Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (MSc)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Course Overview

This postgraduate programme equips students with the knowledge and skills required to make meaningful contributions to cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation practice. The course addresses disease-specific theory and practice components together with a strong focus on research, integrated care approaches, evidence-informed innovation in rehabilitative service delivery and the latest evidence-based implementation of best-practice guidelines and healthcare policy. Whilst the main focus is cardiovascular and pulmonary disease prevention and rehabilitation, key learning outcomes achieved apply to chronic disease management more widely.

Unique features of this programme include:

Flexible learning: The course uses a dual delivery approach (with a fully online option available) by incorporating scheduled tutorials and workshops coupled with the directed study. This enables students to simultaneously maintain professional roles in clinical practice or manage other commitments whilst completing their studies.
Delivered in partnership with the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC): This partnership enables an exceptional opportunity for students to interact with leading experts as well as engage in cutting-edge research and further opportunities in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Interdisciplinary expert teaching faculty: Students from a variety of backgrounds from all over the world interact with international leaders and clinical specialists from medicine, nursing, nutrition, exercise, behavioural medicine, and public health.

As reflected within the speciality of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation, this programme is interdisciplinary in nature and designed predominantly for health care practitioners. The course focuses on current evidence-based delivery of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation practices, behavioural change strategies, lifestyle approaches to risk factor modification, psychosocial health, and medical management of cardiovascular risk factors. Outcome measures, health technology, and innovation in service design also feature strongly to enable programme uptake and high-quality delivery. 

This programme aims to provide nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, GPs, hospital doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, and other health professionals interested in or working with people with cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions the knowledge to provide high-quality care as well as an array of career opportunities in clinical care transformation, research, academia, and industry. Students are supervised in designing an original research project which addresses a specific research question in any aspect of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation. Contributors are drawn from clinical departments at the University Hospital Galway, scientific and healthcare disciplines at the University of Galway, the Croí clinical team, and an array of established national and international partnerships.

Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

Who Teaches this Course

This course is delivered by an interdisciplinary teaching faculty of leading experts and clinical specialists in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation. The Programme Board comprises of:

Dr Jennifer Jones

Programme Director and Specialist Physiotherapist in Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation

Prof Francis Finucane

Consultant Endocrinologist, UHG and Specialist Lead for Endocrinology, Saolta Group

Professor Derek O’Keeffe

Consultant Endocrinologist and Expert in Diabetes and Technology & Innovation

Professor Gerard Flaherty

Preventive Cardiology and Medical Education, University of Galway

Professor David Wood

Adjunct Professor in Preventive Cardiology, University of Galway

Professor Catriona Jennings

Nurse Specialist and Senior Researcher, University of Galway

Professor Wael Tawfick

Vascular Surgeon, UHG and Clinical Lecturer, University of Galway

Ms Siobhan Teague

Senior Cardiac Physiologist, Health Service Executive

Ms Gloria Avalos

Lecturer and Research Fellow, University of Galway

Dr Rachel Garrod

Specialist Physiotherapist in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Dr Mandy Jones

Specialist Physiotherapist in Respiratory Physiology and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Dr Lisa Hynes

Health Psychologist and Head of Health Programmes, Croí Heart and Stroke Centre

Ms Suzanne Seery

Senior Specialist Dietitian in Cardiovascular Health

Ms Irene Gibson

Specialist Nurse in Health Promotion and Prevention / Management of Chronic Diseases

Dr Yvonne Finn

Lecturer in Clinical Medicine, University of Galway

Dr Susan Connolly

Consultant Cardiologist, Clinical Lead in Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation

Ms Noeleen Fallon

Specialist Nurse in Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Past President of the Irish Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation (IACR)

Dr Marwa Said

Family Practice Physician

Dr Marah Elfghi

NIPC Fellow, Past graduate of MSc Preventive Cardiology

Professor Bill McEvoy

Professor of Preventive Cardiology, University of Galway and Consultant Cardiologist, UCHG

Dr Jennifer Jones

B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD

Senior Lecturer
E: Jennifer.jones@nuigalway.ie
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Dr Yvonne Finn

