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Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Physiotherapy - Neurology & Gerontology

MSc/Postgraduate Diploma Neurology and Gerontology
Ireland has experienced considerable demographic changes with demands placed on the health care services by an increasing number of older persons in society; stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, its incidence and prevalence increasing with increasing age. Physiotherapists have a key role to play in this specialist area.

The programme aims to develop the participant's professional knowledge base, skills and understanding required by physiotherapists to fulfil their role in the rehabilitation of neurological and elderly patients in the context of changing health care services. Because we believe that excellence in the clinical area requires an equivalent expertise in research skills, the programme will have a particular emphasis on research.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements
•The candidate must fulfil the National University of Ireland (NUI) entry requirements or be eligible for matriculation
•Applications are invited from health care professionals (physiotherapy, occupational therapy) working in the areas of neurology and gerontology.
•The candidate must be eligible for membership of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists or AOTI
•The candidate is required to hold a primary physiotherapy degree or equivalent
•The candidate should have obtained at least Second Class Honours degree
•Experience working in the area of neurology and gerontology
•A basic level of computer literacy, to include word processing, email and Internet skills is desirable
•Each candidate's application will be assessed on an individual basis

Duration

2 years part-time

Further enquiries

Course Director:
Prof. Frances Horgan,
School of Physiotherapy, RCSI,
123 St Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 402 2472
Fax: 01 402 2471
Email fhorgan@rcsi.ie

Subjects taught

Programme content and duration
The programme aims to develop the participant's professional knowledge base, skills and understanding required by physiotherapists to fulfil their role in the rehabilitation of neurological and elderly patients in the context of changing health care services. Because we believe that excellence in the clinical area requires an equivalent expertise in research skills, the programme will have a particular emphasis on research. Provisional dates for year 1 (2018-19) are available here.

Modules taught in Year 1 include:
•Neurosciences
•Neurorehabilitation
•Ageing / Gerontology
•Stroke Rehabilitation
•Research Methods
•Evidence-Based Practice and Healthcare Management

Year 2 of the MSc includes an Advanced Research Methods module and a dissertation. The proposed research must be in a relevant subject area.

Assessment method

Upon successful completion of the taught modules in first year, the student will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Neurology and Gerontology by the NUI, through the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Upon successful completion of an Advanced Research Methods module and completion of a Research Dissertation in second year, the student will be awarded a Master of Science in Neurology and Gerontology by the NUI, through the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Application date

This course is run every two years. The programme is delivered over a period of two years on a part-time basis. Applications are now open for the 2018-20 session. Please use the online application form. Applicants will be asked to upload a photograph and a copy of their academic transcript(s)to the document upload section of the application.

Enrolment and start dates

Application procedure
Applications are now open for 2017/18. Please use the online application form (Course Code is MSCNGP). For further details relating to the programme, or if you experience any difficulties with the online application form, please contact the Course Director.

Closing date for applications: 29 June 2018.