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The Continuing Professional Development Division seeks specifically to cater for teachers or others with a professional interest in education, who are unable to avail of full-time courses for reasons such as work commitments or geographical constraints. Teaching therefore occurs outside of 'normal' teaching and term structures. Diplomas are offered on a modular basis. Four modules contribute to one Postgraduate Diploma.

Four different formats are used:

• one evening a week - 10 evenings of three hours per evening;
• over three weekends - 10 hours on each weekend, usually 6.00- 9.00 on Friday evening and 9.30-4.00 on Saturday;
• over five Saturdays - 6 hours per Saturday;
• one week, this usually takes place in the early July period to facilitate primary teachers who wish to take a summer course; the courses are usually recognised by the Department of Education and Science under Rule 58.

The modules are held in several Education Centres as well as in Trinity College. Each module involves 30 hours of contact time. This means that each module is free standing and, by being combined with three other approved modules, can be submitted for the award of a diploma. To proceed to a Master's programme one in-service Diploma and two additional Qualifying Modules (in Research Methods), obtaining second class or higher average grade is required. On completion of the two Qualifying Modules, eligible applicants will be required to submit a research proposal and attend an interview. Candidates submitting a research proposal and attending an interview will then be considered for progression to the writing of a Master´s thesis.

If a student successfully completes the additional two modules and proceeds to the Master's programme, a second diploma is not awarded as it is considered that the two Qualifying Modules form part of the Master's programme. A student who is ineligible or elects not to proceed to the Master's programme may be awarded a second diploma. Eligible students may delay entry to the Master's programme for not more than three years under normal circumstances.