Program Overview

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Master of Physiotherapy (768AA.2)

The Master of Physiotherapy is a 2-year, full-time course designed for students who already possess a health-related degree and wish to move into a career in physiotherapy. This course will help students leverage their existing qualification and combine it with a comprehensive integrated learning schedule to ensure that they meet both Australian Physiotherapy Association requirements and their career objectives in the most efficient way.

About this course

This course is unique to the University of Canberra and has been specifically designed to help students not only graduate faster but also enter the physiotherapy industry with a highly competitive edge. If you’re a health graduate who wants to pursue a career path more in line with your passion or purpose, then look no further than the University of Canberra's Master of Physiotherapy and take your career to another level – fast.

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 evidence from research and science into the practices of health care and health services.
• 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 the practice of physiotherapy.
• develop excellent clinical analytical and reasoning skills.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

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. Comprising of four five-week placements, these hands-on learning opportunities will cover a wide range of areas such as acute care units, rehabilitation centres, neurological units, residential care facilities, pediatric units and aged care facilities. Placements are only provided on a full-time basis and will require interstate travel. Accommodation and transport costs are the student’s responsibility.

Career opportunities

Potential careers available for University of Canberra 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

Course specific information

Prior to undertaking any clinical placement, students will be required to:

• Undertake a National Police Check.
• Obtain a Working with Vulnerable People registration.
• Provide your immunisation history.
• Have a qualification in First Aid, including CPR.

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.

Admission requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• 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.

Assumed knowledge

Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Advanced Functional Anatomy, Physiology of Exercise and Biomechanics.

Periods course is open for new admissions

Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Domestic | International ---|---|---|---|---|--- 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 10 August 2026 | | 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 09 August 2027 | |

Credit arrangements

There are currently no formal credit transfer arrangements for entry to this course. Any previous study or work experience will only be considered as part of the application process in accordance with current course rules and university policy.

Course requirements

Master of Physiotherapy (768AA) | 48 credit points

• Required - Must pass 30 credit points as follows:
  • Cardiothoracic Interventions 1 PG (6447) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Neurological Interventions 1 PG (6452) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Musculoskeletal Interventions 2 PG (6453) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Cardiothoracic Interventions 2 PG (6455) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Neurological Interventions 2 PG (6456) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Research Planning PG (6486) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Epidemiology and Principles of Research PG (9594) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Orthopaedic Physiotherapy PG (11505) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Physiotherapy Across the Lifespan PG (11551) | 3 credit points — Level P
  • Applied Physiotherapy Skills PG (11553) | 3 credit points — Level P
• Restricted Choice - Must pass 18 credit points as follows:
  • Part A - Must pass 12 credit points from the following:
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 1 G (11554) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 2 G (11555) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 3 G (11556) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 4 G (11557) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 5 G (11558) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 6 G (12242) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 7 G (12243) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 8 G (12244) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 9 G (12245) | 3 credit points — Level G
    • Clinical Physiotherapy 10 G (12246) | 3 credit points — Level G
  • Part B - Must pass 6 credit points from the following:
    • Musculoskeletal Interventions 1 PG (6449) | 3 credit points — Level P
    • Essential Physiotherapy Skills PG (11552) | 3 credit points — Level P
    • Musculoskeletal Interventions 1 PG (11985) | 6 credit points — Level P

Typical study pattern

UC - Canberra, Bruce

• Standard Full Time, Semester 2 Commencing
• Year 1
  • Semester 2
    • Cardiothoracic Interventions 1 PG (6447)
    • Musculoskeletal Interventions 1 PG (11985)
    • Orthopaedic Physiotherapy PG (11505)
• Year 2
  • Semester 1
    • Cardiothoracic Interventions 2 PG (6455)
    • Epidemiology and Principles of Research PG (9594)
    • Musculoskeletal Interventions 2 PG (6453)
    • Neurological Interventions 1 PG (6452)
  • Semester 2
    • Applied Physiotherapy Skills PG (11553)
    • Neurological Interventions 2 PG (6456)
    • Physiotherapy Across the Lifespan PG (11551)
    • Research Planning PG (6486)
• Year 3
  • Summer Semester
    • One Restricted Choice Unit - Clinical Physiotherapy*
  • Semester 1
    • • The schedule for clinical physiotherapy placement units will be confirmed towards the end of year 2.
    • Three Restricted Choice Units - Clinical Physiotherapy*

Course information

Course duration

Standard 2 years full-time. Maximum 6 years from date of enrolment to date of course completion. This course is only available for full-time enrolment.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes | Related graduate attributes ---|--- Implement 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. | UC graduates are professional: Communicate effectively; work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict; display initiative and drive, and use their organisational skills to plan and manage their workload; and take pride in their professional and personal integrity. UC graduates are global citizens: Think globally about issues in their profession; adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries; communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings; and behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives. UC graduates are lifelong learners: Reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development; be self-aware; and adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas. 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. | UC graduates are professional: Communicate effectively; work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict; display initiative and drive, and use their organisational skills to plan and manage their workload; and take pride in their professional and personal integrity. UC graduates are global citizens: Think globally about issues in their profession; adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries; understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures; communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings; and behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives. UC graduates are lifelong learners: Reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development; be self-aware; and adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas. Integrate an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the human body to the relevant practice of physiotherapy. | UC graduates are professional: Employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills. 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. | UC graduates are professional: Employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills; and communicate effectively. UC graduates are global citizens: Adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries; and make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives. Facilitate safe and effective patient-centred assessment, therapeutic intervention, and evaluation using evidence-based tools and outcome measures relevant to the practice of physiotherapy, incorporating patient's goals. | UC graduates are professional: Employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills; and display initiative and drive, and use their organisational skills to plan and manage their workload. UC graduates are global citizens: Adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries; and make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives. UC graduates are lifelong learners: Reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development; adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas; and evaluate and adopt new technology. 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. | UC graduates are professional: Employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills; and use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems. UC graduates are global citizens: Make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives. UC graduates are lifelong learners: Evaluate and adopt new technology. Execute and illustrate expertise and skills in research to test established theories against a body of knowledge in the areas of growth and development, movement dysfunction, pathology or degeneration relevant to the practice of physiotherapy. | UC graduates are professional: Employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills. UC graduates are global citizens: Think globally about issues in their profession; adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries; and make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives. UC graduates are lifelong learners: Evaluate and adopt new technology.

Placements requirements

This course requires students to meet compulsory placement requirements prior to undertaking professional placement (Work-Integrated Learning) in a clinical or professional setting.

Awards

Award | Official abbreviation ---|--- Master of Physiotherapy | M Physio

Alternative exits

HLC002 Graduate Certificate in Health Studies HLG002 Graduate Diploma in Health Studies

Enrolment data

2023 enrolments for this course by location. Please note that enrolment numbers are indicative only and in no way reflect individual class sizes. Location | Enrolments ---|--- UC - Canberra, Bruce | 114

Fees

• Per Unit: $5,062.5 (2026), $4,900 (2025)
• Per Annum:
• Full Course:

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.