Expand+Our Lifelong Learning courses cover a range of topics from Art History through to History, Literature, Philosophy and Writing.

Our courses are open to all and provide a unique opportunity to explore a subject without examinations. These courses a...

Hide-Our Lifelong Learning courses cover a range of topics from Art History through to History, Literature, Philosophy and Writing.

Our courses are open to all and provide a unique opportunity to explore a subject without examinations. These courses are part of a long tradition in University College Dublin (UCD) and follow the legacy of the university’s founder Cardinal John Henry Newman, who wished to make higher education accessible to a broad sweep of Irish people.

Today, UCD and Access and Lifelong Learning (ALL) remain committed to widening participation in higher education and making the university accessible for all. Whether it be to accredited formal learning programmes, part-time Open Learning or Lifelong Learning, there is an option available for you.

We believe the rich intellectual resources of the university should be available to all. We work closely with our academic colleagues to provide a diverse and interesting programme delivered in different locations across the city. Our commitment is reaffirmed when we hear the important role which learning has in the lives of our students, whether through providing intellectual stimulus, new friendships or an opportunity to sample a topic never studied before.

Our programme is developed in collaboration with tutors, UCD Schools and the broader UCD community. The programme we offer is informed by the feedback we receive from students, from the subjects covered, to classroom interaction. Many of our courses now include field trips or gallery visits, which brings course material to life and provides a social learning opportunity. You can sample a number of courses during our free Taster Weeks which run in both autumn and spring. Or you can listen to one of our podcasts, which can be accessed from our website.

We hope you find a course which interests you and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2018-19.

Your Tutor:
UCD Access and Lifelong Learning is privileged to work with highly expert and committed groups of tutors and lecturers, who are recruited not just on the basis of their subject expertise but also for their demonstrated interest in adult education.

You can also find more information about your course and tutors before you book from our website: http://www.ucd.ie/all/study/ lifelonglearning2018-2019.

Expand+Richard Collins

Bird-watching, a benign form of hunting which doesn’t harm its quarry, is ‘part of what we are’, an evolutionary heritage which resonates with us even in today’s huge urban conurbations. In this course students will study the life...

Hide-Richard Collins

Bird-watching, a benign form of hunting which doesn’t harm its quarry, is ‘part of what we are’, an evolutionary heritage which resonates with us even in today’s huge urban conurbations. In this course students will study the lifestyle of birds through a holistic approach. Birds depend on plants and animals for sustenance and are subject to predation themselves. Avian references abound in literature, folklore, art and music; students will also uncover the cultural dimension to bird studies. During selected weekend morning field trips, students will visit some of the major haunts. These outings focus on finding, and learning to identify the species present.