Many Canadians wish to fulfill their career goals after getting married, having kids, or both! We’ve had plenty of students who have taken their partner and/or children with them.

If you want to take your partner or family with you, you’ll need to add them as a secondary applicant or dependents to your student visa application. Even if you don’t plan on taking them with you, we suggest you add them to your application anyway because it can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming to add them afterwards. You’ll then need to provide additional documentation to support your claims of a relationship or your children’s dependency status.

In addition to looking after the visa, you’ll also need to ensure they’re included on your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), you have appropriate accommodation, and if you’re bringing children, you’ll need to enroll them in school.

Visit our Health Insurance page for more information.

Yes, but you’ll require parental or guardian consent (signature). OzTREKK will provide the necessary documentation for this signature.

If you won’t be 18 when your program starts, you’ll be required to show that you’ll be living with an approved guardian until you turn 18. If you don’t have an approved guardian in Australia, you may need a family member to apply for a guardian visa to accompany you. This guardian visa should be obtained as part of the student visa application.

Please visit our Eligibility page for past competitive scores.

Absolutely. We manage and submit your application(s) on your behalf and communicate any updates from the universities.

Applying to an Australian or New Zealand university starts by filling out our OzTREKK application: You’ll tell us a bit about yourself, like your name, address, date of birth, education history, and what schools you want to apply to!

When you click “Submit,” the application with all your information only comes to us, so there’s no need to worry about making a mistake at this stage. We create a file for you and email you a list of documents required to complete your application(s), like passport photo page, transcripts, résumé, personal statement.

If you get an offer, we’ll help you with that part, too! Whether you want to accept or decline, we’ll help you figure out your next steps. If you accept your offer, we’ll even help you get ready to go. We’re here to be an advocate for you, and to walk you through the entire process from start to finish.

Should you have any questions along the way, just send us an email or book a chat. That’s why we’re here!

Scholarship options in Australia are usually limited for international students as they tend to be reserved for those undertaking postgraduate research degrees; however, we can advise you where to look and whether specific programs have a history of offering scholarships.

Occasionally, scholarships are granted to high achievers—those with very high marks. In previous years, we have seen $5000- to $10,000-scholarships given to OzTREKK students.

Check out OzTREKK’s Financing page to learn more about scholarships and paying for your degree.

Before sending us outlines, check in with your admissions team to see if we’ve already got them. We can save you a lot of time and ensure we’re submitting good outlines on your behalf. Outlines must be within 2 years of the time you took the course (as listed on your transcript).

To meet the prerequisite subjects, you need to have been granted the credit (passed); the grade itself isn’t considered in the prerequisite assessment. If there are any exceptions, we’ll let you know.

Rolling admissions means the university assesses applications as they are received, AKA “first come, first served” or “first come, first offered.” As soon as they’ve met the quota and the program is filled, they usually start a waitlist and close the applications. So, for a program that has rolling admissions, the earlier you apply the better!

Most Canadians applying to full-degree programs in Australia (i.e., not study abroad courses, which usually only last a semester or two) apply through OzTREKK. They’re studying medicine, dentistry, law, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, etc.

Since they’re using OzTREKK’s services, this gives us a good idea of the starting point of a competitive application each year, allowing us to help you determine which universities/programs are most likely to present you with a letter of offer!

You can get started on determining your chances by reviewing the admissions requirements on each program page. Then, visit our GPA Conversions and Eligibility pages for details and suggestions to help you get into the program of your dreams. Of course, we’re always here to help if you have questions.

Australia is world-renowned for its leading-edge physiotherapy (physical therapy) research and practice. OzTREKK partners with several graduate-entry physiotherapy programs, all of which are highly sought after by Canadian university graduates with academic backgrounds in kinesiology, health sciences, and human kinetics. There really is no “best” physio program, only a “best” physio program for you!

Unlike in Canada, GPAs in Australia are simple. They’re standardized, so they mean the same thing to everyone.

In Australia, a 5.0/7.0 would roughly translate to a 2.7/4.0 or approximately 70%–72%, but keep in mind all universities assess slightly differently. We leave the official calculations to the universities.

Learn more on our GPA Conversions page where we list the most common Canadian GPA scales to their corresponding Australian GPA grade. If you’re not sure where you land, just reach out!

Prerequisite courses vary by university and by program. We’ve listed university- and program-specific requirements on each program’s page under “Admissions Requirements.”

Calculations differ by university, but most use cumulative (all units within a program) or weighted GPA (typically last 2 or 3 years of study). See GPA Conversions for more information.

