Macquarie University

Doctor of Physiotherapy

Graduate
Apply To This Program

Details

University Location North Ryde, New South Wales
City Population 5 million
Student Population 40,200
Int'l Student Population 8,600
Main Campus North Ryde
Program Campus North Ryde
Program Duration 3 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $53,600 AUD (2022 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake July
Next Available Intake 2023
Application Deadline January 30 each year*
International Places 30 (90 total)
Apply To This Program

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.

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!

1/3

“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

“They [the instructors] are enthusiastic and passionate about the content and deliver it in an interesting way.”

I like the small cohort; I feel like you get to know your classmates a lot more closely. I also like the enthusiasm of the instructors. They are enthusiastic and passionate about the content and deliver it in an interesting way.

They [the instructors] are enthusiastic and passionate about the content and deliver it in an interesting way.

I like the small cohort; I feel like you get to know your classmates a lot more closely. I also like the enthusiasm of the instructors. They are enthusiastic and passionate about the content and deliver it in an interesting way.

Macquarie University William B.
Macquarie University, 2018
Macquarie University William B.
Macquarie University, 2018

“…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 th 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 th 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.
Macquarie University, 2018
Macquarie University Eric A.
Macquarie University, 2018