MB, BCh, BAO, BSC, MSc (Health Sc) MRCPI

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Prof Francis Finucane

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Prof Bill McEvoy

B.Med.Sc., M.B. B.Ch. BAO, M.H.S., M.Ed

Professor of Preventive Cardiology
Twitter Handle: @johnwmcevoy
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Requirements and Assessment

Assessments are carried out across all modules via MCQ, written papers, essays, assignments, poster preparation and a dissertation.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Successful applicants will possess at least a Second Class Honours, Grade 1 degree (or equivalent) in a health care discipline or related subject area (e.g., medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics, sport and exercise science, clinical or health psychology, pharmacology, health promotion, public health, etc). For those who do not hold a primary degree at the required level, consideration will also be given to applicants with relevant work experience, background knowledge, and skills.

Entry to the Master’s programme is conditional upon achieving at least 60% in the core compulsory modules of the Postgraduate Diploma that take place in Semester 1. Candidates coming to Ireland from abroad or who do not have a degree from Ireland, or the UK will be asked to provide evidence of an acceptable result in one of the recognised English language proficiency tests, e.g., IELTS total score of 6.5 (or equivalent). Prospective candidates may be interviewed as part of the selection process. This usually takes place remotely via telephone, Teams or Zoom.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

1 year, full-time

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Please view the offer rounds website for information.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

MSC-CPR

Course Outline

The MSc in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation involves students participating in a number of Level 9 modules totalling 90 ECTS. 

In Semester 1 students participate in three core modules (total 30ECTs):

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease (10 ECT)
Research Methods (10 ECT)
Reflective Clinical Practice (Part 1 Semester 1 & Part 2 in Semester 2) (10 ECT)

In Semester 2 students are required to complete 30 elective ECTs from the following options:

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (30 ECTS)
Lifestyle Risk Factor Modification (30 ECTs)
Tobacco Cessation in Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Management (10ECTs)
Diet and Weight Management in Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Health (10ECTs)
Physical Activity and Exercise in Chronic Disease Management (10ECTs)
Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches in Cardiometabolic Medicine (10 ECTS)
Cardiac Rehabilitation (30 ECTS)

Across all three semesters, students work on a primary Research Project (30 ECTS) that is submitted as a ready-to-publish article at the end of the programme. 

The course starts in September and finishes in August, covering teaching and clinical placement components. Structured weekly directed study is coupled with a schedule of group-based lectures, tutorials, and interactive workshops. These group-based sessions are delivered online via live sessions and are timetabled for Thursdays and Fridays (3 pm – 8 pm) with occasional Saturdays (10 am – 3 pm). Students working simultaneously in a clinical setting can complete their studies using a fully online option, enabling access to the programme from their home country. International students with a Tier 2 Visa choosing to reside in Ireland during their studies and those not working in clinical practice are required to complete a weekly timetable of face-to-face activities that take place in a range of clinical settings.

Each module has associated assessments. At the end of Semester 1 online examinations are run for these modules. The remainder of the course has assessments in the form of essays or equivalent—e.g., written assignments, presentations, and case reviews.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

There is an array of employment opportunities in public health, health promotion, healthcare management, academic and research settings and the pharmaceutical industry. Graduates of the course with a clinical background will also specifically benefit from career advancement in the speciality of cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation and integrated care programmes more broadly. 

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€9,140 p.a. (including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€9,000 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€18,000 p.a. (€18,140 including levy) 2024/25

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant—please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2024/25). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here

Find out More

Programme Director:
Dr Jennifer Jones
Senior Lecturer in Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Health,
College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences,
University of Galway
Director of Education and Training,
National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC).
T: +353 91 893 299
E: jennifer.jones@universityofgalway.ie

Programme endorsements

Professor David Wood | Weight Management Clinic Director

This new Masters course in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation is uniquely tailored to meet the clinical knowledge and skills of all members of the multidisciplinary team—doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, physical activity specialists, occupational therapists, psychologists and others—by providing a modern approach to interdisciplinary working in supporting cardiac and respiratory patients to achieve healthier lives.

in Connect with Professor David