Health & Exercise Sciences with Massage Therapy - Kerry
This honours degree provides you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and professional skills in preparation for an exciting career in the health, fitness and leisure sector and as a massage therapist.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Score the necessary CAO points and meet Leaving Certificate Minimum entry requirements
6 Subjects
Subjects O6/H7 4
Subjects H5 2
Maths Grade 06/H7
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
Certificate of Fitness
Garda Vetting
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements may be satisfied by the results of more than one Leaving Certificate. The minimum entry requirements may be varied for non-standard applicants and holders of QQI-FET awards.
2nd Chance Maths Exam
Some students who apply for MTU courses may not achieve the required entry standard in Maths through the Leaving Certificate examination. For such applicants, the University offers a second chance to reach the required entry standard through a MTU Maths Exam.
This second chance facility allows applicants (depending on their results in the MTU Maths Exam) to gain entry to courses with an Ordinary Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard and (with a higher level of performance) courses with a Higher Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard.
Common Bonus Points Scale for Higher Level Maths
A bonus of 25 points is awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) Maths.
Formula:
All students presenting H6 or above in HL Maths will have 25 points added to their score for Maths.
The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.
Foundation Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
MT 571 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 574 BA in Social Care
MT 654 HC in Arts in Hospitality Studies
MT 655 HC in Arts in Culinary Studies
MT 971 BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 974 BA (Honours) in Social Care
Maths is not required for entry to:
MT 575 BA in Community Development
MT 572 BA in Early Childhood Education & Care
MT 820 BA (Honours) in Contemporary Applied Art (Ceramics, Glass, Textiles)
MT 821 BA (Honours) in Fine Art
MT 822 BA (Honours) in Photography with New Media
MT 823 BA (Honours) in Visual Communications
MT 931 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Guitar
MT 932 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Bass Guitar
MT 933 BA (Honours) on Popular Music - Keyboards
MT 934 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Drums
MT 935 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Voice
MT 936 BA (Honours) in Music
MT 938 BA (Honours) in Musical Theatre
MT 939 BA (Honours in Theatre and Drama Studies
Although not a requirement, if an applicant achieves a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths, this grade is recognised for entry and CAO points are awarded as follows: F1 = 20 points, F2 = 12 points.
Full details of the minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined on the relevant course webpage. Applicants are advised to check the relevant subjects, tests, portfolios, and dates very carefully. In particular, there are early assessment procedures for some courses.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO. Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to MTU full-time courses. Holders of Leaving Certificate Applied qualifications may wish to proceed to a FET-QQI course and in turn apply to third level on the basis of their FET-QQI award.
Careers / Further progression
Employment Opportunities
On graduation, you will be a health and fitness professional, a wellness educator with a specialist knowledge and practice in massage therapy. You will be equipped to work in a variety of settings, including health and leisure centres, health promotion, spa/wellness centres, hotels, mainstream and special- needs schools, community centres, clinical settings, workplaces and in the private/ entrepreneurial area being competent to specialise in hands on relaxation and clinical massage techniques, activity leadership, remedial and orthopaedic massage.
Graduates can take up employment opportunities in the areas of coaching, sports massage and rehabilitation, health and wellbeing promotion, in the area of physical education with young and older adult groups and in adapted physical activity education.
Further Studies
Graduates who achieve the specified level of academic performance are eligible to progress to the MSc in Applied Exercise for Health at MTU Kerry campus or to research at either master or PhD level.
PLEASE NOTE: if you sustain injuries that impact your physical engagement with the programme, this may affect your ability to continue on the programme and/or to progress.
Further information
September 2026
10
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
This honours degree provides you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and professional skills in preparation for an exciting career in the health, exercise and sports sector and as a massage therapist. The programmes consist of applied, active training programmes (massage casework, aquatic therapy, aquatic rehabilitation, applied anatomy and posture, functional assessment, fitness testing) and the theoretical foundations underpinning the promotion of wellness (wellbeing science, behaviour change, exercise referral) and optimal body function through massage/ body work.
The programme emphasises community engagement, relevant massage practice, wellness education and the importance of a broad skill set. As you progress, you can expect to become confident in your professional skills, your life skills and in communicating the theoretical basis for concepts in health and exercise sciences. Graduates will have a bachelor of science honours degree, massage therapist accreditation with IMTA, and may also be eligible for professional fitness instructor registration in group exercise, gym instruction and personal training.
What will I study?
First Year at a Glance:
• Exercise Science – Anatomy and Physiology: the aim of this module is to explain, through principles and concepts of physiology and anatomy, the structure of the human body and how physiological systems contribute to overall body function
• Health and Personal Wellbeing: in this introductory health studies module, student lifestyle, health choices and personal wellness will be explored
• Therapeutic and remedial massage: in this module students will learn the basic massage strokes for conducting a range of massage treatments
• Activity Leadership: this module brings students to a level of competence in the planning, delivery and evaluation of individual and group exercise sessions in the exercise to music and gym environments with healthy adults.
Eimear Foley
Department of Health and Leisure Studies
Tel: +353 (0)66 714 4168
Email: eimear.foley@mtu.ie