For more than a decade, Portobello Institute and City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas, formerly known as Coláiste Íde, have worked together to create a clear progression route for students with ambitions in sports therapy, physiotherapy, and related fields.
Both institutions place student development and professional outcomes at the heart of their approach, united by a commitment to opening up academic and career opportunities that learners may not previously have thought possible.
An important part of this is creating an accessible pathway that allows students to continue working towards university when direct entry through the traditional Leaving Certificate and CAO system is not available to them. It keeps the door to higher education open, providing them with the academic and practical foundations needed to succeed at degree level.
Portobello Institute is an independent higher education provider with a strong reputation for practical, career-focused study, while City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas is a respected further education and training (FET) college known for high-quality vocational education.
As the relationship has grown closer, it has strengthened the bridge between further and higher education, giving students greater guidance and options as they enter highly regarded degree programmes, progress into postgraduate study, and prepare for rewarding careers.
Rather than allowing one stage of the education system to determine what is possible, this collaboration offers another credible and purposeful way forward, grounded in academic preparation, structured support, and opportunity.
Connecting Pre-University Study with Higher Education
This long-standing partnership began in 2016 when Portobello Institute launched its BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy programme and established a relationship with the teaching team at City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas (then Coláiste Íde).
Since then, the two Dublin-based institutions have collaborated closely to guide students preparing for futures in sports therapy and physiotherapy as they move from further education into higher education.
The pathway begins at City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas, where students undertake the Pre-University Physiotherapy programme. Designed for both those beginning their professional journey and those seeking a change of direction later in life, the programme is intended not only to lead to a recognised QQI award, but to prepare students for progression into higher education.
Through focused academic study and supervised practical experience, students have time to build confidence, develop their academic skills, and gain a stronger understanding of sport, exercise, and health before taking the next step. By the end, they gain a QQI Level 6 Award in Sports, Recreation and Exercise.
The partnership then provides an advanced entry route straight into the second year of Portobello Institute’s BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy for students who wish to continue their studies at degree level. Awarded by University of Essex, the degree develops students’ understanding of human movement, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and physical performance, laying the foundation for careers in sports therapy or for further postgraduate study.
A distinctive feature of the collaboration is the opportunity for eligible students to start the programme in Year 2, shortening the path to graduation from three years to two. Entry at this stage is subject to students’ readiness and recognises the valuable, subject-specific learning they have already completed at City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas, which supports the accelerated academic pathway.
Sports Therapy Careers and Progression to Physiotherapy
Many BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy graduates choose to build rewarding careers in sports therapy, working across injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance in settings ranging from sports teams and clinics to private practice.
For those who ultimately wish to qualify as physiotherapists, postgraduate study represents the next stage of the journey. Following the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy, graduates can apply for a physiotherapy master's programme such as Portobello Institute’s MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration).
Developed with Health Sciences University in response to Ireland’s demand for qualified physiotherapists, this modern master’s programme prepares students for professional registration and practice.
Through the advanced entry opportunity, the collaborative pathway from City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas to Portobello Institute offers a five-year route towards becoming a physiotherapist, without relying on the traditional Leaving Certificate and CAO system.
Student Success: Sean Moriarty’s Journey into Physiotherapy
After completing the Pre-University Physiotherapy programme at City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas, Sean Moriarty gained advanced entry into Year 2 of Portobello Institute’s BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy.
He later completed a physiotherapy master’s and is now a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist in Edinburgh.
“The progression from Coláiste Íde (now City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas) to Portobello Institute was a crucial step in me achieving my goal of going on to study physiotherapy,” says Sean.
“It gave me a clear pathway to becoming a physiotherapist at a time when I was feeling a bit lost on my path.”
Guiding Students into Degree-Level Study
Portobello Institute and City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas maintain regular communication throughout the academic year, giving students a clear understanding of the progression pathway and supporting a confident transition to degree-level study.
The Portobello team meets Pre-University Physiotherapy students at key stages. An initial visit introduces the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree, outlines the opportunities available, and gives students a meaningful goal to work towards. A later visit allows those considering progression to ask questions and gain a fuller picture of studying at Portobello.
Advanced entry is not guaranteed; it is considered collaboratively and on an individual basis. Academic teams from both institutions assess each student’s knowledge and readiness for Year 2. Where Year 1 would provide a stronger foundation, it may be recommended instead, keeping long-term student success at the centre of every decision.
The advanced entry pathway has benefited many students throughout the partnership, with the number taking this route continuing to grow each year.
The programme and academic teams at Portobello Institute and City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas draw on shared expertise to continually enhance both programmes, ensuring students are well prepared for the next stage of their academic or professional journey.
The Next Phase: An Integrated Teaching Model
As the partnership continues to develop, it is entering a new phase of closer academic collaboration. For the first time, Portobello Institute will contribute directly to students’ learning while they remain enrolled at City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas.
Pre-University Physiotherapy students considering enrolling on Portobello Institute’s BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree can complete a six-week series of Academic Writing sessions and eight weeks of Biomechanics teaching, both embedded within their existing programme and delivered online by Portobello’s expert tutors.
Together with the Sports Anatomy and Physiology module within the Pre-University Physiotherapy programme, this aligned teaching and coordinated curriculum establish a stronger, more structured academic bridge between the two programmes.
By gaining early insight into Portobello Institute’s teaching methods, assessment approach, and academic expectations, students benefit from a smoother transition to higher education and begin degree-level study with greater confidence.
A “Success Story” Partnership That Continues to Evolve
Portobello Institute and City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas continue to consolidate and expand their educational partnership by building on the integrated teaching model and exploring opportunities for deeper academic alignment.
Ongoing and planned developments will strengthen a flexible and supportive route into higher education for school leavers, mature learners, and students who benefit from further preparation before beginning a degree.
Both institutions see the potential for this model to become a blueprint for future progression pathways across other subject areas, demonstrating how closer collaboration between further and higher education can create better outcomes for students.
Denise Flood, Executive Dean at Portobello Institute, explains: “This is a success story. It’s about two institutions working closely together over a long period to help students achieve career goals they might not otherwise have thought possible.
“It shows that there isn’t only one route into higher education. Sometimes a different pathway, supported properly, can lead to the same destination.”
Dr Jean FitzGerald, Principal of City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas, adds: “From a guidance point of view, one of the biggest benefits is that students can see that missing out on a first-choice physiotherapy or sports therapy course does not mean the door is closed. There are other routes, and this pathway gives them a very real opportunity to keep moving towards those careers.
“What excites me about the new integrated teaching model is that it brings further education and higher education closer together. Students get a clearer sense of what is expected at the next level and a smoother transition into degree study.
“The main thing I would say to prospective students is that this is not a second-best route. It is another route into sports therapy and towards physiotherapy, and for the right student, it can be a very strong one.”
Explore the Sports Therapy and Physiotherapy Pathway
Discover how the Pre-University Physiotherapy programme at City of Dublin FET College Íde, Finglas can lead to Portobello Institute’s BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy - Advanced Entry and further progression towards physiotherapy.
