As reflected within the speciality of preventive cardiology, this course is interdisciplinary in nature and designed predominantly for health care practitioners. The course addresses the latest evidence-based development and practical use of cardiovascular disease risk estimation tools, implementation of best-practice guidelines and healthcare policy, behavioural change strategies, lifestyle approaches to risk factor modification, psychosocial health, and medical management of risk factors including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and smoking. Outcome measures, health technology, and innovation in service design also feature strongly There is also a specialist pathway in cardiac rehabilitation available as an option for practitioners with a specific interest in secondary prevention. 

This programme aims to provide medical doctors from all settings, nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, occupational therapists, podiatrists and other allied professions with knowledge and skills to provide high-quality patient care as well as an array of career opportunities in clinical service transformation, research, academia, and industry. Students 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 the University Hospital Galway, scientific and healthcare disciplines at the University of Galway, the Croí clinical team, and an array of established national and international partnerships.

Who is this course for?

Designed for healthcare professionals (nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, physicians) and graduates in health sciences who want to specialise in cardiovascular prevention. Ideal for those aiming to lead clinical programmes, influence policy, or pursue research in preventive medicine.

What will I study?

• Core areas: Cardiovascular risk assessment, lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy, behavioural medicine, and integrated care models.
• Structure:
  • Semester 1: Foundations of preventive cardiology, epidemiology, and clinical guidelines.
  • Semester 2: Advanced interventions, research methods, and practical workshops.
  • Summer: Dissertation focused on preventive strategies or clinical innovation.
• Delivery: Blended learning with online lectures, interactive seminars, and on-campus workshops.

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• Flexible learning: This programme offers a dual-delivery model, including a fully online option. Students benefit from scheduled tutorials and workshops combined with guided independent study, allowing them to balance professional clinical roles or other commitments while completing their coursework.
• Expert faculty: Learn from global leaders in cardiology, nursing, nutrition, and public health.
• Industry partnerships: Delivered in partnership with the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC):This partnership enables an exceptional opportunity for students to interact with leading experts as well as engage in cutting-edge research and further opportunities in preventive cardiology.
• Interdisciplinary expert teaching faculty: Students from a variety of backgrounds from all over the world interact with international leaders and clinical specialists from medicine, nursing, nutrition, exercise, psychology, and public health.

Are you interested in the risk factors which underlie cardiovascular disease? Are you motivated to prevent cardiovascular disease rather than merely treating its manifestations? Do you want to provide effective self-management support to individuals living with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other related long-term conditions? Do you want to influence national healthcare policy by demonstrating the patient and economic benefits of cardiovascular disease prevention? If so, then preventive cardiology may be the course for you!

Graduates of this course will be positioned as leaders in cardiovascular disease prevention and will find ample opportunities to apply their learning across a variety of clinical settings in both primary and secondary care.

There will also be employment opportunities in public health, health promotion, healthcare management, academic and research settings, and the pharmaceutical industry. Clinician graduates will benefit from career advancement within their chosen disciplines. Master’s students completing the 5,000-word ready-for-publication dissertation will be supported in preparing their work for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, which will further augment their career prospects.  

Clinical placements are integrated into the programme, offering hands-on experience in preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation settings. Students work alongside multidisciplinary teams, applying theory to real-world patient care.

The MSc Preventive Cardiology meets international standards for postgraduate education in cardiovascular health. Graduates may pursue professional recognition in Ireland and abroad, depending on career pathways and additional qualifications.

This course is delivered by an interdisciplinary teaching faculty of leading experts and clinical specialists in preventive cardiology. The Programme Board comprises of:

Dr Jennifer Jones

Programme Director and Specialist Physiotherapist in Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation

Professor Bill McEvoy

Professor of Preventive Cardiology, University of Galway and Consultant Cardiologist, UCHG 

Professor David Wood

Adjunct Professor in Preventive Cardiology, University of Galway

Professor Gerard Flaherty

Preventive Cardiology and Medical Education, University of Galway 

Prof Francis Finucane

Consultant Endocrinologist, UHG and Specialist Lead for Endocrinology, Saolta Group

Professor Derek O’Keeffe

Consultant Endocrinologist and Expert in Diabetes and Technology & Innovation

Professor Wael Tawfick  

Vascular Surgeon, UHG and Clinical Lecturer, University of Galway

Professor Catriona Jennings

Nurse Specialist and Senior Researcher, University of Galway

Dr Rachel Garrod  

Specialist Physiotherapist in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Noeleen Fallon

Specialist Nurse in Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Past President of the Irish Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation (IACR)

Dr Yvonne Finn

Lecturer in Clinical Medicine, University of Galway

Dr Lisa Hynes

Health Psychologist and Head of Health Programmes, Croí Heart and Stroke Centre

Dr Susan Connolly

Consultant Cardiologist, Clinical Lead in Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation

