Macquarie University

Doctor of Physiotherapy

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Details

University Location North Ryde, New South Wales
City Population 6 million
Student Population 44,000
Int'l Student Population 10,000
Main Campus North Ryde
Program Campus North Ryde
Program Duration 3 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $58,100 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake July
Next Available Intake 2024
Application Deadline January 30*
International Places 30 (90 total)
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Overview

The Doctor of Physiotherapy at Macquarie University will develop your skills so that when you graduate you’re able to work with individuals across the lifespan to optimize their physical function. You’ll learn to effectively assess, diagnose and treat individuals with a range of health conditions. You’ll also learn how to encourage people to change their behaviour and self-manage their conditions to maximize their physical health.

The Macquarie Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) is an extended master’s level, professional-entry degree and will produce physiotherapists with advanced clinical decision-making abilities to practice person-centred health care in contemporary health-care environments.

Blend classroom learning and practical work to be career-ready
Combine coursework with 1000+ hours of clinical practice to effectively assess, diagnose, and treat people with movement disorders.

Get a unique and personalized study experience
Benefit from small class sizes, extra support, and increased interaction with your teachers for a more personalized experience.

Graduate with skills that make you stand out from your peers
Develop unique leadership, business, and advocacy skills in addition to advanced physiotherapy skills, and be more employable.

Study in state-of-the-art facilities
Enhance your learning by simulating authentic clinical environments in Macquarie’s specialized teaching facilities.

Program

The Doctor of Physiotherapy has been developed and delivered based on the assumption that students learn best when they are deeply engaged, motivated and inspired. The DPT teaching team is strongly committed to student-focused and research-enhanced learning and teaching.

Macquarie views learning and teaching as a crucial mechanism to enhance the quality of healthcare and facilitate the translation of research into evidence-based practice. They use reflective practice and enquiry-based learning to ensure you’ll become a lifelong learner able to deliver evidence-based, person-centred healthcare across the lifespan, which considers both restorative and preventative aspects of healthcare.

A fundamental aspect of the pedagogy of the degree is the semester-by-semester structure. This structure provides a logical, systematic flow through the program from start to finish and ensures progressive development towards attainment of the graduate capabilities and outcomes:

  • Semester A: Fundamental physiotherapy skills
  • Semester B: Managing common conditions
  • Semester C: Developing as a clinician
  • Semester D: Managing more complex conditions
  • Semester E: Extended knowledge of future leaders
  • Semester F: Becoming an independent clinician and researcher

You will learn the skills of the physiotherapist based on the best available evidence to effectively assess, diagnose, treat, and educate people across all ages with disorders of movement resulting from a range of conditions. As a graduate, you will possess advanced clinical skills as well as business, management, and leadership training and will be ready to launch a fulfilling career as a physiotherapist across a broad range of health-care setting.

Clinical Placements
The Macquarie Doctor of Physiotherapy program consists of a combination of coursework and supervised clinical placements in both traditional and contemporary settings, including corporate organizations, public and private healthcare facilities, sporting bodies, and within the community. As a Macquarie DPT student, you’ll participate in five 5-week placements, with 1000+ hours of clinical practice to effectively assess, diagnose and treat people with movement disorders.

As a physio student, you will learn from leading physiotherapy academics and researchers as well as from expert clinicians to provide you with a sound foundation of evidence-based physiotherapy practice.

Admission Requirements

Completed bachelor’s degree
You must have a completed bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.3/4.0 (approximately 65%+). The starting point to a competitive average is generally 70% cumulative average or higher; however, competitiveness changes each year depending on the quality and quantity of each year’s applicants. You must have extensive pre-existing knowledge in the following areas:

  • Human anatomy (cell / systems and musculoskeletal)
  • Human physiology (cell and systems)
  • Psychology
  • Research methods / statistics

The courses in the following subject areas are desired, yet not mandatory:

  • Biomechanics
  • Pharmacology
  • Exercise physiology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Motor learning and performance
  • Neuroscience

There are a limited number of places available and selection will be competitive; therefore, meeting eligibility criteria will not guarantee selection for admission. University study of desired knowledge areas will also be considered.

Selection process
Once entry requirements for each candidate have been met the following processes occurs:

  • Candidates will be ranked on their academic merit based on their highest GPA for any tertiary qualification.
  • Secondary level of consideration will be given to students who have completed desired tertiary units of study.
  • The highest-ranked candidates will be offered a place in the Doctor of Physiotherapy.

