La Trobe University
Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Investigate pain sciences and human tissue sciences, which are the foundational areas supporting advanced musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy.
Course overview
The Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy provides an in-depth understanding of the clinical sciences that underpin musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy.
Explore the pain and human tissue sciences, including muscle, tendon, connective tissue and bone. Learn how tissues develop, adapt to regular and intense use and respond to overload and injury, vital knowledge for developing rehabilitation programs.
Use client-centred management techniques when meeting and assessing patients and examine clinical reasoning processes using case studies.
Your practical subjects allow you to apply what you've learned in a clinical setting. Work under the supervision of recognised sports and exercise physiotherapists and hone your advanced neuro-musculoskeletal examination and management skills. You'll also build clinical decision-making skills, including selecting and progressing treatments and planning ongoing management programs.
Mainly delivered online, this course allows you to fit study around your career.
You'll learn:
- Patient interaction: Learn to examine, diagnose and manage patients using client-centred techniques.
- Clinical reasoning: Learn to make clinical decisions using a case-based paradigm.
Key facts
What you will study
To qualify for the award of Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy, students must complete a total of 120 credit points across 2 years.
- Academic Integrity Module
- Advanced Physiotherapy for the Lower Body
- Advanced Physiotherapy for the Upper Body
- Pathophysiology and Pain Science for Advanced Physiotherapy
- Research to Inform Advanced Physiotherapy
- Advanced Sport and Exercise Physiotherapy
- Advanced Sport and Exercise Physiotherapy Clinical Placement (45 credit points)
Entry requirements
Prerequisites
- Successful completion of an Australian bachelor's degree (or equivalent).
- Specialisation - compulsory: Physiotherapy.
Selection criteria
- Current complete registration as a physiotherapist or be eligible for complete registration under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Please provide a copy of your registration when applying.
- Applicants must have a minimum of two years of current clinical experience in the clinical area of sports and exercise physiotherapy.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit for previous study (advanced standing) is the recognition of prior study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous study and the number of subjects completed.
The University will designate courses with only admission into Year 1 of the course. In these cases, there is limited credit. Please take a look at the list of limited-entry courses.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Deliver client-centred management, integrating advanced biomedical and clinical knowledge with specialised clinical reasoning in sport and exercise settings.
- Critically interpret research and clinical information to enhance clinical reasoning and client management and promote effective health care.
- Apply expert judgments to guide clinical reasoning and management within multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe return to sport, enhance athletic performance and promote injury prevention.
- Demonstrate autonomy, adaptability and specialised sport and exercise physiotherapy skills to demonstrate key professional roles as a practitioner, administrator, scholar and educator.
- Apply advanced communication skills to support clinical reasoning that promotes injury prevention, enhances performance and encourages a safe, active lifestyle across communities, client populations and sports organisations.
- Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information to address diverse clinical presentations in sports and exercise physiotherapy practice.
- Demonstrate a commitment to ethical standards, accountability, culturally responsive care and the promotion of fair play and anti-doping practices.
- Employ advanced research skills to critically evaluate practice, identify gaps and questions for further study and design and implement research that contributes to evidence-based sports and exercise physiotherapy.
Career outcomes
- Sports physiotherapist (private practice)
- Sports physiotherapist (sporting club)
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated fees per year (2025): $48,800 (domestic full-fee paying place)
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 120 credit points for two years.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