Ms Irene Gibson

Specialist Nurse in Health Promotion and Prevention / Management of Chronic Diseases

Ms Suzanne Seery  

Senior Specialist Dietitian in Cardiovascular Health

Ms Siobhan Teague

Senior Cardiac Physiologist, Health Service Executive

Ms Gloria Avalos  

Lecturer and Research Fellow, University of Galway

Dr Marwa Said

Family Practice Physician 

Dr Marah Elfghi

NIPC Fellow, Past Graduate of MSc Preventive Cardiology

Interactive lectures, case-based seminars, and practical workshops combine with online learning. Group projects and research assignments foster collaboration and critical thinking.

The course starts in September and finishes in August, covering teaching and clinical placement components. Structured weekly directed study is coupled with a schedule of group-based lectures, tutorials, and interactive workshops. These group-based sessions are delivered online via live sessions and are timetabled for Thursdays and Fridays (3 pm – 8 pm) with occasional Saturdays (10 am – 3 pm). Students working simultaneously in a clinical setting can complete their studies using a fully online option, enabling access to the programme from their home country. International students with a Tier 2 Visa choosing to reside in Ireland during their studies and those not working in clinical practice are required to complete a weekly timetable of face-to-face activities that take place in a range of clinical settings.    

How Will I Be Assessed?

Continuous assessment through essays, presentations, and practical evaluations, plus a research dissertation.

Across all three semesters, students work on a primary Research Project (30 ECT) that is submitted as a ready-to-publish article at the end of the programme.   

Each module has associated assessments. At the end of Semester 1 online examinations are run for these modules. The remainder of the course has continuous assessments in the form of essays or equivalent—e.g., written assignments, presentations, and case reviews.

Programme Director(s):

Dr Jennifer Jones 
Senior Lecturer in Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Health,
College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences,
University of Galway
Director of Education and Training,
National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC).
T: +353 91 893 299
E: jennifer.jones@universityofgalway.ie  

• Is this programme suitable for non-clinical graduates? Yes, if you have a health science background.
• Can I study part-time? Currently offered full-time only.
• Is there a dissertation? Yes, focused on preventive cardiology research.

University of Galway recognises that knowledge and skills can be acquired from a range of learning experiences. This is in line with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) goals which aim to recognise all learning achievements by supporting the development of alternative pathways to qualifications (or awards) and by facilitating the recognition of prior learning (RPL).

Successful applicants will possess at least a Second Class Honours, Grade 1 degree (or equivalent) in a health care discipline or related subject area (e.g., medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics, sport and exercise science, clinical or health psychology, pharmacology, health scientist, health promotion, public health, etc). For those who do not hold a primary degree at the required level, a special case will be made if they have demonstrated an 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 Master’s programme is conditional upon achieving at least 60% in the core compulsory modules of the Postgraduate Diploma that take place in Semester 1. 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 (or equivalent). Prospective candidates may be interviewed as part of the selection process. This usually takes place remotely via telephone, Teams or Zoom.

Academic entry requirements standardised per country are available here

English Language Entry Requirements 

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language proficiency of IELTS score of 6.5 is required (with no less than 6.5 in Writing and no less than 6.0 in any other band) or equivalent. 

More information on English language test equivalency are available here.

 Supporting Documents 

You will be required to provide supporting documentation as part of your application. You can check here what supporting documents are required for this course.  

You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here. 

Please review the entry requirements set out in the section above.

You will be required to upload supporting documentation to your application electronically. See the section above on entry requirements for further information on the supporting documentation required for this course.

 Closing Dates

Please view the offer rounds website.

Fees for Academic Year 2026/27

Course Type	Year	EU Tuition	Student Contribution	Non-EU Tuition	Levy	Total Fee	Total EU Fee	Total Non-EU Fee
Masters Full Time	1	€9,400		€18,800	€140		€9,540	€18,940

For 26/27 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 1.8% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,500 towards your tuition (2026/27).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here. 

Postgraduate Excellence Scholarships

This scholarship is valued at €1,500 for EU students applying for full-time taught master's postgraduate courses. You will be eligible if:

• You have been accepted to a full-time taught master's course at University of Galway,
• You have attained a first class honours (or equivalent) in a Level 8 primary degree.

An application for the scholarship scheme is required (separate to the application for a place on the programme). The application portal for 2026 is now open and available here. Applications will close on the 30th September 2026. Full details available here.

Global Scholarships  
University of Galway offers a range of merit-based scholarships to students from a number of countries outside of the EU. Visit here for schemes currently available.

 Application Process

 Students applying for full time postgraduate programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here. 

Our application portal opens on the 1^st October each year for each the following September.  

 Further Information

Please visit the postgraduate admissions webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.