Admission Timeline

*While the application deadline is generally the end of January, offers are made throughout the year based on academic merit and subject to availability in the program. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible as this program can fill quickly.

Student Reviews

What do OzTREKK students think about studying Physiotherapy at Macquarie University? Read on!

1/7

“The instructors are great”

The campus is beautiful and im very happy with my decision. Its a bit outside of the city so the rent isnt too bad here either. The instructors are great and seem like they really want us to succeed

The instructors are great

The campus is beautiful and im very happy with my decision. Its a bit outside of the city so the rent isnt too bad here either. The instructors are great and seem like they really want us to succeed

Macquarie University Gurasees B
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2023
Macquarie University Gurasees B
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2023

“…you develop strong relationships within your cohort”

The beautiful facilities, my Aussie mates and the welcoming atmosphere at Macquarie uni. The classes are broken into cohorts you follow through the semester with, this is great because you develop strong relationships within your cohort. A prominent online component is followed up with highly practical physiotherapy classes.

…you develop strong relationships within your cohort

The beautiful facilities, my Aussie mates and the welcoming atmosphere at Macquarie uni. The classes are broken into cohorts you follow through the semester with, this is great because you develop strong relationships within your cohort. A prominent online component is followed up with highly practical physiotherapy classes.

Macquarie University Ayden H
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2023
Macquarie University Ayden H
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2023

“Very practical based”

Everything is good. Very practical based, which I love.

Very practical based

Everything is good. Very practical based, which I love.

Macquarie University Rones G
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2022
Macquarie University Rones G
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2022

“…we have lots of opportunity for hands on learning”

I like that everything we are learning is practical and we get to start hands on learning right away. Sometimes the scheduling is not very organized, and the marking for exams are not clearly shown. I like that we have lots of opportunity for hands on learning, would like to have more clear guidelines on how assessments are evaluated.

…we have lots of opportunity for hands on learning

I like that everything we are learning is practical and we get to start hands on learning right away. Sometimes the scheduling is not very organized, and the marking for exams are not clearly shown. I like that we have lots of opportunity for hands on learning, would like to have more clear guidelines on how assessments are evaluated.

Macquarie University Justine L
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2022
Macquarie University Justine L
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2022

“I like that we get hands-on experience right at the start of the program”

The campus is gorgeous and everyone is so nice and helpful when you need guidance. The teachers are also very professional and want you to learn. I live in Bondi and although the campus is a bit far from Sydney CBD, I enjoy the trek to the university as the landscape is gorgeous and public transportation is good here. I like that we get hands-on experience right at the start of the program. I can only say I wish I learned anatomy more before attending this program because professors here assume you know a lot about it.

I like that we get hands-on experience right at the start of the program

The campus is gorgeous and everyone is so nice and helpful when you need guidance. The teachers are also very professional and want you to learn. I live in Bondi and although the campus is a bit far from Sydney CBD, I enjoy the trek to the university as the landscape is gorgeous and public transportation is good here. I like that we get hands-on experience right at the start of the program. I can only say I wish I learned anatomy more before attending this program because professors here assume you know a lot about it.

Macquarie University Valarie V
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2022
Macquarie University Valarie V
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2022

“It is a beautiful campus with great staff and facilities.”

It is a beautiful campus with great staff and facilities. The work life balance is great. Only being in class 3x a week gives you lots of time to study and leisure or work as well. However I may have preferred to do a more condensed two year program.

It is a beautiful campus with great staff and facilities.

It is a beautiful campus with great staff and facilities. The work life balance is great. Only being in class 3x a week gives you lots of time to study and leisure or work as well. However I may have preferred to do a more condensed two year program.

Macquarie University Daphne N
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2019
Macquarie University Daphne N
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2019

“…everyone really cares about the students here which is really comforting.”

Program is great but difficult (fast pace). Very nice teaching staff for the most part. The university itself is situated a little far from the city which is sometimes inconvenient however everyone really cares about the students here which is really comforting. Also, MD and DPT students have many lectures together and clinical hours together which is really interesting and fun !

…everyone really cares about the students here which is really comforting.

Program is great but difficult (fast pace). Very nice teaching staff for the most part. The university itself is situated a little far from the city which is sometimes inconvenient however everyone really cares about the students here which is really comforting. Also, MD and DPT students have many lectures together and clinical hours together which is really interesting and fun !

Macquarie University Eric A.
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2018
Macquarie University Eric A.
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Macquarie University, 2018