The University of Sydney

Doctor of Physiotherapy

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Details

University Location Sydney, New South Wales
City Population 5.3 million
Student Population 73,000
Int'l Student Population 10,600
Main Campus Camperdown / Darlington
Program Campus Camperdown / Darlington
Program Duration 3 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $63,500 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake February / March
Next Available Intake 2026
Application Deadline October 29 each year*
International Places 25
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Overview

The University of Sydney offers a 3-year graduate-entry Doctor of Physiotherapy program intended for students who wish to become physiotherapy professionals working in variety of settings, including clinical and academic settings.

Why study physiotherapy at Sydney?

  • The university is ranked first in Australia and 4th in the world for graduate employability
  • You will have world-leading academics, clinical educators, policy makers, and researchers to guide you through your degree.
  • You’ll learn within the new Susan Wakil Health Building, featuring state-of-the-art facilities, clinical simulations, and practical experiences.
  • While working with Sydney’s leading health partners, you’ll gain real-world, hands-on training through work-integrated learning and clinical placements within the university’s extensive network of top-tier hospitals and primary and community healthcare facilities across metropolitan, regional, and rural NSW.

As a Sydney DPT student, you’ll develop current and future focused competencies of beginning health practitioners.

Program

The new Sydney Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) program includes advanced clinical training and streamlined entry requirements. This degree involves a new model of clinical experience, enabling better integration and ongoing development of theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and clinical reasoning.

The new curriculum breaks down the barriers and integrate the clinical areas of physiotherapy practice using a programmatic assessment of learning approach and larger units of study. The course emphasizes a patient-centred and evidence-based approach to physiotherapy and healthcare, equipping you with the skills to practice in a variety of healthcare settings.

While this is not a research degree, it requires graduates to gain the knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the discipline and its professional practice and plan and execute a substantial research based project, capstone experience and/or professionally focused project.

With your final-year electives, you can tailor the course to your specific interests in physiotherapy and health. Some of these may include subjects like Pharmacology of Pain Medicine, Diabetes Management, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Pain in Children and Pain in Older People.

Clinical Placements
This professional master’s degree includes a high level of hands-on training, evidence-based practice, and requires advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in the field; you will undertake clinical placements at urban public and private clinics and rural health settings including, but not limited to, rehabilitation, acute care, ambulatory care/outpatients and community/general care.

This course requires you to complete the following number of work hours:

  • 37 hours per week over 24 weeks
  • Approximately 888 total hours

Admission Requirements

Completed bachelor’s degree
You must have a completed undergraduate degree from a recognized university with a minimum GPA of 2.7/4.0 (approximately 70% +), and have pre-existing knowledge in two essential areas, human anatomy and human physiology.

Grades assessed for admission are based on your highest-ranked university degree.

Admission Timeline

*While the application deadline is generally the end of October each year, 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.

For the 2025 intake, this program filled September 5, 2024. For information about the 2026 intake and to apply, please contact OzTREKK.

Student Reviews

What do OzTREKK students think about studying Physiotherapy at The University of Sydney? Read on!

1/6

“Facilities are top notch”

Campus is very large and beautiful, but can be difficult to maneuver for new students and takes a while to walk from one side of campus to another. Facilities are top notch, but feedback from and interaction with professors and tutors is limited and not many opportunity for getting to know other people in program. Program cohort is very large. Material is very broad and overarching of all things related to my program.

Facilities are top notch

Campus is very large and beautiful, but can be difficult to maneuver for new students and takes a while to walk from one side of campus to another. Facilities are top notch, but feedback from and interaction with professors and tutors is limited and not many opportunity for getting to know other people in program. Program cohort is very large. Material is very broad and overarching of all things related to my program.

university of sydney black and white logo Jeffrey S
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2023
university of sydney black and white logo Jeffrey S
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2023

“…courses are in a new building”

Experience is great, campus is beautiful, courses are in a new building and are good. The communication between myself and the school was slow. The course material is interesting. The tutorials are great because you're having hands-on learning. Instructors are good. Class sizes are up to 60 people in a class but there is a good student-to-instructor ratio.

