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Honey Bee Health (Apiculture)

ZO1202

Learn the necessary skills & knowledge to raise healthy honeybees.

Duration

12 weeks

Next start date

January 2026

NFQ

Level 8

ECTS

5 Credits

Mode of Study

Blended Learning

Apply By

Nov 28, 2024, 5PM

Fee

€550

Overview

In this micro-credential, we aim to provide beekeepers with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to identify the criteria needed to raise healthy honeybees. Key to this is good animal husbandry and knowledge of pests and diseases of the honeybee. Being able to assess the risks associated with poor apiary hygiene, disease hot spots, overstocking and habitat loss, puts the beekeeper in control. A clear benefit of the micro-credential is increased productivity (under the right weather conditions) which is reflected in the amount of surplus honey available to the beekeeper should they choose to harvest it.

At the end of the micro-credential, subject to numbers (approximately 25-30), learners will be invited to campus for a practical on the identification of disease with Dr. Mary Coffey, expert from DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine).

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be over 21 years of age.

Learning Outcomes

Discuss the mechanisms of immunity in Apis mellifera.
Identify current parasites of honeybees in Ireland and more widely, considering potential threats to honeybee health from imported bees and other products.
Describe the life cycle of the main honeybee pathogens.
Explain the importance of plants to honeybee health.
Link the diversity of microbes associated with honeybees with their influence on honeybee health.
Discuss human-mediated factors involved in decline of honeybee health.
Apply best practice in apiary management hygiene and notifiable disease protocols

Assessments

Continuous Assessment (60%)
Oral, Audio Visual or Practical Assessment (40%)

Contact

If you have any questions about this course, please contact:

Arts & Humanities,
Centre for Adult Learning & Professional Development

Email: Arts & Humanities

How to Apply

From the 1st October 2025, you can apply for any University of Galway Micro-credential through our Online Application Portal.

Learn more about our application process.

Apply here: Online Application Portal

When completing your application please make sure to select the following categories:

College/Interest Type: Science & Engineering

Academic Programme: Select your micro-credential from the drop-down list

Academic Term: Select the academic term Autumn 2025 (Semester 1) or Spring 2026 (Semester2)

Alejandra Bonifacio | Graduate

This course gave me the opportunity to have a deeper look at the scientifical aspect of beekeeping. To me, keeping bees is more than a hobby, it is also a career and a science. This micro-credential gave me the tools to be able to perform a deeper first “disease diagnosis” on my colonies and include this knowledge in my own study material. I was surprised by the high level of content from each lecture. It felt great to be part of this group of students with an excellent teacher, Dr. Mooney, with just a passion for research and bees. The microbiology content and the practical day at the laboratory really benefited my skills for the future. You can never learn enough! I believe that every beekeeper should take classes on Honey Bee Health, even better if it’s abroad, like in my case. I would recommend the micro-credential and the experience of studying beekeeping abroad at the University of Galway. Thank you so much for this wonderful beekeeping learning experience!

Brian Dane | Student

I have about 15 years experience as a beekeeper, and I have progressed through the FIBKA examination system but I wanted more information about Honeybee Health. This course filled that gap perfectly. I found the course content very complete but very well presented. Dr Helen Mooney and all the lecturers were authoritative and very good communicators. I am a tutor in my Beekeeping association, and I feel much more confident about this duty after completing this course. I found the whole experience very pleasant and enjoyable. I was treated politely and very efficiently by all the academic, management and administrative staff at the University of Galway. I found the format of the course and assignments very good. It was challenging at times but easily managed with the excellent advice and help from our lead tutor. An excellent course and enjoyable experience with the opportunity to meet and network with other experienced beekeepers.