C04306v3 Master of Physiotherapy
Award(s): Master of Physiotherapy (MPhysio)CRICOS code: 091975B
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 96
Course EFTSL: 2
Location: City campus
Notes
For 2025 Intake (Autumn B session), applications close 31 October 2024. However, applications may close earlier (without notice), based on volume of applications received. It is recommended that applicants apply early, as applications and eligibility for interviews are assessed on a rolling basis.
Indigenous applicants should apply via UTS Student Portal and are contacted by the Professor of Practice in Indigenous Health with further information. Indigenous applicants are welcome to submit cultural and/or community referees to accompany their application.
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Applications
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Rules and regulations
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
The Master of Physiotherapy is a two-year, graduate-entry degree leading to eligibility for registration as a physiotherapist in Australia. Innovative and practice-based in approach, the course's core areas of study include musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopaedic and cardiorespiratory physiotherapy across the lifespan.
In addition to core areas of physiotherapy, students learn about evidence-based and professional practice, interprofessional teamwork and leadership, and undertake a research project. Advanced subjects include treatment of complex patients, health promotion and community rehabilitation. All students develop a professional portfolio designed to reflect professional competencies.
Developed by experienced physiotherapy academics, the course's subject matter is delivered in an integrated, student-focused manner, making use of cutting-edge technologies. This course has been developed in consultation with a working party of experienced physiotherapy clinicians in hospitals and private practice. The discipline has strong links with industry.
Over the two-year course students complete approximately 700–800 hours of clinical placement, sourced for them, addressing a variety of client groups across the lifespan. Clinical placements in hospitals and private practice are carefully selected to complement in-class learning and offer supervision by experienced physiotherapists. Students are allocated placements within the Sydney metropolitan area, with potential opportunities also available in rural and regional settings.
Course aims
The course aims to prepare students for roles as registered physiotherapists, competent to apply their knowledge and skills to the assessment and practical care of humans across the lifespan. The course goes beyond traditional educational models to engage students in self-directed and problem-based learning to develop their professionalism, critical reasoning skills and experience with emerging technologies.
Career options
Physiotherapists work in a variety of specialisations across public, private or community settings, sporting clubs and rehabilitation centres. The UTS Master of Physiotherapy prepares students for a rewarding career helping improve peoples' quality of life.
Course intended learning outcomes
| 01.01 | Knowledge and skills: Integrate core biomedical and social health science knowledge across the breadth of physiotherapy practice to inform assessment and safe, competent and skilled practical care of individuals across the lifespan as an autonomous practitioner and as a member of an interprofessional team. |
| 01.02 | Clinical reasoning: Identify impairment, activity and participation deficits in individuals in accordance with the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health framework and develop evidence-based care plans in accordance with best practice physiotherapy. |
| 02.05 | Critical thinker: Critically analyse the evidence underpinning practice and effectively apply new knowledge to practice; conduct and disseminate high-quality research to improve professional knowledge and influence direction of future practice. |
| 02.09 | Research-enabled: Apply scientific research skills to advance the evidence base supporting physiotherapy practice. |
| 03.04 | Professional and ethical practitioner: Embody the physiotherapy profession, demonstrating globally relevant ethical and professional behaviour and social accountability, while utilising deliberate critical analysis, self-reflection and self-awareness to constantly improve practice. |
| 03.06 | Communication: Communicate effectively using high-level interpersonal skills in both traditional modes of communication and when integrating advances in technology and methods of intervention delivery into patient care. |
| 03.07 | Teamwork and leadership: Engage in leadership and collaboration, representing the profession in interprofessional teams and seeking advanced practitioner roles to ensure the future vitality of the profession. |
| 04.03 | Client focus: Provide empathetic, compassionate and respectful patient-focused care, facilitating client self-management, advocating for best practice care and empowering clients by education. |
| 05.08 | Indigenous awareness and cultural competence: Demonstrate respect and value for diverse ways of knowing, being and doing, in particular recognising the diversity of Indigenous Australians and their health and wellbeing and integrating this knowledge into practice. |
Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.
Applicants must have the following:
- Completed Australian bachelor's degree or higher qualification, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 5/7 AND Completed the following prerequisite subjects at a tertiary level within the last 10 years:
- two human anatomy subjects (structural and functional)
- one human physiology subject
- one exercise physiology subject
- one neuroscience subject
- one psychology subject
- one research methods subject
AND
- Communication skills, interpersonal skills, interest in physiotherapy, and commitment to physiotherapy as a career (assessed through an interview) AND For applicants with a physiotherapy degree completed overseas, demonstrated motivation for repeating a physiotherapy qualification (assessed through a personal statement)
Entry is competitive and assessment is based on grade point average (GPA).
