Monash University

Doctor of Physiotherapy

Graduate

Details

University Location Melbourne, Victoria
City Population 5.3 million
Student Population 86,000
Int'l Student Population 30,000
Main Campus Clayton
Program Campus Peninsula
Program Duration 3 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $58,300 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake July
Next Available Intake 2024
Application Deadline Rolling admissions*
International Places 15 (35 total)

Overview

The Department of Physiotherapy at Monash University prides itself on research-informed teaching that will challenge and encourage you. With a progressive and supportive learning environment, you’ll learn to collaborate, innovate, and succeed. Monash Physiotherapy aims to advance health and wellness through best practice in education and research in an environment that is progressive and supportive for both educators and students.

The Doctor of Physiotherapy is designed around case-based learning with fully integrated curriculum that combines self-directed learning opportunities with high-quality lectures and tutorials. Staff who teach in the program have either completed formal postgraduate studies in education or undertake ongoing informal education in teaching best practice.

A strong emphasis on finding interdisciplinary solutions to health problems flows through all the school’s courses, allowing you to gain an understanding of how you can work with other primary health care professions.

Program

The Monash Doctor of Physiotherapy provides you with the knowledge, skills and clinical experience to start your career as a physiotherapist. The program is based at the university’s Peninsula campus (approximately 40 km southeast of Melbourne), where you’ll become part of a growing specialist precinct for allied health and primary care education and research.

The Doctor of Physiotherapy curriculum is underpinned by four major themes, which are integrated throughout each unit you complete:

Theme 1: Personal and professional development
The personal and professional development theme focuses on the development of personal attributes and related skills to assist you in the transition to physiotherapist. It includes communication and interprofessional collaboration skills, ethics, and legal issues.

Theme 2: Population, society and health
The population, society, and health theme provides the structure to consider the broader cultural, societal, and population issues that impact on health and healthcare delivery. Dedicated studies in leadership, business, education, and advocacy support this theme.

Theme 3: Applied practice
This theme develops clinical competencies integral to physiotherapy practice. It focuses on the incorporation of the best available research evidence with the clinical reasoning skills of assessment, management, and evaluation of patients within a range of environments and the delivery of appropriate health care.

Theme 4: Research
The research theme focuses on the knowledge and skills that are required to independently collect or locate, interpret and critically evaluate research that investigates issues relevant to physiotherapy practice.

Year 1
During your first year, your previous biomedical studies (in anatomy, physiology, and biostatistics) are further developed and applied to the physiotherapy context with the introduction of biomechanics, kinesiology, pathology, pharmacology, psychology, and sociology. Musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory physiotherapy units are undertaken, led by clinical and research experts. You’ll participate in a program of simulation and work-integrated learning to ensure early exposure to clinical work.

Years 2 and 3
On-campus learning continues in the early weeks of Year 2, followed by a sequence of clinical education placements in a diversity of settings, with challenges increasing across Year 2 to Year 3. Clinical placements aim to develop your knowledge and practical experience in the delivery of physiotherapy services under the supervision of experienced physiotherapists. The final year of study requires application of research, business, leadership, and advocacy skills to prepare you for the multiple physiotherapy career pathways available.

Clinical Placements
Clinical placements occur in years 2 and 3, with practice in a simulated setting as well as acute, subacute, and community contexts. A learner-centred philosophy allows preferences to be pursued in your final-year selective placement and an independent research project in the final year.

Monash partners with some of Victoria’s major healthcare providers to give you access to high-quality clinical training. Your placements will take place in a range of facilities, from hospitals to rehabilitation centres to private practice. Your placement could take you to the Alfred, Australasia’s largest trauma centre, community rehabilitation with Peninsula Health, or even with a rural healthcare service.

Admission Requirements

Completed bachelor’s degree
You must have a completed undergraduate degree in a related discipline from a recognized university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7/4.0 (approximately 70% +) and have extensive pre-existing knowledge in the following areas:

  • one semester of human anatomy
  • one semester of human physiology
  • one semester of biostatistics (research methods/statistics also considered)

Important note: The Monash DPT requires a relevant undergraduate degree such as a Bachelor of Kinesiology or a Bachelor of Science with a major in physiology, rehabilitation, human movement, life sciences etc. Your bachelor’s degree must include a minimum of 2 of the 3 prerequisite subject areas listed above. Applicants will only be permitted to do 1 prerequisite subject as non-award study (i.e., outside your bachelor’s degree).

Admission Timeline

*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.

1/1

“I like the class size ”

Great program but the school is relatively far from everything else in melbourne. I like the class size

Monash University Kevin L
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Monash University, 2022