An official transcript is one that is

• emailed directly from your university to OzTREKK via an official transcript service like Parchment or MyCreds; or
• mailed directly from your university to OzTREKK.

To process your application(s), universities require your transcripts to be certified, which we do on your behalf.

The University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Physiotherapy prerequisites require you to have approved courses in human anatomy (1 semester) and human physiology (1 semester) to be eligible to apply.

1. Check Melbourne’s prerequisites
To see if your courses meet the prerequisites, please go to the University of Melbourne’s prerequisites page. Select the dropdown menu titled “List of assessed subjects” and click “International” to download the current list of subjects. This list is updated regularly.

2. Have your courses assessed if not pre-approved
If the anatomy and physiology courses that you’ve completed aren’t on this chart, you must have your courses assessed by submitting filling out Melbourne’s pre-assessment form and by submitting the required subject syllabus. Visit the prerequisites page and go to “How to apply,” where you’ll find the form under your program’s dropdown. You’re encouraged to submit this form well in advance of applying.

Many Australian graduate-entry physiotherapy programs require you to have completed specific undergraduate subjects.

1. Find out if you have the right combination of prerequisite courses
Contact us! We can help you find out which physiotherapy programs might work for your prereqs, and it helps us process your application(s) much faster!

2. Enroll in the missing prerequisite(s)
Most Australian universities will let students take non-award courses during the application season to make up the prerequisites they are missing. This means you can submit your application with your interim transcript and proof of enrollment into the prerequisite course. Before enrolling in any prerequisite course, we advise checking with either your admissions officer or the university to make sure the course will satisfy the prerequisite.

If you haven’t completed the prerequisite course by the time offers are issued, then universities may issue a conditional offer. Please note that not all universities will issue conditional offers and it may vary for each program. It’s always best to check with your admissions officer to see if your course of interest will give conditional offers.

#OzTREKKTip: With our years of experience working with physiotherapy programs, we have found students sometimes lack a qualifying anatomy prerequisite. The best anatomy courses to consider deal with musculoskeletal or gross human anatomy components. BIOL 3701 at Thompson Rivers University is a good online course to take. If you have specific questions about which courses to take, please email rehabsci@oztrekk.com.

Some graduate-entry Australian physiotherapy programs require applicants to have completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as kinesiology, health sciences, or human kinetics. Ask us to find out which universities don’t require prerequisites (but they do expect you to have extensive previous knowledge of at least anatomy and physiology) or that will allow you to apply with non-award courses/credits to supplement your knowledge base and prerequisites.

Take an undergraduate physiotherapy program
If you haven’t completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, you may be eligible to apply to a 4-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy program. Have a look at our physiotherapy programs page for more information. If you have questions about this option, please email rehabsci@oztrekk.com.

For Australian-trained physiotherapists who are eligible for the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators‘ (CAPR) Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway (PACP) you’re looking at timeline of approximately 9 – 11 months from graduation to becoming licensed in Canada.

Once of the main variables will be the scheduling for your Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE).

Credentialing Via Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway
How long: Approx. 3 months or less

You can start the process (start submitting documents) shortly before you graduate, but your credentialling cannot be complete until you’ve graduated.

With the Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway, your credentialing application will be much faster to process, generally within about 3 weeks. We’ve heard some reports of credentials being approved in less than 3 days once all required documents have been submitted!

Keep in mind that as a part of your credentialling, you’ll need to fit in your Canadian Health Course (6 weeks) and have documents submitted from Australia, which can add some extra time to this process.

Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE)
How long: Approx. 4 – 6 months

You’re not able apply for the CPTE until your credentials are approved and you must apply for the CPTE at least 8 weeks before the exam takes place. Because of this, there will be a few weeks between having your credentials approved, applying for your CPTE, and your exam sit date.

Once you’ve sat your CPTE, CAPR estimates it will be 4 weeks before your results are available.

Application for Licensure
How long: Approx. 4 – 8 weeks

Add another 4 – 8 weeks to get your provincial licensing application together and assessed.

A course outline includes all the necessary information about a university course. It will include the course title, the year, the learning goals, the professor’s contact information, reading materials and most important, a weekly learning schedule. This will help the universities to see what you studied on a week-to-week basis and assess if you have covered the material they expect you to know. Course outlines should contain the following information:

• Year and semester date
• Faculty contact information
• Course description
• Hours of study
• Textbook information
• Detailed list of topics that are covered in the course; usually found in a detailed lecture schedule or list of chapter readings

Unfortunately, the universities won’t accept one-paragraph course descriptions; they require course outlines like those handed out at the beginning of the semester, which outline all topics covered within the course. If you do not have copies of these on hand, contact the faculty from which you undertook these courses, as they usually have copies on file.

