Master of Physiotherapy Studies
Overview
Build on your undergraduate degree and qualify as an accredited physiotherapist in just two years with the Master of Physiotherapy Studies.
This two year full-time program is designed to equip you with the theoretical knowledge, skills and professional attributes for a career in physiotherapy. You'll gain an extensive body of knowledge and the clinical abilities, problem-solving skills and professional attributes to provide competent physiotherapy service in a wide range of contexts.
This postgraduate program is designed for people who have completed an approved bachelor's degree and appropriate prerequisite study in human anatomy, human physiology, psychology and statistics.
Through the program you'll learn how physiotherapy can be applied in assisting in the physical management of the cardio-respiratory system, improving balance and motor control for better function and the promotion of motor development and coordination. You'll also study physical methods to control pain and therapeutic exercise for impaired muscle systems.
You'll undertake extensive supervised clinical placements in UQ’s onsite clinics, hospitals, schools and other healthcare organisations and private practices, allowing you to apply your learning with real clients.
You'll graduate with the skills, knowledge and confidence to flourish in your career as an accredited physiotherapist.
Program highlights
- Gain clinical experience throughout the program to be confident that you're job-ready upon graduation.
- Open pathways to further specialisation such as a Master of Physiotherapy or a PhD.
- Join a school that leads in rehabilitation teaching and research, and has offered physiotherapy studies since 1938.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Online study
- Research experience
- Seminars
Placements and work experience
Students undertake more than 1025 hours of supervised clinical practice in a range of clinical settings that include hospitals, private practices, educational facilities, other health care organisations, and UQ's internal clinics. During placements, students will have the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge and practical skills acquired through coursework and research and further develop their clinical skills in real life settings.
Students will engage in clinical experiences from year one before commencing full time clinical placement blocks during year two.
Students may be required to undertake clinical placements outside of the Brisbane metropolitan area and students are required to fund their travel, accommodation and daily living expenses.
This program has pre-placement requirements which must be met prior to commencement of the program or a placement course. Further details can be found on the Placements website.
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Foundations of Physiotherapy I: Fundamentals of Communication, Movement & Exercise
- Foundations of Physiotherapy II: Fundamentals of Examination & Measurement
- Theory, Practice & Research: Musculoskeletal Phty - Lower Limb
- Theory, Practice & Research: Musculoskeletal Phty - Lumbar Spine
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Australian Physiotherapy Association
Professional registration
When you graduate, you may be eligible for registration with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to register.
- Physiotherapy Board of Australia
Program accreditation
The Master of Physiotherapy Studies is accredited by:
- Australian Physiotherapy Council
“I worked as a nurse before starting this program. Placement is a really good part of the program because it lets you apply what you have learnt in class. I found my placements very beneficial and really solid learning experiences.”
RhettGraduate, Master of Physiotherapy Studies
“I worked as a nurse before starting this program. Placement is a really good part of the program because it lets you apply what you have learnt in class. I found my placements very beneficial and really solid learning experiences.”
RhettGraduate, Master of Physiotherapy Studies
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Entry requirements
Prerequisites
An approved bachelor degree and have completed university level studies in human anatomy, human physiology, statistics, and psychology. Please see 'Additional application information' below for further details on entry requirements.
Entry is competitive based on GPA with a limited intake capacity.
The minimum GPA to be considered for admission into this program is 4.5. The GPA cut-off for those offered a place in 2019 was 5.72.
Prerequisites
An approved bachelor degree and have completed university level studies in human anatomy, human physiology, statistics, and psychology. Please see 'Additional application information' below for further details on entry requirements.
Entry is competitive based on GPA with a limited intake capacity.
The minimum GPA to be considered for admission into this program is 4.5. The GPA cut-off for those offered a place in 2019 was 5.72.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.
TOEFL PB - Overall 600, listening 59, reading 59, writing 64/6.
Pearsons - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.
CES - Overall 185, All sub bands minimum 185.
BE and OET are not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Additional application information
- hold a bachelor degree; study in fields such as allied health, human movement science, physical or biological sciences is recommended.
