Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Your Course
This postgraduate qualification is delivered largely online (with a fully online option available) in collaboration with the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC) and equips students with the knowledge and skills required to make meaningful contributions to cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation practice. The course addresses the latest evidence-base, implementation of best-practice guidelines and healthcare policy, behavioural change strategies, lifestyle approaches to risk factor modification, psychosocial health, and medical management of risk factors including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity and smoking. Outcome measures, health technology and innovation in service design also feature strongly to enable programme uptake and high quality delivery.

The course commences each September and runs as a full-time, in-service programme. This allows students working in clinical practice to continue to do so, applying their learning directly to patient care. Those not currently working in clinical practice are offered immersive opportunities within the NIPC. Scheduled virtual tutorials and workshops take place on alternate Fridays (3–7pm) and typically one Saturday a month. In conjunction with this face-to-face virtual contact there are organised directed studies supported by a specially designed online learning platform.

Minimum 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, pharmacy, 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. Overseas students will need to satisfy the university's English language requirement of IELTS 6.5 or above (or equivalent).

WHEN TO APPLY:
NUI Galway does not set a deadline for receipt of applications (with some exceptions). Offers will be issued on a continuous basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

1 year full-time.

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