The following UTS: Health degrees may be recognised for entry into the Master of Physiotherapy:
- Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (C10300)
- Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Management (C10301)
- Bachelor of Public Health (C10360)
Note: Students need to complete the prerequisites as electives within each degree listed above to be eligible.
Prerequisite checking
All prerequisite subjects must be assessed and approved by the school. Prerequisite subject approvals are subject to change as they undergo an annual academic review (a new assessment is required for each new intake). Prerequisites may be completed as non-award units at a recognised tertiary institution if applicants did not complete them as part of their undergraduate degree.
Prior to applications opening, applicants may submit a Prerequisite Assessment Table to gsh.future@uts.edu.au for pre-assessment. A pre-assessment is not required to apply. Pre-assessments will not be conducted once applications open.
Prior to commencing a subject to fulfil this requirement, applicants should request a pre-assessment by emailing gsh.future@uts.edu.au.
Professional and clinical requirements
All successful applicants are required to:
- acquire a Working With Children Check and an Australian National Police Check
- complete a series of NSW Health forms including a Code of Conduct
- demonstrate evidence of protection against a number of specified infectious diseases
Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application
All applicants:
- Completed Prerequisite Assessment Table
For applicants with a physiotherapy degree completed overseas:
- Personal statement demonstrating demonstrated motivation for repeating a physiotherapy qualification
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: minimum 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each subtest; or TOEFL: iBT: minimum 94 overall with a minimum score of 24 for reading and listening, 23 for speaking and 27 for writing; or PTE: minimum 65 overall with a minimum score of 65 in each subtest.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Applications
Local students
Domestic applicants can apply directly.
Applications should include a certified copy of any relevant academic transcript(s), subject outlines, and any other relevant supporting documentation.
International students
International applicants apply via UTS: International.
International applicants, in addition to the above requirements, are required to obtain a police certificate/criminal clearance from every country they have resided in. If a country does not issue police certificates/criminal clearances, applicants are required to complete a Statutory Declaration for Overseas Students.
Course duration and attendance
The course is an intensive two-year, full-time degree. Students are not permitted to enrol part time. As this is a full-time degree, it is expected that students can be available during standard Monday to Friday working hours. In addition to coursework during sessions, students are required to undertake clinical placements during session and block clinical placements during mid-session breaks.
Course structure
This course comprises a total of 96 credit points. Students undertake a total of 12 6-credit-point subjects and four 6-credit-point clinical subjects.
Course completion requirements
| STM91190 Core subjects (Physiotherapy) | 96cp | |
| Total | 96cp |
Course program
A typical course program is provided below.
| Autumn B commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn B Session | ||
| 96080 Clinical Assessment and Treatment Planning | 6cp | |
| 96081 Professional Practice | 6cp | |
| 96082 Core Practice for Physiotherapists | 6cp | |
| 96083 Pain Neuroscience and Management | 6cp | |
| Spring B Session | ||
| 96084 Sub-acute Rehabilitation | 6cp | |
| 96085 Outpatient Rehabilitation | 6cp | |
| 96088 Acute Physiotherapy Care | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| January Session | ||
| 96087 Clinical Placement 1 | 6cp | |
| Autumn B Session | ||
| 96089 Prevention and Rehabilitation in the Community | 6cp | |
| 96090 Specialist Practice | 6cp | |
| 96091 Clinical Placement 2 | 6cp | |
| 96086 Research Design in Physiotherapy | 6cp | |
| Spring B Session | ||
| 96092 Research Project | 6cp | |
| 96093 Transition to Practice | 6cp | |
| 96094 Clinical Placement 3 | 6cp | |
| 96095 Clinical Placement 4 | 6cp | |
Rules and regulations
Inherent Requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are inherent in or essential to the successful completion of a course. The inherent requirements framework for the Master of Physiotherapy is based on the following six themes:
- Legal and Behavioural Requirements;
- Communication Tasks – verbal; written; non-verbal;
- Cognitive/Intellectual Tasks – literacy; numeracy; knowledge and information;
- Sensory Tasks – visual; auditory; tactile;
- Physical Tasks – gross and fine motor requirements; and
- Sustainable Performance.
It is a requirement of this course to complete a number of clinical placements. Clinical placements involve a physiotherapy student going into a clinical setting to undertake the practical components of the course required for registration. If a student has a condition or disability that prevents them from completing a placement, completion of the degree may be hindered. Students should consult the full inherent requirements.
Professional recognition
The Master of Physiotherapy is fully accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, and approved by the Australian Physiotherapy Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a qualification leading to registration as a physiotherapist in Australia.
Other information
Register to attend an information session and/or contact:
UTS: Physiotherapy
email gsh.future@uts.edu.au
telephone +61 2 9514 1448