University of Canberra
Master of Physiotherapy
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Combine your existing qualification with a comprehensive, integrated learning schedule to ensure you meet Australian Physiotherapy Association requirements and your career objectives most efficiently.
Course overview
This course is unique to UC and has been specifically designed to help you graduate faster and enter the physiotherapy industry with a highly competitive edge.
Study a Master of Physiotherapy at UC and you will:
- Develop knowledge of the structure and function of the human body.
- Learn to read, critique, evaluate and apply research and scientific evidence to health care and health services practices.
- Enhance your communication skills in listening, speaking, explaining and teaching.
- Develop detailed knowledge of normal function and development of the musculoskeletal, cardiothoracic and neurological systems.
- Apply your knowledge and skill to assess, prevent and treat developmental and degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal, cardiothoracic and neurological systems.
- Understand and apply the professional ethics, responsibilities, values and standards for physiotherapy.
- Develop excellent clinical, analytical and reasoning skills.
Work Integrated Learning
This course offers a high volume of work-integrated learning and the opportunity to gain clinical practice experience using theoretical and practical components of your studies.
Professional accreditation
The course has been accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council. Graduates of the Master of Physiotherapy are eligible for registration as a Physiotherapist by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
Key facts
9th August, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Master of Physiotherapy course, students must complete 48 credit points equivalent to 16 units. Each unit is worth three credit points.
Students must pass 30 credit points as follows:
- Cardiothoracic Interventions 1
- Neurological Interventions 1
- Musculoskeletal Interventions 2
- Cardiothoracic Interventions 2
- Neurological Interventions 2
- Research Planning
- Epidemiology and Principles of Research
- Orthopaedic Physiotherapy
- Physiotherapy Across the Lifespan
- Applied Physiotherapy Skills
Entry requirements
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- A completed bachelor's degree in a health science discipline with a grade average of 3.0 or higher.
- 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
If you have previous studies or professional work experience that is relevant to your intended field of study at UC, you can gain credit towards your degree. This reduces the number of units you must take to complete your course, meaning you could finish your studies sooner and save money too.
For more information, please get in touch with the university or visit its website.
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 and CSP
Average full-course fee in 2026: From $19,072 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Domestic full-fee paying place in 2026:
- Fee per unit: $5,062.50
- Fee per annum: $40,500
- Full-course fee: $81,000
Student fees 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.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the unit you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
