Student Progression & Award

A mark of 50% for the combined results (examination + assignments) is required to achieve a pass.
Students must achieve a mark of at least 40% for both the examination section and the assignment contribution to the total marks.
A combined result of 75% or more will be designated as a Pass with Distinction.
Students who are required to resit the examination or submit one or more additional assignments will be eligible to pass, but not to receive a Distinction.

Students who fail to achieve a satisfactory performance in any aspect of the assessment will be offered an opportunity to re-take the relevant assessment components as follows:

Any student who fails to achieve the marks required to allow them to pass the program will be offered one opportunity to repeat via additional assignment completion and/or resit examination as required.
- A student who is required to submit any missed assignments to bring their mark up to a pass level must do so within a timescale that allows the program to be completed within three years of the initial enrolment date
The assignment(s) to be submitted will NOT be the same as those originally set. This may incur an additional fee, which will be set annually.

Appeals process

Any student who is not satisfied with any aspect of the Program, including the outcome of any formal assessment, may appeal in the first instance to the Program Administrator, who will forward this to the person responsible for the assessment. Any such appeal should be lodged within fourteen days of the return of marks. If a mutually acceptable outcome is not achieved, the matter will be referred to an Appeals Committee, who will then review the relevant materials. This Committee will comprise one of the Program Directors and not fewer than three members of the Academic Advisory Board. Their decision will be final.

Award of Diploma

Students who successfully complete the components of the program outlined above, and who have paid the appropriate tuition fees, will be eligible to receive the IOC Diploma in Sports Physical Therapies. Certificates will be presented at a ceremony held at the IOC offices in Lausanne, Switzerland. Students may elect to graduate in absentia.

Post-qualification Experience

A formal post-graduate qualification in sports physical therapy is increasingly recognised as one of the essential parts of the training process for those wishing to work with high-level athletes, but it is also important to gain relevant practical experience. This cannot be taught in the classroom, but is learned by observation and experience. For this reason, most accreditation schemes operated by professional bodies require that applicants for registration complete some form of internship or practical training as well as acquiring a relevant paper qualification.

Students completing the IOC Diploma should be aware that the Diploma program in itself is not a license to practise and that they should expect to gain practical experience. This usually means an attachment where they can observe an experienced professional and gain experience by working as part of a team. Numerous opportunities for gaining post-qualification experience are available, and the program co-ordinators will try to assist students where possible in identifying potential attachments. However, it must be recognised that this may not be possible and students should make every effort to identify opportunities that meet their needs.