Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Tuition Fee

Not Available

Start Date

2027-02-16

Medium of studying

On campus

Duration

4 years

Details

Program Details

Degree

Bachelors

Major

Physical Therapy | Physiotherapy | Sports Medicine

Area of study

Health

Education type

On campus

Timing

Full time

Course Language

English

Intakes

Program start date	Application deadline
2026-02-16	-
2027-02-16	-

About Program

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy is a four-year comprehensive course that helps students explore the human body in detail and analyze how each muscle, bone, joint, and ligament enables human movement and development across a variety of age ranges and disabilities. Students will develop a sophisticated understanding of how the lungs, heart, brain, and nerves work together and how to improve people's lives through exercise and movement.

About this Course

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and insight about the human body, enabling them to diagnose and offer effective therapeutic management solutions for a wide range of human movement disorders, across age groups and genders. The course is fully accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, and graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) from the day they graduate.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this course is based on an entrance rank, which can be achieved through various means, including Year 12 ATAR, other Australian qualifications, work experience, or overseas qualifications. Admission is competitive, and applications will be assessed on the basis of academic merit and the number of available places.

Course Requirements

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy requires the completion of 96 credit points, including:

Core Major in Allied Health (24 credit points)
Specialist Major in Physiotherapy Interventions (24 credit points)
Specialist Major in Physiotherapy Practice (24 credit points)
Required units (12 credit points)
Restricted choice units (12 credit points)
Open electives (12 credit points)

Typical Study Pattern

The standard full-time study pattern for this course is four years, with students completing a range of units across eight semesters. The study pattern includes a mix of theoretical and practical components, with a focus on developing students' knowledge, skills, and professional practice in physiotherapy.

Placements Requirements

This course includes a high volume of work-integrated learning, with students completing 1000 hours of clinical practice placements across a range of settings, including acute care units, rehabilitation centers, neurological units, residential care facilities, pediatric units, and aged care facilities.

Majors

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy includes three majors:

Core Major in Allied Health (CM0023)
Specialist Major in Physiotherapy Interventions (SM0063)
Specialist Major in Physiotherapy Practice (SM0064)

Awards

Graduates of this course are eligible to receive the following awards:

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (B Physio)
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) (B Physio (Hons))

Honours

High-performing students may be eligible to enter the Bachelor of Physiotherapy honours stream, which involves the completion of a research project and two honours units. To be eligible for honours study, students must achieve at least a credit average in all eligible units and complete preparatory units in statistics or health data analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the human body relevant to the practice of physiotherapy
Apply knowledge of the degenerative and disease processes affecting the human body in the patient-centered practice of clinical physiotherapy
Demonstrate safe and effective patient-centered assessment, therapeutic intervention, and evaluation using evidence-based tools and outcome measures relevant to the practice of physiotherapy
Discuss and critically analyze existing evidence from research, quality improvement, and other sources as they inform physiotherapy and health care practice
Demonstrate communication skills, including culturally responsive interpersonal, written, and electronic communication with patients, families, and carers, and other health professionals, in clinical and wider inter-professional contexts
Select and use cognitive and technical skills to execute a research project to a standard acceptable to professional proactive and research outlets within a physiotherapy field
Effectively communicate results, synthesizing knowledge and judgments about research findings to a variety of audiences
Demonstrate professionalism in the practice of physiotherapy, including insight into scope of practice and the ethics, responsibilities, values, and conduct required in a broad range of contexts, including maintenance of self-care as required

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this course may pursue a range of career opportunities, including:

New graduate physiotherapist
Physiotherapist
Cardiothoracic physiotherapist
Musculoskeletal physiotherapist
Neurological physiotherapist
Intensive care unit (ICU) physiotherapist
Physiotherapy practice owner
Titled physiotherapist
Titled sport physiotherapist
Physiotherapy researcher

Course Duration

The standard duration of this course is four years full-time, with a maximum of 10 years from the date of enrollment to the date of course completion.

Course-Specific Information

The Australian Physiotherapy Council accredits this course, and successful graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and practice physiotherapy in Australia. The course content and structure are informed by industry, with course advisory group members from the physiotherapy department of Canberra Hospital, Calvary Hospital, and the Australian Institute of Sport. High-performing students may be eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Physiotherapy Honours degree, based on their academic performance, interview, and application. There are non-standard English language requirements for this course, and students must have an academic IELTS of 7.0 overall with no band score below 7.0 or equivalent. Before commencing clinical placement, all students must provide a complete immunization schedule, First Aid Certificates, including CPR, and undergo an Australian Federal Police record check.

Selection rank: 85
Delivery mode: On campus
Location: Bruce, Canberra
Duration: 4.0 years
Faculty: Faculty of Health
Discipline(s): Physiotherapy
Available teaching periods: View teaching periods
UAC code:
Fees:
- Per Unit:
- Per Annum:
- Full Course:
- 2025: Commonwealth Supported Place
- 2026: Commonwealth Supported Place
English language requirements: View requirements
AQF level: 7

Additional Admission Requirements

All students in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy course are required to complete clinical practice placement in blocks of time, often outside teaching time. These clinical practice placements are essential to the program and will require students to provide physiotherapy management to all genders across all age groups. To prepare for these placements, students will demonstrate their skills on their peers of all genders in assessments prior to placement. Prior to commencing clinical practice, all students need to present a complete immunization schedule and First Aid Certificates, including CPR, as a requirement of the ACT and NSW health departments. All students are required to undergo an Australian Federal Police record check prior to undertaking clinical experience in the ACT and a NSW Police check before undertaking practice in NSW.

