Course Summary
Professional leadership moves beyond more traditional leadership and management ideas to acknowledge that change is needed, that leaders now, more than ever, must be authentic, ethical, financially aware, strategic, and ambitious for their organisation. All of which has been considered within ATU Sligo`s new Masters in Professional Leadership.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Leadership covers both core and elective learning. Learners will get the opportunity to gather core knowledge, skills and competencies in Leadership; Organisational Psychology; Strategy; Financial Management. The learner can also choose one elective each term.
Structure
Year 1 - Year one of the programme is delivered through weekly live online classes. These classes are recorded for those who cannot attend the live session.
Programmes
If you are interested in the Masters Programme in Professional Leadership please contact Esther Quinn, Course Coordinator, contact details: esther.quinn@atu.ie
Pontential Funding Opportunities
Sligo Chamber Skillnet may be able to partially fund programme fees for you or your employees - for further details please contact gcourtenay@sligochamber.ie
Key Course Information
This award is fully online and part-time over one year. Live online classes take place each week.
Students are also invited to the campus once per term to meet colleagues and engage in some onsite activities. This is not compulsory and the sessions will be broadcast live where possible (and recorded) for students that cannot make it to Sligo. Residentials are currently delivery remotely
Examinations:
For Examinations, students may have to attend at the ATU campus through which they completed their studies. For some programmes it may be possible for the Exam to be taken remotely via online proctoring. ATU Students resident in the Republic of Ireland will be invited to attend exams at an exam centre located in Ireland. Students’ resident outside of Ireland or with exceptional circumstances may be eligible to attend remotely via online proctoring, where examinations are taken online and supervised virtually, subject to availability.
Application Closing Date : 15th August 2025
Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally hold a 2.2 honours degree award in any discipline.
It is preferable applicants will have a minimum of 3 years of postgraduate experience.
For applicants with no formal third level qualification but do have significant experience of leadership in organisations then ATU Sligo’s formal RPL process can be used to assess the suitability of applicants for entry into the programme. RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions / credit from some parts of a programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work and career. Further information is available through www.atu.ie/recognition-of-prior-learning which is our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions.sligo@atu.ie
Career Opportunities
The Postgraduate Certificate Professional Leadership will be relevant to those whose professional life already involves making and executing decisions, as well as those who are striving to enhance their career options.
Further Study
Students may decide to progress to our Masters in Professional Leadership.
Students may decide to progress to Doctoral studies in ATU Sligo or other Higher Education providers.
Programme Fees
Academic Year 2024/25 Fees
Total Programme Fees: €3,000
To help make the payment of fees more manageable for students who are self-funding their studies, tuition fees can be paid through payment instalment plans at ATU Sligo. For further information on instalment plans, please visit our Fees and Funding webpage.
If you apply and are approved for an online course at ATU Sligo, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €250 to secure your place. Your deposit will then be credited against the course fees once you are registered as a student. Students at ATU Sligo are also eligible to claim tax relief at the standard rate for tuition fees.
For further information and guidance about Fees and Funding for online and part-time courses at ATU Sligo, click here.
If you are seeking to take your exams online, and you meet the eligibility criteria (overseas students and those with extenuating circumstances), an additional examinations fee will apply. For further information, please visit our Examinations webpage.
Potential Funding Opportunities
Next level Skillnet may be able to partially fund programme fees for you or your employees - for further details please contact sue@nextlevelskillnet.ie
Course Format
Semester 1
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Financial Management | 05 |
| Understanding Leadership | 05 |
| Organisational Psychology | 05 |
Semester 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Strategy and Practice | 05 |
| Corporate Governance [E] | 05 |
| Emerging Trends in Leading and Leadership [E] | 05 |
| Leading and Managing Remote Teams [E] | 05 |
| Business Sustainability and Human Rights [E] | 05 |
[E] = Elective Module. Modules subject to availability.