University of Canberra
Master of Physiotherapy
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Develop advanced physiotherapy knowledge and clinical skills across musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiothoracic practice, supported by extensive clinical placement experience across a range of healthcare
Course overview
The University of Canberra’s Master of Physiotherapy is a two-year postgraduate course designed for graduates with an appropriate health-related background who want to qualify for professional physiotherapy practice. The course develops knowledge of human structure and function while building clinical reasoning, communication and evidence-based practice skills relevant to contemporary physiotherapy.
Your studies cover major areas of physiotherapy practice, including musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiothoracic assessment and intervention. You will also study orthopaedic physiotherapy, physiotherapy across the lifespan, applied physiotherapy skills, epidemiology and research planning, helping you connect scientific evidence with clinical decision-making.
Work Integrated Learning is a substantial component of the course. UC states that students undertake four five-week clinical placements, with experience potentially spanning acute care, rehabilitation, neurological services, residential care, paediatric settings and aged care. Placements are undertaken full-time and may require interstate travel.
The Master of Physiotherapy is delivered on campus at UC’s Bruce campus and is normally completed in two years full-time. UC’s 2027 course information confirms the program is professionally focused, combining academic study with practical and clinical learning to prepare graduates for physiotherapy practice.
Key facts
7th August, 2028
What you will study
To complete the Master of Physiotherapy, students must complete 48 credit points. Most units are worth three credit points, with Musculoskeletal Interventions 1 worth six credit points.
Students must pass 36 credit points as follows:
- Cardiothoracic Interventions 1
- Neurological Interventions 1
- Musculoskeletal Interventions 2
- Cardiothoracic Interventions 2
- Neurological Interventions 2
- Epidemiology and Principles of Research
- Orthopaedic Physiotherapy
- Physiotherapy Across the Lifespan
- Applied Physiotherapy Skills
- Musculoskeletal Interventions 1 (six credit points)
- Advanced Evidence Based Practice
Entry requirements
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Applicants must have a completed bachelor degree in a health science discipline with a credit or higher average, and degree-level studies in musculoskeletal anatomy, advanced functional anatomy, physiology of exercise and biomechanics.
- Degree-level studies in musculoskeletal anatomy, advanced functional anatomy, exercise physiology and biomechanics.
The applicant is responsible for providing evidence that they meet the prerequisite degree-level study requirements outlined above. You must upload a copy of the unit outlines/course syllabi of the relevant units only from your previous studies that show you meet these requirements with your application.
English language requirements
There are non-standard English language requirements for this course. To be eligible, you must have an overall IELTS Academic score (or equivalent) of 7.0, with no band score below 7.0. For alternate/equivalent ways of meeting the English requirements for this course, please view the English Proficiency Requirements document on the university website.
Recognition of Prior Learning
There are currently no formal credit transfer arrangements for entry to this course. Previous study or work experience may only be considered as part of the application process in accordance with current course rules and University policy.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Implement professionalism in physiotherapy, including insight into the scope of practice and the ethics, responsibilities, values and conduct required in a broad range of contexts, including self-care maintenance as needed.
- Implement well-developed communication skills, including culturally responsive interpersonal, written and electronic communication with patients, families and carers and other health professionals, in clinical and wider interprofessional contexts, including constructive conflict resolution.
- Integrate an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the human body into the relevant practice of physiotherapy.
- Apply knowledge of the degenerative and disease processes affecting the human body (across the lifespan and in different patient groups) in the patient-centred practice of clinical physiotherapy.
- Facilitate safe and effective patient-centred assessment, therapeutic intervention and evaluation using evidence-based tools and outcome measures relevant to physiotherapy, incorporating patients' goals.
- Critique, synthesise and apply evidence from research, quality improvement and other sources as they inform physiotherapy and health care practice, with readiness to change practice and teach others as the evidence base evolves in the future.
- Execute and illustrate expertise and skills in research to test established theories against a body of knowledge in growth and development, movement dysfunction, pathology or degeneration relevant to physiotherapy.
Career outcomes
Potential careers available for UC Master of Physiotherapy students include:
- New graduate physiotherapist
- Physiotherapist
- Cardiothoracic physiotherapist
- Musculoskeletal physiotherapist
- Neurological physiotherapist
- Intensive care unit (ICU) physiotherapist
- Physiotherapy practice owner
- Physiotherapy researcher
Fees, CSP and FEE-HELP
Indicative CSP fee in 2027: $1,235 per standard 3-credit-point unit
Indicative annual CSP fee in 2027: $9,880
Limited Commonwealth Supported Places are available for the Master of Physiotherapy and are awarded on academic merit. UC may also offer domestic fee-paying places.
The CSP student contribution is calculated according to the units studied and their EFTSL. Fees are reviewed annually and may change.
Eligible Commonwealth supported students may be able to use HECS-HELP. Eligible domestic students offered a full-fee paying place may be able to use FEE-HELP.