Periods Course is Open for New Admissions

Year: 2026
Location: Bruce, Canberra
Teaching period: Semester 1
Teaching start date: 16 February 2026
Domestic:
International:
Year: 2027
Location: Bruce, Canberra
Teaching period: Semester 1
Teaching start date: 15 February 2027
Domestic:
International:

Credit Arrangements

A credit transfer arrangement is available for this course for the following institutions:

Credit Based On Work Experience
Equivalent Graduate Status / Work Experience / Veteran Tertiary Support Program (35011)

Prior Work and Study Recognition

The University of Canberra recognizes the value of experience. Students can unlock course credit or even get direct entry into a postgraduate degree.

Course Requirements

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy requires the completion of 96 credit points, including:

Core Major in Allied Health (CM0023) (24 credit points)
Specialist Major in Physiotherapy Interventions (SM0063) (24 credit points)
Specialist Major in Physiotherapy Practice (SM0064) (24 credit points)
Required units (12 credit points)
Restricted choice units (12 credit points)
Open electives (12 credit points)

Required Units

Must pass 12 credit points as follows:
- Physiology of Exercise 1 (8391) (3 credit points) - Level 2
- Biological Concepts (11722) (3 credit points) - Level 1
- Integrated Physiology (11726) (3 credit points) - Level 3
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People's Health Contexts (11852) (3 credit points) - Level 2

Restricted Choice

Must select 1 of the following:
- Honours Stream: Must pass 12 credit points as follows:
  - Physiotherapy Honours Thesis 2 (8993) (6 credit points) - Level 4
  - Physiotherapy Honours Thesis 1 (11761) (6 credit points) - Level 4
- Professional Stream: 12 credit points as follows:
  - Open Electives: Must pass 12 credit points from anywhere in the University, as a breadth minor or as individual units.

Typical Study Pattern

Year 1

Semester 1:
- Introductory Physiotherapy Skills (12008)
- Professional Orientation (Health) (11400)
- Regional Anatomy and Physiology (9808)
- Understanding People and Behaviour (11399)
Semester 2:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People's Health Contexts (11852)
- Biological Concepts (11722)
- Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences (11398)
- Systemic Anatomy and Physiology (6529)

Year 2

Semester 1:
- Advanced Functional Anatomy (8279)
- Biomechanics 1 (6834)
- Integrated Physiology (11726)
- Physiology of Exercise 1 (8391)
Semester 2:
- Cardiothoracic Interventions 1 (8976)
- Musculoskeletal Interventions 1 (12007)
- Orthopaedic Physiotherapy (11538)

Year 3

Semester 1:
- Cardiothoracic Interventions 2 (8979)
- Evidence Based Practice (8988)
- Musculoskeletal Interventions 2 (8986)
- Neurological Interventions 1 (8982)
Semester 2:
- Applied Physiotherapy Skills (11541)
- Neurological Interventions 2 (8983)
- Physiotherapy Across the Lifespan (11539)
- One Open Elective Unit

Year 4

Semester 1:
- Two Open Elective Units
- Two Restricted Choice Units - Clinical Physiotherapy
Winter Term:
- One Restricted Choice Unit - Clinical Physiotherapy
Semester 2:
- One Open Elective Unit
- Two Restricted Choice Units - Clinical Physiotherapy

Course Information

Course duration: Standard 4 years full-time, maximum 10 years from date of enrollment to date of course completion
Learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the human body relevant to the practice of physiotherapy
- Apply knowledge of the degenerative and disease processes affecting the human body in the patient-centered practice of clinical physiotherapy
- Demonstrate safe and effective patient-centered assessment, therapeutic intervention, and evaluation using evidence-based tools and outcome measures relevant to the practice of physiotherapy
- Discuss and critically analyze existing evidence from research, quality improvement, and other sources as they inform physiotherapy and health care practice
- Demonstrate communication skills, including culturally responsive interpersonal, written, and electronic communication with patients, families, and carers, and other health professionals, in clinical and wider inter-professional contexts
- Select and use cognitive and technical skills to execute a research project to a standard acceptable to professional proactive and research outlets within a physiotherapy field
- Effectively communicate results, synthesizing knowledge and judgments about research findings to a variety of audiences
- Demonstrate professionalism in the practice of physiotherapy, including insight into scope of practice and the ethics, responsibilities, values, and conduct required in a broad range of contexts, including maintenance of self-care as required
Placements requirements: 1000 hours
Majors:
- Core Major in Allied Health (CM0023)
- Specialist Major in Physiotherapy Interventions (SM0063)
- Specialist Major in Physiotherapy Practice (SM0064)
Awards:
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy (B Physio)
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) (B Physio (Hons))
Honours: High-performing students may be eligible to enter the Bachelor of Physiotherapy honours stream, which involves the completion of a research project and two honours units. To be eligible for honours study, students must achieve at least a credit average in all eligible units and complete preparatory units in statistics or health data analysis.

Enquiries

Prospective Domestic Students:
Prospective International Students:
Current and Commencing Students:

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Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Program Overview