Overview
Course Overview
The aim of this programme is to allow participants to commence entry level training or further their career progression in sports and exercise medicine by enhancing basic background knowledge in anatomy, exercise physiology, sports and exercise science. The course will also help to develop high quality research, practical and critical thinking skills in musculoskeletal assessment, rehabilitation, exercise testing and prescription in health and disease.
Is This Course For Me?
The M.Sc. i is designed for graduates from medicine and physiotherapy, as well as certified athletic training therapists and sports rehabilitation therapists, who wish to pursue new career opportunities.
Career Opportunities
This course is designed to produce leaders in sports medicine. Graduates have pursued diverse careers in multi-disciplinary teams within the HSE, and in sport and exercise at all levels.
Course Structure
This M.Sc. in Sports and Exercise Medicine is delivered full-time and in one academic year. It is comprised of six taught modules (60 ECTS) and a research project (30 ECTS).
All course material will wherever possible be presented by a core instructor group in face-to-face lecture, workshop, seminars and practical class-based formats on campus for which students are expected to fully attend. In especially the second semester some clinician lead lectures will be delivered online.
All students who complete six taught modules but do not complete the research project according to college calendar timelines will be eligible for an exit award of Postgraduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Medicine. In order to achieve the award of the M.Sc. in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Masters, students must complete all six taught modules (60 ECTS) and the research dissertation (30 ECTS) within a year.
Course Content
In Semester 1, students take three basic science modules:
- Anatomy. Students will enhance their knowledge of musculoskeletal and neuroanatomy through instructor lead pro-section based practical classes and personal dissection projects; and, in lectures revisit the organisation of the central and peripheral nervous systems concerned with the control of human movement and/or relevant to sports related injury and assessment.
- Exercise Physiology. Learning focuses on the key systems for sports and physical activity; energy systems, muscle, cardiovascular and respiratory systems; and whole-body hormonal and homeostatic responses to physical activity, exercise and training.
- Research Methods. Students will develop skills necessary to critically evaluate published research, formulate a research question and design a high-quality research project, from initial statistical modelling, ethics application, and power analysis, through data collection, data handling, and statistical analysis; and finally enabling writing of a scientific report worthy of submission as a journal article or critical review. The research methods module runs in parallel and supports the research dissertation component which runs over the entire academic year.
In Semester 2, the focus shifts to clinical and applied aspects of SEM with the following modules: Clinical Sports Medicine; Musculoskeletal Assessment Imaging and Rehabilitation; and Exercise Science.
In these modules, students will develop necessary entry level knowledge, core competencies and skills in musculoskeletal assessment, rehabilitation and exercise laboratory testing. Modules cover aspects of team and individual athlete care within different sports reflective of the course participants, and physical activity and health in the generally active population or those with chronic disease. Critical thinking skills are developed in instructor lead clinical case scenario-based teaching and student led clinical case presentations and modular seminars review current literature to demonstrate the scope of problems encountered in day-to-day care of athletes and teams, and the physically active of all ages and gender.
Click here for further information on modules/subjects.
Course Details
Awards
NFQ Level 9Number of Places
10-12 PlacesNext Intake
September 2024
Course Coordinator
Dr. Neil Fleming
Course Director
Dr. Nick Mahony
Closing Date
28th June 2024

Admission Requirements
The programme is open to graduates from medicine, physiotherapy and others sports science related disciplines. Applicants require an NFQ Level-8 degree at an upper second-class (2.1) honours or equivalent.
There are a limited number of places on offer to certified athletic training therapists (Ireland, the US and Canada only) and sports rehabilitation therapists (UK).
Applicants should also provide two references and meet Trinity’s English language requirements.
Course Fees
Click here for a full list of postgraduate fees
Apply
To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below
Get in Touch
Telephone Number
+353 (0)1 8961182
Neil Fleming (course coordinator): neil.fleming@tcd.ie
Website
www.tcd.ie/medicine/anatomy/postgraduate-course---msc-sports-and-exercise-medicine
Register Your Interest
Register your interest in postgraduate study at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.
As Ireland’s leading university, we offer a wide range of postgraduate programmes at masters, diploma and certificate level.
Trinity is an international university steeped in history, with a reputation for excellence in education, research and innovation.
Testimonials
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I look back at my year doing the Master's in Sports and Exercise Medicine with great memories. The small class size and the regular face-to-face learning create a good rapport between staff and students. The curriculum is helpfully designed. The first semester goes back to basics with anatomy and physiology. This is great preparation for the heavily clinically based second semester. Many previous graduates come back to teach on the course, which is so helpful for future career guidance. I thought going back to full-time education would be tricky but it was highly motivating and good craic!
Graduate
Testimonials
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I am happy to say that it was one of my most enjoyable, rewarding and, at times, challenging years. The staff were incredibly supportive of my research project, from inception all the way to publication. Following this year, I am keener than ever to pursue a career in sports medicine and would highly recommend the course to anyone who is considering the same.
Graduate