University College Cork’s Graduate Entry Physiotherapy program offers an accelerated route for graduates from any discipline (related to the discipline of physiotherapy) to gain a recognized qualification in physiotherapy practice. The constantly advancing and evolving nature of healthcare requires that Cork’s program not only prepare students for current healthcare practice but that it produces graduates who will act as agents for future change and progress. This program therefore aims to equip Cork graduates with the clinical and research skills, and professional attributes required to work and develop as competent practitioners, researchers and agents for change within the evolving healthcare environment.

What you’ll study

University College Cork’s Physiotherapy program is full-time over three semesters per year, over two years. Students will attend lectures daily with some time dedicated to independent learning, during the first two semesters each year. Students will also need to complete a short research proposal and research project of limited scope, relevant to the clinical profession of Physiotherapy.

Year One – You will study science courses such clinical anatomy as well introductory physiotherapy and research method courses.  You will also start your clinical placements in the final semester.

Year Two – You will continue your studies with more in-depth physiotherapy specific courses such as cardiovascular and neurological rehabilitation.  You will also work on your research dissertation and complete your final placements.

Clinical Placement

Clinical education is an integral and invaluable component of University College Cork’s Physiotherapy program. The course offers a balance of university and practice-based experiences with students completing over 1000 hours of placement in the hospitals and clinics of the HSE South /South West Hospital Group and other HSE Hospital locations nationally, as well as in Community Health Organizations and other clinical facilities nationally. Placements generally will take place during Semester 3 each year for blocks of 6 weeks.  There are two clinical placement blocks in semester 3 of year 1 and three clinical placement blocks in year 2, in semesters 2 & 3.  It may be necessary to undertake clinical placement in the UK. Students may therefore need to travel and/or arrange short-term accommodation near the placement sites and will incur the costs of travel to clinical locations as well as the costs of accommodation.

Entry Requirements

Students will need to have a completed undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.3/4.0 or 77%.  Degrees must be in a related field (biological sciences, sport science, or health programs). Human Anatomy and Human Physiology are required.

Students must also show they have research and physiotherapy experience and will have to submit evidence to support this.

Should students meet all the above requirements, they will then be required to attend an interview.  For more information on the application process, please contact KOM.

Professional Recognition

University College Cork MSc Physiotherapy (Preregistration) program is accredited by the Health and Social Care Professions Council (CORU), and the Irish Society of Charted Physiotherapists (ISCP). On completion of the course, you will be eligible to apply to the CORU and ISPC to practice as a registered physiotherapist.  Graduates applying to licensing in Canada will be required to provide details of their program of studies to the relevant bodies and sit a licensing examination.

Students wishing to license as a physiotherapist in Canada should contact the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators for procedures and accreditation procedures. The CAPR is the national federation of provincial/territorial regulators in Canada.

KOM Consultants understands the process and requirements needed to enter the Physiotherapy profession in Canada. Contact KOM Consultants for more information. All students applying directly through KOM Consultants will be supported with the latest information on the accreditation process.