Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry)

The Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry) at Adelaide University is a two-year qualification for people who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to move into physiotherapy. You'll study how the body moves, how injury and disease affect it, and how to help people recover function after surgery, stroke, sports injury or long-term conditions. Expect a heavy load of anatomy, biomechanics, exercise science, pain science and clinical reasoning, taught alongside hands-on practice in assessment and treatment techniques. The course is structured as a master's degree under the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it normally runs over two years of full-time study, usually across semesters or trimesters, with each unit carrying a set credit point value. You'll complete core units in cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological physiotherapy, plus professional practice subjects that cover ethics, communication and healthcare systems. A capstone or research component is common in this type of degree, often a supervised project or minor thesis that lets you dig into a clinical question. Because physiotherapy is a hands-on profession, work-integrated learning is central: you'll go on clinical placements in hospitals, private practices, rehabilitation centres and community settings, where you treat real patients under supervision. These placements are what turn theory into the practical judgement you need on day one as a registered physiotherapist.

What you'll actually learn

You'll learn to assess movement, diagnose physical problems, and design treatment plans that include exercise, manual therapy and education. You'll practise communicating with patients, families and other health professionals, and you'll get used to working in teams. The degree builds skills in critical appraisal of research, so you can keep up with evidence after you graduate. You'll also cover the Australian healthcare system, including how physiotherapy fits into hospitals, aged care, disability services and private practice. By the end, you should be able to manage a caseload, write clinical notes, and make safe, effective decisions about patient care.

Who it's for

This graduate-entry master's suits people with a bachelor's degree in a related field like health science, exercise science, kinesiology or biomedical science, though other backgrounds may be considered if you've completed the prerequisite subjects in anatomy, physiology and statistics. It's also for career changers who want a structured, fast route into a regulated health profession. If you're already working in sport, fitness or allied health and want to become a physiotherapist, this is the qualification that gets you there. The course is intense and full-time, with long days in labs and clinics, so it's best for people who can commit to full-time study and placement travel.

Practical details

English proficiency is required for international applicants. The university publishes its standard English requirements, and for physiotherapy you should check the exact score needed on the official page, because health courses often sit above the general postgraduate minimum. IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 115939D. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Physiotherapy is a regulated profession, so before you enrol, confirm the accreditation status of the course and the registration requirements with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Always check the official Adelaide University page for the most current details on structure, placements, English scores and application deadlines.

• Physiotherapist in public and private hospitals
• Private practice physiotherapist
• Sports physiotherapist with professional or community clubs
• Rehabilitation physiotherapist in aged care or disability services
• Community health physiotherapist
• Occupational health physiotherapist
• Paediatric physiotherapist
• Researcher or clinical educator (with further study)

Graduates typically work in hospitals, private clinics, sports organisations, aged care, disability services and community health centres across Australia. Registration with AHPRA is required to practise as a physiotherapist.