These course outlines must be uploaded as PDFs to the OzTREKK student portal and labelled in the following manner:

CAPS 391 Human Anatomy I UBC F2015 (COURSE CODE)(Name of Course)(University)(Semester & Year)

When you do this, it helps us be more efficient and move your application(s) at lightning speed.

If your documents are not in English, you must provide full translation of each document, either prepared by your university or by a registered translator. You must not translate the documents yourself.

For translations, have your institution send OzTREKK your official transcript. We’ll certify it and email it to the translator of your choice, directly.

Usually, the translators wait for your payment before completing the translation and returning it to our office. Please read How Do I Send My Transcripts for more information.

The profession of physical therapy in the United States is regulated at the state level. Licensure is required to practice as a physical therapist in the United States, and each state’s licensing authority has its own eligibility criteria.

In most states, licensing involves the following steps:

1. Complete a credential evaluation, often through the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT)
2. Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)
3. Meet state-specific requirements and receive license

Most states are looking for physical therapy degrees that are equivalent to a United States Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

A such, if you’re looking to study in Australia and practice in the United States, it is in your best interest to pursue a Doctor of Physiotherapy degree versus a master’s or bachelor’s degree.

As there are variations between states, you’re encouraged to reach out to your state licensing board for the details. Have a look at the following websites for more information:

• The American Physical Therapist Association (APTA)
• The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
• Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT)

Unfortunately, if you do not have the required prerequisites, you are not eligible to apply. If you are missing a course or two, you can enroll in those courses before applying and we will submit your interim transcript with your application. Otherwise, you are welcome to send in a course outline you feel covers the required content. If you’re unsure, please contact OzTREKK for details.

Yes. All the physiotherapy programs OzTREKK features are accredited in Australia and eligible for CAPR’s Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway (PACP) that streamlines the credentialling process for applicants trained in Australia and other pre-approved countries.

Learn more about the process on our Practicing physiotherapy in Canada page.

You’re encouraged to contact the regulators directly so you’re 100% clear on the accreditation process. Contact the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) or your provincial authority with any detailed accreditation questions.

The main difference between DPT and MPT is the length of the program. The Master of Physiotherapy programs are typically two years in length and are similar to the graduate-entry programs we have in Canada.

Doctor of Physiotherapy programs are typically three years in length and therefore cover more coursework and practicum hours than the two-year programs. Furthermore, they tend to provide students with the opportunity to explore more advanced practice (e.g., emergency medicine, sports physiotherapy, etc.) and usually include a research project.

The title of the program is deceiving, as it is not a “doctorate,” but is, in fact, a master’s-level degree. Although the programs are different in length and have different titles, graduates of both programs are eligible to apply to become a physiotherapist in Canada.

For graduate-entry physio programs (master or doctor), anything above a 3.1/4.0 cGPA is considered competitive for most of our physiotherapy programs. If you have a cGPA lower than 2.5/4.0, we don’t recommend applying. Visit our Eligibility page for competitive stats based on previous applications.

For undergraduate-entry physio programs, eligible candidates have a high school diploma with an overall average of approximately 85% – 95%, with studies in math, science, and English but this may vary by university. Entry is competitive and meeting minimum GPA requirements does not guarantee entry. Candidates with more than 1 year of full-time university degree studies will be assessed based on university cGPA.

It’s important to ensure you’ve taken courses that cover all the prerequisites before applying to any university program. Some universities list pre-approved courses while others require applicants to submit course outlines. Your course does not need to have the same name as the prerequisite e.g., “neuroscience;” it just needs to cover the right material.

The most crucial prerequisites for physiotherapy programs are human anatomy and human physiology. Some universities want to see more than one semester of these courses and want you to have extensive knowledge in these areas prior to your arrival in Australia. There will not be any review of these topics in the program. Former OzTREKK students have told us they wished they would have reviewed their anatomy and physiology courses more thoroughly.

Whenever courses are combined, e.g., anatomy & physiology (parts 1 and 2), it’s equivalent to taking a half semester of each anatomy and physiology. So even if you took both part 1 and part 2, it would only be equivalent to taking one semester of anatomy and one semester of physiology.

If you’re missing any prerequisites, you can enroll in those courses before applying and we can include your interim transcript with your application.

Read What I wish I knew before studying physiotherapy for some OzTREKK student tips!