The programme is divided into four themes, through which your knowledge and skills are sequentially developed. These themes are:

• Structure and Function
• Clinical Skills
• Professional Capabilities
• Clinical Practice

The first two years of the course equip you with scientific knowledge, specialised manual and rehabilitation techniques, and analytical, diagnostic and reasoning skills. Essentially these are to prepare for your final year where the focus moves to Clinical Practice and the application of what you have learned in the care of your patients. In this final year you will attend the Student Clinic where you will take responsibility (with full Tutor support) for your own patient caseload. This hands-on and experiential approach is unique to the Institute. It ensures that graduates are competent practitioners with the real confidence and skills to undertake private practice.

Structure and Function
This theme encompasses Anatomy, Physiology, Neurology and Clinical Pathology. It provides a detailed examination and analysis of the body’s structure, how it works and the changes that occur in health and illness. The theme runs through the first two years and the application of this scientific knowledge informs your Clinical Skills and Clinical Practice.

Clinical Skills
This theme introduces you to the science and art of physical therapy diagnosis and practice, using your scientific knowledge from Theme 1. It begins with basic manual skills and develops over the three years to include highly specialised techniques used in the rehabilitation of sports injuries.

Professional Capabilities
To be an effective therapist you first need to develop the skills and knowledge to become an effective learner. These skills are introduced through a module that also encourages the development of writing and oral communication skills - an important part of daily practice. This part of the course is particularly apposite if you have been away from study for some time, or are approaching physical therapy as a new career option. Critical analysis and the importance of reflective learning are also emphasised and are integrated into the learning strategies. You will learn to manage client consultations and develop a self-critical approach to practice, working collaboratively with colleagues and developing your ability to give and receive feedback.

Clinical Practice
The clinical placement, which takes place at the Student Clinic at the Priory Clinic, allows you develop a range of skills in a well-supported environment. You move from managing straightforward musculoskeletal problems in your first year to responsibility for a more complex caseload as an autonomous practitioner in your final year. It is an exciting culmination of your study as you engage in the application of the theory and techniques you have mastered at the Institute. The quality and variety of clinical experience on the course is unrivalled in Ireland. It ensures that on graduation you have both the skills and confidence to establish your own private practice. (See Clinical Placement.)