University of Western Australia
Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 18 months
Develop advanced clinical exercise physiology skills through specialised coursework and supervised placements supporting people with chronic disease, injury and complex health conditions.
Course overview
The Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology develops advanced knowledge and practical skills in using exercise to support people with chronic disease, injury and complex health conditions. Study covers areas including musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation, cardiac health, chronic conditions, workplace injury management, psychology and clinical paediatrics.
Students complete 12 core units and gain extensive practical experience through a series of work-integrated learning units, including a minimum of 400 hours of clinical placements. Depending on prior study, students may also complete up to 24 credit points of conversion units to meet Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Exercise Science requirements.
The course can be completed in 1.5 to 2 years full-time, depending on the applicant's previous qualifications, with part-time study also available. It is delivered on campus at UWA Perth and includes compulsory in-person activities that cannot be completed online.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
July, 2027
What you will study
Students who have not completed (a) a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science from this university or equivalent as recognised by the course coordinator or (b) a bachelor's degree in Sport, Exercise and/or Movement Sciences from a recognised tertiary institution that has been accredited by ESSA at the 'Exercise Science' level must complete relevant conversion unit(s) up to the value of 24 points, as advised by the course coordinator. Students may also be recommended by the Course Coordinator to take units from a broader range of conversion units than those listed.
- Exercise Prescription and Delivery (6)
- Exercise Physiology (6)
- Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity (6)
- Exercise as Medicine (6)
- Motor Development: Principles to Teaching in Practice (6)
- Work Integrated Learning (6)
Core Units
Complete all units totalling 72 credit points.
- Advanced Exercise Rehabilitation (6)
- Exercise and Health Psychology (6)
- Cardiac Rehabilitation (6)
- Neurological Rehabilitation (6)
- Workplace Injury Prevention and Management (6)
- Chronic and Complex Conditions (6)
- Brain and Behaviours (6)
- Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (6)
- Clinical Paediatrics and Disability (6)
- Work Integrated Learning (Clinical Exercise Physiology) (6)
- Work Integrated Learning (Evidence-Based Practice) (6)
- Work Integrated Learning (Diverse Populations & Settings) (6)
- Exercise Physiology Clinical Portfolio (0)
Coursework and dissertation pathway
Students in the course, by coursework and dissertation, take 24 points.
- Literature Review and Research Proposal (6)
- Sport Science Exercise and Health Research Project Part 1 (6)
- Sport Science Exercise and Health Research Project Part 2 (6)
- Sport Science Exercise and Health Research Project Part 3 (6)
Entry requirements
To be considered for admission to this course, an applicant must have:
- a relevant bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification recognised by UWA; and
- an equivalent UWA weighted average mark of at least 60%.
- Applicants may be admitted to the 72-credit-point pathway if they have:
- a bachelor’s degree accredited by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) at the Exercise Science level; or
- an official ESSA Graduate Entry Assessment letter confirming equivalence with Exercise Science membership requirements.
- Other eligible applicants are admitted to the 96-credit-point pathway. Their relevant bachelor’s degree must include foundation study in human anatomy, functional anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise and health and research methods or statistics equivalent to ESSA Exercise Science standards.
- Where relevant, admission is offered to the highest-ranked applicants or applicants selected according to the relevant requirements.
Important attendance requirement
Applicants must be able to attend campus-based and other compulsory in-person activities. These requirements cannot be completed online.
English language requirements
Applicants must meet UWA’s English language competency requirements and the additional requirements for this course.
Graduate applicants may satisfy the English requirement through at least two successful years of full-time or equivalent degree study completed in Australia, Canada excluding Quebec, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.
Applicants relying on an English language test must meet one of the following:
- IELTS Academic: overall score of at least 7.0, with no band below 7.0
- TOEFL iBT: overall score of at least 94, with at least 27 in writing, 23 in speaking and no other sub-score below 24
- PTE Academic: overall score of at least 65, with no sub-score below 65
- Cambridge English Advanced: overall score of at least 185
The UWA Centre for English Language Teaching Bridging Course does not satisfy the English requirements for this course.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Applicants admitted to the 72-credit-point pathway are granted up to 24 credit points of credit for conversion units where they have:
- completed an ESSA-accredited Exercise Science bachelor’s degree; or
- completed a relevant bachelor’s degree and provided an official ESSA Graduate Entry Assessment confirming equivalence with Exercise Science membership requirements.
Applicants must also have an equivalent UWA weighted average mark of at least 60%.
Other applications for credit are assessed according to UWA’s recognition of prior learning requirements.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates may work in areas including:
- Clinical exercise physiology
- Rehabilitation practice in private or hospital settings
- Corporate rehabilitation
- Injury management
- Government and insurance case management
The key accredited professional pathway is practice as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
Fees and CSP
Average first-year fee in 2026: $17,392 (Commonwealth-supported places).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 48 credit points (normally eight units) per year.
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.
- 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 unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending 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.
