Postgraduate Study Programmes in Medical
Science (Health Informatics) and Medical Science
(Endovascular Surgery)
Programme description
The Department of Medical Informatics and Medical Education (MIME) offer a
choice of postgraduate study options in:
Medical Science (Health Informatics)
A generic programme designed for health care providers, nurses, physiotherapists,
speech and language therapists, doctors in training, consultants, and general
practitioners with an interest in Health and Medical Research/Science. Courses are
offered at Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma, and Masters Level and offer various
levels of competency in searching, retrieval, storage, and analyses of all aspects of
Medical and Health sciences. All courses provide a robust research background and
are designed to suit your personal interest and to assist your career in Health and
Medical Research, and enrollment in subsequent MD or PhD programmes.
Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Science (Health Informatics)
(3 modules completed over one semester- 4 months)
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Science (Health Informatics)
(6 modules completed over two semester- 8 months)
Masters of Medical Science (Health Informatics)
(8 modules and individual thesis completed over 2 years)
An exit route is built in at each level to facilitate individual study requirements and
change of posts of specialist registrars. Candidates must complete the requirements of
each programme in order to proceed to the next level of study.
Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery).
A specific programme designed for medical professionals specialising in
Endovascular Surgery with an interest in Medical Research/Science. Offered in
conjunction with the Western Vascular Institute, courses are offered at Diploma and
Masters Level and combine Practical Surgical Training with advanced Medical
Research. Further details of the programme can be obtained here.(www.vascular.ie)
The Endovascular Training content is provided under the guidance of vascular
surgeons. The curriculum is taught through hands-on, supervised training, and
supervised sessions in the Endovascular surgery teaching lab, and weekly scheduled
educational meetings.
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery)
(Specialist surgical training combined with 6 research modules- 1year)
Masters of Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery)
(Specialist surgical training combined with 8 research modules- 2 years)
Medical Science (Health Informatics)
Programme aims and objectives
The aim of the study programme is to apply knowledge and skills to search for and
critically appraise scientific evidence to answer researchable clinical questions, to
submit a research proposal and to complete this proposal through a research thesis in
Health/Medical Research.
By the end of this programme you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate critical appraisal skills regarding specified scientific literature.
2. Demonstrate an ability to ask researchable questions related to a specified
field of interest.
3. To detect the validity and reliability of published evidence and measurement
devices aimed to be used in a future research project.
4. To write a scientific essay in Word and referencing according to Vancouver
formats ( Word plus Endnote)
5. To know how to use advanced descriptive and inferential statistics and critical
appraisal of published statistics.
6. Demonstrate competence in designing your own research design and to
produce an appropriate research proposal.
7. To organise a research meeting(s) with fellow researchers/heads of
departments aiming the launch of your own research strand.
8. To submit an approved research proposal
9. To complete a research thesis
10. To publish the content of the thesis in scientific output styles ( Endnote)
ECTS weighting
Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Science (Health Informatics)
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Science (Health Informatics)
Masters of Medical Science (Health Informatics)
30 ECTS
60 ECTS
120 ECTS
Programme fee
EU Students
Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Science (Health Informatics)
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Science (Health Informatics)
Masters of Medical Science (Health Informatics)
€2,855
€4,840
€9,645
Non EU Students: Contact Fees Office
Application
Applications to these courses are made online via The Postgraduate Applications
Centre (PAC). Relevant PAC application codes are displayed above right.
Minimum entry requirement
Successful applicants will normally hold a primary degree in health care, medicine, or
equivalent qualification, at second class grade one level or above in a relevant subject
area. Competence in English language equivalent to IELTS 6.5.
Selection criteria
Applicants will be selected on the basis of their completed online application form.
Candidates must complete the requirements of each course in order to proceed to the
next level of study. Candidates wishing to read for the Masters in Medical Science
(Health Informatics) must have an approved research proposal prior to
commencement of their final year of study.
Career opportunities
Graduates of our previous Masters in Medical Science have gone on to pursue careers
in a diverse range of fields of health and medical research including MDs and PhDs
and improved professional knowledge, skills and attitudes in daily practice (Evidence
Based Healthcare).
Examination Arrangements
Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma (Health Informatics):
Candidates will be required to complete individual assignments and presentations for
each module. Assessment will be by two combined MCQ’s and assignments for
modules 1 to 3, and 4- 6 respectively. A detailed research proposal including a
scientific review of the literature (introduction section), and a full-fledged research
proposal (method section) together with regular attendance will be part of the final
exam.
Masters of Medical Science (Health Informatics)
Candidates will be required to prepare a full fledge scientific thesis according to
NUIG standards and a draft paper which has to be submitted to one of the core
health/medical journals.
Programme content (subject to change)
Informatics modules are offered in block released courses of one week duration,
delivered via a blend of face-to-face teaching and enquiry based learning. Distance
learning is encouraged through online course materials available via the University’s
Blackboard website.
Modules, Year 1, Semester 1
Module 1: Finding the Needle in the I-stack (E-resources)
Module 2: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics (Critical Appraisal)
Module 3: From Popper to Proposal (Research methods)
Modules, Year 1, Semester 2
Module 4: Searching the Internet (Advanced Level)
Module 5: Research Methods (Advanced Level)
Module 6: Advanced Statistics
Modules, Year 2, Semester 1 and 2
Module 1: Scientific Writing and Publication
Module 2: Research Thesis
Further details of the module dates can be obtained here.
Dates
September 2009
November 2009
January 2009
ECTS
10
10
10
February 2010
April 2010
June 2010
10
10
10
September 2009 10
September 2009 50
Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery).
Programme aims and objectives
The aim of the study programme is to combine practical Endovascular surgical
training with evidence based medical research skills. Candidates will apply
knowledge and skills to search for and critically appraise scientific evidence to answer
researchable clinical questions, to submit a research proposal and to complete this
proposal through a research thesis in Endovascular surgery.
The Endovascular Training content is provided under the guidance of vascular
surgeons from the Western Vascular Institute.The curriculum is taught through handson, supervised training, and supervised sessions in the Endovascular surgery teaching
lab, and weekly scheduled educational meetings.
By incorporating specific Endovascular surgery elements to the existing generic
modules of the Diploma/Masters in Medical Science (Health Informatics), learners
will be able to read for a Diploma/Masters in Medical Science (Endovascular surgery)
which may be more attractive to their career targets.
By the end of this programme you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate critical appraisal skills regarding specified scientific literature.
2. Demonstrate an ability to ask researchable questions related to a specified
field of interest.
3. To detect the validity and reliability of published evidence and measurement
devices aimed to be used in a future research project.
4. To write a scientific essay in Word and referencing according to Vancouver
formats ( Word plus Endnote)
5. To know how to use advanced descriptive and inferential statistics and critical
appraisal of published statistics.
6. Demonstrate competence in designing your own research design and to
produce an appropriate research proposal.
7. To organise a research meeting(s) with fellow researchers/heads of
departments aiming the launch of your own research strand.
8. To submit an approved research proposal
9. To complete a research thesis
10. To publish the content of the thesis in scientific output styles ( Endnote)
11. Understand the basic concepts of all Endovascular surgery procedures,
including:








