Disciplines and Teaching Centres

INFORMATION on Professional Master of Physiotherapy X784 - CLICK for details

‌‌UCD Physiotherapy offers education across a broad range of programmes, including undergraduate (BSc Physiotherapy), graduate entry (Professional Master of Physiotherapy), certificate and research MSc and PhD programmes.  UCD Physiotherapy graduates have an international reputation for excellence and leadership in their fields.  

Physiotherapists provide services to people to develop, maintain and restore maximum physical health and movement, and ultimately, to improve their quality of life.  The UCD Physiotherapy programme is a four-year, full time, professional BSc Physiotherapy programme.  The aim of the programme is to provide an environment for the continued growth and development of Physiotherapy as a scientific and professional discipline though the education of students.  The programme is accredited by the (opens in a new window)Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP).  The ISCP is the only Irish professional body that is a member of the (opens in a new window)World Confederation of Physical Therapists.

Approximately fifty-six students are admitted to the programme each year, the largest annual intake of students into physiotherapy in Ireland.  On completion of the programme, graduates have accrued 240 European Credit Transfer Credits (ECTS). The programme includes substantial academic and clinical skills which together deliver a physiotherapy education which enables graduates to be highly competent members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams, capable of delivering high quality services to individuals across their lifespan. Through the programme students may avail of opportunities to participate in an Erasmus Programme or UCD Volunteer Overseas.

To date over 2,000 graduates have successfully completed the UCD BSc Physiotherapy programme. Graduates have gained employment in Ireland and the UK, and further afield in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle and Far East and throughout the European Union. Graduates have gained employment across a broad range of areas including in University Teaching Hospitals, Regional/District Hospitals, Primary Care and Rehabilitation Facilities, Private Practice, Non-governmental organisations, Nursing Homes, Health Promotion Agencies, Education, Business, Sports and Leisure industries, and Sports Medicine.

UCD Physiotherapy offers a range of graduate opportunities which include both taught and research programmes. In 2012 UCD Physiotherapy commenced a Graduate Entry MSc Programme.  This two year full time MSc programme, which is open to health science graduates, is the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland and provides an opportunity for an individual to change their career path and to gain the professional competence required to practice as a Chartered Physiotherapist.  

The School also offers MSc and PhD opportunities where researchers can work with supervisors across a broad range of disciplines (Physiotherapy, Sports Medicine, Sports Management, Exercise Science, Psychology, Public Health Medicine, Bio-engineering, Occupation Health and Safety).  

Physiotherapy education in UCD dates back to 1955, when the UCD School of Physiotherapy in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Campus delivered the Diploma in Physiotherapy Programme. In 1986, the programme of study was extended from three to four years with the introduction of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree, which was in turn replaced by BSc Physiotherapy degree in 2000. Today, UCD Physiotherapy is situated in state-of-the-art facilities on the UCD Belfield campus and is part of the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science.  This multi-disciplinary school is situated within the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences alongside the School of Agriculture and Food Science, the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, the School of Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine.

The philosophy of the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science is to foster excellence in all its disciplines. With a commitment to excellence in both undergraduate and postgraduate education, the School is at the cutting edge of research and innovation in all of the fields of science underpinning Physiotherapy practice. Our focus is on student-centred learning in an environment where research and scholarship stimulate high achievement.

Having delivered Physiotherapy Education for over 60 years, UCD Physiotherapy enjoys an international reputation, as a leader in education, research, and innovation.  It is committed to fostering the continued excellence of Physiotherapy in terms of education and research.

If you would like further information in relation to physiotherapy and the range of programmes offered please follow the links below.

1. (opens in a new window)Undergraduate BSc Physiotherapy
2. Professional Master of Physiotherapy
3. Certificate in Cardiac Rehabilitation

The Master of Public Health provides broad-based education and training in the basic disciplines which underlie the practice of Public Health. The course provides the academic foundation for the practice of Public Health.

The perspectives and skills acquired will be of importance both to employers and employees. These skills are now becoming increasingly important as we face the challenges of providing appropriate, cost-effective and equitable Health Services for the 21st Century.

Read more about the Masters in Public Health. 

Visit UCD Centre for Food Safety

Visit the Centre for Safety and Health at Work website.

Visit the Sport and Performance website.

CSTAR is the Centre for Support and Training in Analysis and Research. It specialises in the biostatistical and methodological areas of health research, both quantitative and qualitative.

(opens in a new window)Visit CSTAR website