Bachelor of Physiotherapy

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Notre Dame Australia is a four-year professional degree that prepares you to work as a physiotherapist. It's a hands-on course from early on. You'll study anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and neuroscience, then move into cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological physiotherapy. Later years cover rehabilitation, chronic pain, paediatrics and sports physiotherapy. You'll also learn how to assess movement, design exercise programs and work with patients recovering from surgery, injury or illness.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees usually run over three years, but physiotherapy is four because of the clinical training and accreditation requirements. At Notre Dame, the academic year is split into semesters. You'll complete units of study, each worth credit points, and you need to pass them all to progress. The later part of the degree includes clinical placements in hospitals, private practices, community health centres and aged care. These placements are supervised and count towards your registration hours. Some students also do a research project or capstone unit in their final year.

What you'll learn

You'll graduate able to assess and treat people with movement problems. That means taking a patient history, doing a physical examination, interpreting scans and test results, and choosing the right treatment. You'll practise manual therapy, exercise prescription, electrotherapy and education. Communication matters too. You'll learn to explain conditions to patients, families and other health professionals. The course also covers professional ethics, evidence-based practice and the Australian healthcare system.

Who it suits

This degree suits people who want to work directly with patients and aren't afraid of hard science. You'll need to be comfortable touching people, working in teams and handling the emotional side of injury and recovery. It's a full-time course with a heavy load, so part-time work needs to fit around placements. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying. 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 here, so you'll need to register with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia through AHPRA before you can practise. The degree is designed to meet those accreditation standards. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 045167E. Check the official university page for current details on entry requirements, English proficiency and how to apply.

• Physiotherapist in public and private hospitals
• Private practice physiotherapist
• Sports physiotherapist with clubs and teams
• Rehabilitation consultant in aged care or disability services
• Community health physiotherapist
• Paediatric physiotherapist
• Workplace health and injury management advisor
• Researcher or clinical educator (with further study)

Physiotherapists work across Australia in hospitals, private clinics, sports organisations, schools, aged care and community health. The profession is regulated, so registration with AHPRA is required to practise. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in areas like sports physiotherapy, musculoskeletal physiotherapy or research.