Imaging equipment, radiation physics, and safety
Diagnostic arteriography and venography
Guide wire and catheter skills
Percutaneous vascular access
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)
Subintimal Angioplasty
Intravascular stents
Pharmacologic and mechanical thrombolytic therapy




Stent-grafts for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms
Coil embolization (to facilitate endovascular AAA repair)
Closure of percutaneous access sites
Accepted intra-arterial and intracaval filtering devices
12. Obtain the fundamental skills and technical concepts of:








Devices to facilitate and close vascular access
Endovascular guide wires
Diagnostic catheters
Balloons for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
Intravascular stents
Percutaneous thrombectomy/thrombolysis devices or agents
Endovascular grafts
Coil and/or particulate embolization
ECTS weighting
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery)
Masters of Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery)
60 ECTS
120 ECTS
Programme fee
EU Students
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery)
Masters of Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery)
€ 4,840
€ 9,645
Non EU Students: Contact Fees Office
Application
Applications to these courses are made online via The Postgraduate Applications
Centre (PAC). Relevant PAC application codes are displayed above right.
Minimum entry requirement
Applicants must be a qualified and registered medical physician /surgeon, and in
addition must hold a place on the Western Vascular Institute’s, Endovascular Training
Programme. Competence in English language equivalent to IELTS 6.5
Selection criteria
Candidates enrolled on the Western Vascular Institute’s Endovascular Training
Programme as well as other suitably qualified medical persons.
Career opportunities
Graduates of our previous Masters in Medical Science have gone on to pursue careers
in a diverse range of fields of health and medical research including MDs and PhDs
and improved professional knowledge, skills and attitudes in daily practice (Evidence
Based Medicine).
Examination Arrangements
Postgraduate Diploma (Endovascular Surgery):
Candidates will be required to complete individual assignments and presentations for
each module. Assessment will be by two combined MCQ’s and assignments for
modules 1 to 3, and 4- 6 respectively. A detailed research proposal including a
scientific review of the literature (introduction section), and a full-fledged research
proposal (method section) together with regular attendance will be part of the final
exam.
Candidates must complete a logbook and there will be ongoing evaluation of the
knowledge, competency, attitudes, and performance of the Endovascular surgery
trainees. The assessment will include cognitive, motor, and interpersonal skills as well
as Endovascular surgery judgement, to verify the individual has demonstrated
sufficient professional ability to practice Endovascular surgery therapy completely
and independently. This evaluation will be performed at three-monthly intervals, as
well as upon completion of the training programme.
Masters of Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery)
Candidates will be required to prepare a full fledge scientific thesis according to
NUIG standards and a draft paper which has to be submitted to one of the core
health/medical journals.
Candidates must complete a logbook and there will be ongoing evaluation of the
knowledge, competency, attitudes, and performance of the Endovascular surgery
trainees. The assessment will include cognitive, motor, and interpersonal skills as well
as Endovascular surgery judgement, to verify the individual has demonstrated
sufficient professional ability to practice Endovascular surgery therapy completely
and independently. This evaluation will be performed at three-monthly intervals, as
well as upon completion of the training programme.
Programme content (subject to change)
Informatics modules are offered in block released courses of one week duration,
delivered via a blend of face-to-face teaching and enquiry based learning. Distance
learning is encouraged through online course materials available via the University’s
Blackboard website.
Modules, Year 1, Semester 1
Module 1: Finding the Needle in the I-stack (E-resources)
Module 2: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics (Critical Appraisal)
Module 3: From Popper to Proposal (Research methods)
Modules, Year 1, Semester 2
Module 4: Searching the Internet (Advanced Level)
Module 5: Research Methods (Advanced Level)
Module 6: Advanced Statistics
Modules, Year 2, Semester 1 and 2
Module 1: Scientific Writing and Publication
Module 2: Research Thesis
Further details of the module dates can be obtained here.
Dates
September 2009
November 2009
January 2009
ECTS
10
10
10
February 2010
April 2010
June 2010
10
10
10
September 2009 10
September 2009 50