- if the bachelor degree was completed more than 10 years prior to program commencement, have subsequently completed within 10 years prior to commencement either a postgraduate qualification, or a minimum of 8 units/4 courses of university level study.
- have successfully completed, within the 10 years prior to program commencement, the following university level study:
- 4 units (2 courses) in human anatomy - 2 units musculoskeletal and 2 units systems anatomy; and
- 4 units (2 courses) in human physiology - 2 units integrative physiology and 2 units systems physiology; and
- 2 units (1 course) in statistics; and
- 2 units (1 course) in introductory psychology.
Suitable UQ pre-requisite courses
| Human Anatomy | BIOM2020 or BIOM3002 (systems) and BIOM3003 (musculoskeletal) |
| Human Physiology | BIOM2011 (integrative) and BIOM2012 (systems) |
| Statistics | STAT1201 or PSYC1040 |
| Psychology | NEUR1020 or PSYC1030 |
At the commencement of the program you must obtain, and thereafter hold for the duration of the program, a current First Aid Certificate (including CPR) and Blue Card. You will also be required to provide evidence that you do not carry blood-borne transmissible viruses or tuberculosis (TB) and comply with a schedule of immunisations. For further details see the Placements website.
For applicants who need to provide evidence of English proficiency, please note that this program requires a higher level of English language proficiency than the UQ minimum.
Additional application information
- hold a bachelor degree; study in fields such as allied health, human movement science, physical or biological sciences is recommended.
- if the bachelor degree was completed more than 10 years prior to program commencement, have subsequently completed within 10 years prior to commencement either a postgraduate qualification, or a minimum of 8 units/4 courses of university level study.
- have successfully completed, within the 10 years prior to program commencement, the following university level study:
- 4 units (2 courses) in human anatomy - 2 units musculoskeletal and 2 units systems anatomy; and
- 4 units (2 courses) in human physiology - 2 units integrative physiology and 2 units systems physiology; and
- 2 units (1 course) in statistics; and
- 2 units (1 course) in introductory psychology.
Suitable UQ pre-requisite courses
| Human Anatomy | BIOM2020 or BIOM3002 (systems) and BIOM3003 (musculoskeletal) |
| Human Physiology | BIOM2011 (integrative) and BIOM2012 (systems) |
| Statistics | STAT1201 or PSYC1040 |
| Psychology | NEUR1020 or PSYC1030 |
At the commencement of the program you must obtain, and thereafter hold for the duration of the program, a current First Aid Certificate (including CPR) and Blue Card. You will also be required to provide evidence that you do not carry blood-borne transmissible viruses or tuberculosis (TB) and comply with a schedule of immunisations. For further details see the Placements website.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Physiotherapy Studies are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Fees and Scholarships
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
Indicative annual fee
AUD $58,920
Indicative annual fee 2021
This indicative annual fee is the cost of enrolling in the Master of Physiotherapy Studies for the 2021 academic year. It is calculated based on an intensive full-time study load.
If you do not enrol in the intensive study load, your fees will be calculated on a proportionate basis. All fees are reviewed annually.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Master of Physiotherapy Studies pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Indicative annual fee
AUD $29,920
Indicative annual fee 2020
Fee information for 2021 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2020.
This indicative annual fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in the Master of Physiotherapy Studies for the 2021 academic year. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units over two semesters).
Because the Master of Physiotherapy Studies has a higher-than-usual full-time study load, the actual annual fee may be higher. Fees will also vary according to your choice of courses and their unit value. The University indexes tuition fees each year.
Additional costs
- Annual CPR re-certification (approximately $60 per year)
- Students are expected to fund travel and living expenses associated with placements, some of which may be outside the Brisbane metropolitan area.
- Senior First Aid Certificate (including CPR) (approximately $155 renewed every 3 years)
- A clinical uniform shirt is required and may be purchased from the School.
- Costs for vaccinations and serology are the responsibility of the student and will vary based on individual and program requirements.
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Physiotherapy Studies is 5267.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Physiotherapy Studies is 5267.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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