- What you hope to achieve from doing this course
- What you can contribute to this course
C) A copy of your academic transcript to show that you have a minimum of an Undergraduate Honours Bachelor’s Degree (NFQ Level 8). If you previously studied at UCD, please provide your UCD student number on a Word document/PDF.
OR
Applicants who do not have a level 8 qualification can apply through Recognition of Prior Learning.
Under UCD’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, consideration will be given on a case by case basis to applicants who do not hold a primary degree but who can demonstrate extensive professional experience. Typically, such applicants would have five years or more experience where their role includes managing teams, leading projects, programmes or business units.
If you are applying under RPL, please review your CV to ensure that it clearly demonstrates the following-
- Any experience of leadership and self-direction
- Any experience of management or entrepreneurship
- A description of employee, budget and client responsibilities
RPL applicants should also upload two recently dated professional/employment references. These should be on headed paper or from an official email address and including the referees name, role and email address.
D) If English is not your first language, an English language qualification is required. Click HERE for full English Language Requirements for UCD.
Step 3)
If you are successful, you will be offered a provisional offer.
Following provisional offers, UCD Innovation Academy will request evidence of eligibility in respect of holding a valid PPSN; Nationality; Current Residency; 3 of 5 Years EU/EEA residency; and current Employment Status between six weeks and two weeks from the stated course start date.
It is only at this point that eligibility for funding through the HEA Springboard initiative can be ascertained.
Visit our FAQs here
Applying Directly to UCD
Step 1)
Apply for the course via UCD. You will need to create an account if you do not already have a UCD Connect account.
Online Program: Apply Here
Step 2)
Upload the required documents listed below
A) Current CV
B) Letter of Motivation (one page), addressing the following:
- Why you want to do the course at this time
- What you hope to achieve from doing this course
- What you can contribute to this course
C) A copy of your academic transcript to show that you have a minimum of an Undergraduate Honours Bachelor’s Degree (NFQ Level 8). If you previously studied at UCD, please provide your UCD student number on a Word document/PDF.
OR
Applicants who do not have a level 8 qualification can apply through Recognition of Prior Learning.
Under UCD’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, consideration will be given on a case by case basis to applicants who do not hold a primary degree but who can demonstrate extensive professional experience. Typically, such applicants would have five years or more experience where their role includes managing teams, leading projects, programmes or business units.
If you are applying under RPL, please review your CV to ensure that it clearly demonstrates the following-
- Any experience of leadership and self-direction
- Any experience of management or entrepreneurship
- A description of employee, budget and client responsibilities
RPL applicants should also upload two recently dated professional/employment references. These should be on headed paper or from an official email address and including the referees name, role and email address.
D) If English is not your first language, an English language qualification is required. Click HERE for full English Language Requirements for UCD.
In order to pass the course, you must participate and engage actively throughout. Attendance counts for 40% of the total mark, with a minimum of 80% attendance required for a Pass.
The rest of the course is assessed through a combination of individual and team assignments, project reports and presentations.
IA40110: Creative Thinking and Innovation (10 ECTS)
- 20% Innovation sprint team report and poster
- 20% Innovation sprint team pitch
- 20% End of module reflection report
IA40260: Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovation
- 20% Project report
- 20% Project presentation
- 20% End of module reflection report
IA40500: Entrepreneurial Career Plan (10 ECTS)
- 30% Presentation of demonstrated actions and plan
- 30% End of module reflection report
All courses at the Innovation Academy are developed and facilitated by our exceptional team of educators.
The team boasts a wealth of experience from a wide variety of backgrounds. They are international entrepreneurs, doctors (both medical and academic), robotics experts, storytellers, conservationists, campaigners, and creatives.
What they all have in common is their love of the innovative, learning-by-doing approach to learning and their devotion to delivering a world-class student experience.
Read more about the people behind this course.
People with soft skills in creative problem solving, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking are in high demand right now.
Whether you see yourself as an entrepreneur at the head of a new venture, or bringing more creative ways of working to an existing employer, you’ll develop serious skills in a creative way.
You’ll leave the course feeling inspired and perfectly positioned to grab emerging opportunities, or create your own.
We’ve developed this course in collaboration with employers, to address emerging trends in industry and support job creation and expansion.
Graduates of this course have gone on to establish exciting new business ventures like Fiid and Peachy Lean. Others have launched award-winning social enterprises like Buddy Bench, Streetsmart Ireland, and The Upcycle Movement.
As one of our exclusive club of graduates you’ll have the qualities employers are looking for. Our graduates have applied what they’ve learned to change careers, working with organisations from Accenture to The Department of An Taoiseach, and even here at the Innovation Academy.