Physiotherapy

B.Sc. (Physio.) Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)
4 Years Full-Time
40 Places
CAO Points 580 (2022)
CAO Code TR053

Overview

What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy – or physical therapy – places full and functional movement at the heart of what it means to be healthy. It involves treating patients of all ages with a range of illnesses and conditions, including those with back and neck problems, sports injuries, arthritis, or those recovering from strokes and operations. The focus of our treatment is exercise prescription. 

Physiotherapists may be part of a multidisciplinary medical team that includes physicians, nurses, speech and language therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers among others. Alternatively, they may work from clinics or specialise in particular areas of the discipline.

Physiotherapy: The course for you?

Physiotherapy is both physically and academically demanding and an interest in working with people is an requirement, alongside strong communication skills. Visiting a local general hospital or other area where physiotherapists work will give you a good understanding of what exactly is involved.

Physiotherapy at Trinity

Physiotherapy is based in the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences in a purpose built complex at St. James’s Hospital. This complex houses other health science disciplines and allows physiotherapy students to share courses with those in the other health sciences to give a multidisciplinary approach to studying and working. The centre is about 3 km (2 miles) from the main campus and is beside a Luas station on the line running between Tallaght and Connolly Station in the city centre.

All students will have clinical placements at Trinity’s associated teaching hospitals of St. James’s and AMNCH in Tallaght, where there is an established expertise in most areas of physiotherapy. These placements allow students to gain experience in some of the specialist areas of physiotherapy including neurology, respiratory care, coronary care, orthopaedics, women’s health, care of the elderly, sports and out-patients.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

Successful completion of the course entitles you to membership of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, the accrediting body for physiotherapy in Ireland. Physiotherapists are sought throughout the world and you will be able to work with a wide range of conditions or to specialise, as you wish. There is also great scope for you to continue to develop your skills and expertise in areas such as sports medicine, neurology, cardiology, respiratory, research, education, management or private practice. Students may also work with a professional sports team as part of multidisciplinary athlete support.

Your degree and what you’ll study

The major objective of this four-year course is to enable you to become a competent professional with the ability to work independently with patients. There are two components to Physiotherapy: theory and clinical practice. In the first year the emphasis is on laying a foundation of theoretical knowledge and the second year introduces students to the clinical skills and procedures used by physiotherapists. Clinical sciences are taught mainly in the second and third years. In the third and fourth years students spend up to fifty percent of their time on clinical placement. In the fourth-year, students have an opportunity to develop specialist knowledge in a particular area of physiotherapy and undertake a research project.

First and second years

In first and second year as you will have approximately 20 hours of teaching each week, divided between lecture and practical classes.

Courses covered in the first two years include:

  • Physiology 
  • Anatomy
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Pathology
  • Exercise

You will also start to study various conditions and specialities frequently seen in physiotherapy, such as respiratory conditions and musculoskeletal conditions.

At the end of second year you will start clinical placements under the supervision of skilled and experienced tutors. These may be taken in hospitals, clinics, day centres or within private and community practice.

Third and fourth years

In the third year, half of the time is spent on academic studies and the other half on clinical placements in a variety of settings both within and outside the Dublin area.

In fourth year, you will undertake an investigative project and study the following subjects: sports and exercise medicine, ergonomics, professional issues and advances in physiotherapy.

Click here for further information on modules/subject.

Assessment

End-of-year written examinations and tests in certain subjects, such as anatomy, make up the theoretical assessment structure. There are a number of submitted assignments in third and fourth years.

In addition, you will be continuously assessed during your clinical placement and will have practical exams on the skills element of the course, including your assessment of a patient while on a clinical placement.

Study Physiotherapy at Trinity College Dublin

This video provides detail on Physiotherapy as a career and an overview of the four-year degree course in Physiotherapy at Trinity College Dublin.

Course Details

Awards

B.Sc. (Physio.) Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)

CAO Information

CAO Points 580 (2022) CAO Code TR053

Number of Places

40 Places
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Admission Requirements

Leaving Certificate O4 or H6 Mathematics

H4 In two of physics, chemistry, biology, physics/chemistry, mathematics or agricultural science

GCSE Grade B Mathematics

Advanced GCE (A-Level) Grade C In two of physics, chemistry, biology, or mathematics

International Baccalaureate: SL Grade 5 Mathematics

HL Grade 5 in two of physics, chemistry, biology or mathematics

Combinations of subjects not permitted: Physics/Chemistry with Physics or Chemistry
Agricultural Science with Biology

See Health Screening requirements

Students will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, see https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/undergraduates/garda-vetting.php for further details.

Note: Students on placements outside Dublin will have additional travel costs.

Note: There is currently no option for recognition of prior learning and all entrants must enter at year one (Junior Fresh).

Course Fees

Click here for a full list of undergraduate fees.

Apply

To apply to this course, click on the relevant Apply Link below

EU Applicants

Read the information about how to apply, then apply directly to CAO.

    Non-EU Applicants

    Advanced Entry Applications

    Read the information about how to apply for Advanced Entry, then select the link below to apply.