Mission Statement

The vision of the UCD BSc Physiotherapy Programme is to educate Physiotherapists;

• Who are highly skilled autonomous practitioners that demonstrate a whole-person and compassionate approach to patient care using evidence and research skills to inform and advance physiotherapy practice.


• Who demonstrate advocacy and leadership for clients and the profession in local, national and global dynamic healthcare environments.

1 - Function as highly skilled competent autonomous clinicians in diverse and local, national and global dynamic health environments
2 - Collaborate and practice as confident and competent members of inter-professional healthcare teams
3 - Demonstrate a whole-person and compassionate approach to patient care and self-care
4 - Critically evaluate and apply evidence and research skills to inform and advance Physiotherapy clinical practice
5 - Practice in a professional, safe ethical and legal manner
6 - Practice as a reflective clinician and demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning and professional development.
7 - Demonstrate advocacy and leadership for clients and the profession
8 - Communicate in ways that recognise and respect cultural and linguistic diversity
9 - Meet the standards of proficiency required by CORU the statutory regulator
10 - Demonstrate a whole-person and compassionate approach to patient care and self-care
11 - Critically evaluate and apply evidence and research skills to inform and advance Physiotherapy clinical practice
12 - Practice as a reflective clinician and demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning and professional development
13 - Demonstrate advocacy and leadership for clients and the profession

Physiotherapists provide services to people in order to develop, maintain and restore maximum physical health, movement and functional ability throughout their lifetime.

The full-time BSc Physiotherapy degree programme offered by the UCD School of Physiotherapy & Performance Science is accredited by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. To date, over 2,000 UCD-educated physiotherapists are working throughout the world. In addition to campus-based learning, you will also spend time on clinical placement in hospitals and clinical centres throughout Ireland.

UCD's Health Sciences Centre brings the research and teaching activities of physiotherapists, physicians, nurses and radiographers together under one roof.

The curriculum covers the broad spectrum of basic, applied and clinical sciences.

The programme is structured so that in Stage 1 you learn the basic and applied sciences. This teaching largely takes place in the UCD Health Sciences Centre. While lectures may take place in larger groups, all hands-on practical physiotherapy skills are taught in small groups of no more than 20 students. Practical skills teaching takes place with close supervision in specifically designed Clinical Skills Laboratories in the School.

Towards the end of Stage 1, you will spend time in the clinical setting where you will put your theoretical knowledge into practice. By the end of your degree programme you will have completed 1,000 hours of clinical practice, which is arranged for each student by the Clinical Co-ordinators in the School.

Clinical practice takes place in hospitals and clinical centres around Ireland, in collaboration with our clinical partners and the Health Service Executive.

Practice Tutors in Physiotherapy co-ordinate clinical education at St Vincent's University Hospital, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Connolly Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, the National Rehabilitation Hospital, St Colmcille's Hospital, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Our Lady's Hospice, Naas Hospital, Louth Hospital, South Infirmary Victoria Hospital Cork and the Midlands Regional Hospitals.

Professional skills are examined by continuous assessment. Graduates obtain a complete professional education and are ready to practise upon graduation.

Extensive international links offer you a variety of opportunities to widen your experience. You may choose to gain clinical experience in the USA, Botswana, Belgium or Canada.

Graduates in Physiotherapy have found employment in different roles across the world, in:

Hospitals and private practice

Primary care

Rehabilitation centres and nursing homes

Non-government agencies (e.g. Goal, Concern)

Education

Business, sport and leisure industries

Graduates can also apply for a range of disciplinary and general graduate taught (graduate certificate, diploma, MSc) and research (MSc and PhD) programmes in Ireland and abroad.

School of Public Health Physiotherapy & Sports Science,
Programme Office,
Woodview House,
Belfield, Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 6500
Email: physio.therapy@ucd.ie
Web: www.ucd.ie/healthsciences

Students must register 60 credits of modules for Stage 1. 30 credits per Trimester. All modules in Autumn Trimester are core to the BSc Physiotherapy Programme. 6 core modules totaling 30 credits.

In Spring Trimester students register to 5 core modules totaling 25 credits and select a from one of the option modules or alternatively select a first year general elective place for Spring Trimester. 6 modules totaling 30 credits.

By enrolment to the programme students consent to participate in the associated practical sessions. Practical sessions may require students to model the role of a service user. During practical classes students will be asked to wear appropriate clothing as specified by the module coordinator.

Students must register to all core modules in Stage 2 BSc Physiotherapy - 50 credits. Students can select either a general elective module value 5 credits outside of the programme or choose to register to one of the listed options which are allied to BSc Physiotherapy Programe in Autumn Trimester.

Students must also register to Option module PHTY20110 Therapeutic Massage in Spring Trimester

By enrolment to the programme students consent to participate in the associated practical sessions. Practical sessions may require students to model the role of a service user. During practical classes students will be asked to wear appropriate clothing as specified by the module coordinator.

Students must register to all core modules in Stage 3 of the BSc Physiotherapy Programme. There are 9 core modules totaling 60 credits. No elective credits will be available in Stage 3

By enrolment to the programme students consent to participate in the associated practical sessions. Practical sessions may require students to model the role of a service user. During practical classes students will be asked to wear appropriate clothing as specified by the module coordinator.