…courses are in a new building

Experience is great, campus is beautiful, courses are in a new building and are good. The communication between myself and the school was slow. The course material is interesting. The tutorials are great because you’re having hands-on learning. Instructors are good. Class sizes are up to 60 people in a class but there is a good student-to-instructor ratio.

university of sydney black and white logo Chantelle G
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2023
university of sydney black and white logo Chantelle G
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2023

“New facilities, close to the city, lots going on!”

New facilities, close to the city, lots going on! My university's program is changing from a 2 year to a 3 year - I like the 2 year a lot, great professors, lots of material covered, feeling excited for practicals. Downside is a lack of communication around timelines/exams schedules/important information. Get medical documents in order - specifically vaccine history including dates/doses (batch number if possible). Check the university's website and set a reminder to submit you... Read More

New facilities, close to the city, lots going on!

New facilities, close to the city, lots going on! My university’s program is changing from a 2 year to a 3 year – I like the 2 year a lot, great professors, lots of material covered, feeling excited for practicals. Downside is a lack of communication around timelines/exams schedules/important information. Get medical documents in order – specifically vaccine history including dates/doses (batch number if possible). Check the university’s website and set a reminder to submit your timetable preferences (they vary a lot, there’s lots of possible options- could be at school everyday or only 2-3 days/week), make sure to get out there/have fun when you do have breaks!

university of sydney black and white logo Kelsi P
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2023
university of sydney black and white logo Kelsi P
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2023

“…there is a lot of hands-on learning”

I like the university.... I enjoy the program because there is a lot of hands on learning through tutorials and the material is interesting.

…there is a lot of hands-on learning

I like the university…. I enjoy the program because there is a lot of hands on learning through tutorials and the material is interesting.

university of sydney black and white logo Spencer D
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2019
university of sydney black and white logo Spencer D
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2019

“…I like how there are several options in scheduling our weekly tutorials…”

I like how organized the system they use to give us material to learn on our own and I like how there are several options in scheduling our weekly tutorials I dislike the campus that we are at, the cumberland campus does not compare to the main campus in camperdown. the facilities are kept a lot cleaner, the libraries are open later and there are many food options on the camperdown campus. Aside from the cafeteria on cumberland campus there are no other food options and the the cafeteria closes around 3:30pm

…I like how there are several options in scheduling our weekly tutorials…

I like how organized the system they use to give us material to learn on our own and I like how there are several options in scheduling our weekly tutorials I dislike the campus that we are at, the cumberland campus does not compare to the main campus in camperdown. the facilities are kept a lot cleaner, the libraries are open later and there are many food options on the camperdown campus. Aside from the cafeteria on cumberland campus there are no other food options and the the cafeteria closes around 3:30pm

university of sydney black and white logo Brendan Y.
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2018
university of sydney black and white logo Brendan Y.
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2018

“The professors are awesome and offer lots of help.”

I chose the University of Sydney because of their amazing program. They are so world renowned and have an amazing group of professors who want you to succeed! I am loving the program! Although it’s a two-year program, it is going by so fast! I knew that it would require a lot of hard work and dedication, but it is such a rewarding feeling being part of an amazing faculty. The professors are awesome and offer lots of help. The program does a great job of really opening the idea of different pathways in the area of physiotherapy.

The professors are awesome and offer lots of help.

I chose the University of Sydney because of their amazing program. They are so world renowned and have an amazing group of professors who want you to succeed! I am loving the program! Although it’s a two-year program, it is going by so fast! I knew that it would require a lot of hard work and dedication, but it is such a rewarding feeling being part of an amazing faculty. The professors are awesome and offer lots of help.

The program does a great job of really opening the idea of different pathways in the area of physiotherapy.

university of sydney black and white logo Alexis C
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2016
university of sydney black and white logo Alexis C
Master of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney, 2016