MSc (Preventive Cardiology) Postgraduate Diploma

Course details

This course equips students with the knowledge and skills required to make meaningful contributions to the discipline of preventive cardiology. The taught modules address the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its complications, the development and practical use of cardiovascular disease risk estimation tools, implementation of healthcare policy, behavioural change strategies, lifestyle approaches to risk factor modification and medical management of risk factors including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity and smoking. Students have the opportunity to actively engage with patients participating in various preventive cardiology programmes at the National Institute for Preventive Cardiology in the Croí Heart and Stroke Centre adjacent to the NUI Galway campus. Small group case-based discussions, workshops and clinical activities supplement the didactic lecture programme. The course has excellent online learning and guided self-directed learning dimensions as well as residential elements, enabling students to adapt their learning to their professional lives. Students completing the Masters track are supervised in designing an original research project which addresses a specific research question in any aspect of preventive cardiology. Contributors are drawn from clinical departments at Galway University Hospitals, scientific and healthcare disciplines at NUI Galway, the Croí clinical team, and the International Centre for Circulatory Health at Imperial College London.

Key facts

Entry requirements

Successful applicants will possess at least a Second Class Honours, Grade 1 degree in an appropriate life science, biological science, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, dietetics, sports science, or psychology. For those who do not hold a primary degree at the required level, a special case will be made if they have demonstrated aptitude for the course material through at least three years of high quality work experience in a relevant field of cardiovascular health. Entry to the Masters programme is conditional upon achieving at least 60% in the core compulsory module Fundamentals of Preventive Cardiology. Candidates coming to Ireland from abroad or who do not have a degree from Ireland or the UK will be asked to provide evidence of an acceptable result in one of the recognised English language proficiency tests, e.g. IELTS total score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.5 in each band. Prospective candidates may be interviewed by Skype or in person to confirm their suitability.

Course outline

MODULES

Core Compulsory Modules:

• Fundamentals of Preventive Cardiology
• Research Methods
• Reflective Clinical Practice
• Research Project and Dissertation (MSc only)

Elective Advanced Modules:

• Health Promotion Approaches in Preventive Cardiology Practice
• Medical Risk Factor Management
• Lifestyle Risk Factor Modification