Students must register to all core modules - 50 ECTS credits, and 10 elective/option credits. Students should be registered to a total of 60 credits in Stage 4 BSc Physiotherapy. 10 elective credits can be selected from options listed which are allied to BSc Physiotherapy Programme. Students may also choose to register to elective modules offered outside of the Programme area. Please note that elective modules must be taken in Autumn Trimester.

By enrolment to the programme students consent to participate in the associated practical sessions. Practical sessions may require students to model the role of a service user. During practical classes students will be asked to wear appropriate clothing as specified by the module coordinator.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
ANAT10110	Clinical Human Anatomy I	Autumn	5
BIOC00010	Chemistry-Biochemistry	Autumn	5
PERS10120	Science of Human Performance I	Autumn	5
PHTY10080	Applied Physics Principles	Autumn	5
PHTY10110	Introduction to Healthcare Practice	Autumn	5
SMGT20250	Psychology of Sport & Exercise	Autumn	5
ANAT20010	Clinical Human Anatomy III	Spring	5
PERS10090	Science of Human Performance II	Spring	5
PHTY10040	Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology	Spring	5
PHTY10100	Physiotherapy Professional Practice I	Spring	5
PHTY10140	Applied Exercise Science	Spring	5
Stage 1 Core Modules
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students can select their final 5 credit module during a special registration period in Spring Trimester. You will then be able to choose from one of the options below or alternatively request a first year elective place on another module
PERS10020	Fundamentals of S & C Online	Spring	5
PHTY20240	Tai Chi for Sport & Health	Spring	5
PHTY20280	Born to Run: The Science of Human Endurance	Spring	5
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students can select their final 5 credit module during a special registration period in Spring Trimester. You will then be able to choose from one of the options below or alternatively request a first year elective place on another module
Stage 2 Core Modules
PHTY20140	Physiotherapy Professional Practice II	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	5
PHTY20050	Exercise Programming	Autumn	5
PHTY20070	Musculoskeletal I	Autumn	5
PHTY20150	Cardiorespiratory I	Autumn	5
PHTY20160	Neurology I	Autumn	5
SMGT20250	Psychology of Sport & Exercise	Autumn	5
PHTY20010	Musculoskeletal II: The Lower Limb	Spring	5
PHTY20020	Applied Physics and Biomechanics	Spring	5
PHTY20040	Musculoskeletal III: The Spine	Spring	5
PHTY20290	Fundamentals of Pain Science and Practice	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must select minimumof 2 modules @ 5 credits each. Please select option module PHTY20110 for the Spring Trimester and another for the Autumn Trimester. Alternatively students may select a general elective place on a module not specified as an option for the Autumn Trimester and PHTY20110 for the Spring Trimester. Students can also select another option module for 5 credits from list in options for Autumn Trimester below. Alternatively an elective module for 5 credits may be selected outside programme options.
PHTY20250	Tai Chi for Sport and Health II: Qigong	Autumn	5
PHTY20270	Evidence Based Practice	Autumn	5
PHTY20110	Therapeutic Massage	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must select minimumof 2 modules @ 5 credits each. Please select option module PHTY20110 for the Spring Trimester and another for the Autumn Trimester. Alternatively students may select a general elective place on a module not specified as an option for the Autumn Trimester and PHTY20110 for the Spring Trimester. Students can also select another option module for 5 credits from list in options for Autumn Trimester below. Alternatively an elective module for 5 credits may be selected outside programme options.
Stage 3 Core Modules
PHTY30010	Physiotherapy Clinical Education III	Autumn	10
PHTY30020	Physiotherapy Clinical Education IV	Autumn	10
PHTY30030	Physiotherapy Clinical Education V	Autumn	10
PHTY30090	Cardiorespiratory II	Spring	5
PHTY30100	Neurology II	Spring	5
PHTY30110	Clinical Exercise	Spring	5
PHTY30120	Research Methods	Spring	5
PHTY30320	Advanced Musculoskeletal	Spring	5
PHTY30410	Health in a Global Society	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 4 Core Modules
FLME41030	Legal Medicine (Physiotherapy)	Autumn	2.5
PHAR20030	Pharmacology	Autumn	5
PHTY30160	Sports Physiotherapy	Autumn	5
PHTY30190	Physiotherapy Clinical Education VI	Autumn	10
PHTY40690	Physiotherapy Clinical Special	Autumn	5
PHTY40790	Physio Practice III	Autumn	2.5
PHTY30450	Digital Transformation in Physiotherapy & Sports Science	Spring	5
PHTY40670	Physiotherapy Clin Ed VII	Spring	10
PHTY41220	Advanced Professional Practice	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN0OF: Please select option modules to the value of 10 credits. Please note that option/elective modules to value of 10 credits must be taken in Autumn Trimester.
PHTY41010	Physiotherapy Research	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	10
PERS20170	Optimisation of Human Performance	Autumn	5
PHTY20280	Born to Run: The Science of Human Endurance	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN0OF: Please select option modules to the value of 10 credits. Please note that option/elective modules to value of 10 credits must be taken in Autumn Trimester.

		Award		GPA
Programme	Module Weightings	Rule Description	Description
BHPHY001	Stage 4 - 70.00% Stage 3 - 30.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47