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Physiotherapy
Undergraduate

Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Physiotherapy

Key details

Duration

4 year/s full-time
8 year/s part-time
4 year/s full-time

Intake

Semester 1
On campus - Semester 1
Online - No
Important Dates

Locations

Casuarina campus
Casuarina campus

Credit points required

330

Course code

HHSPT1
SATAC codes

Overview

Want to help restore people's maximum movement and functional ability?

The Bachelor of Health Science/ Master of Physiotherapy equips you with the skills and knowledge to improve the lives of the clients, families and communities when movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, disease, disorders or conditions.

Learn to maximise people's quality of life engage in learning through self directed learning activities, synchronous lectures, tutorials and workshops where you will learn, reflect, apply and refine your knowledge and skill in the physiotherapy assessment and intervention, ethical and professional practice, communication, evidence based practice, interprofessional teamwork, reflective practice and lifelong learning, quality improvement and leadership and management. Our course also offers unique community engagement and First Nations perspectives, as well as rural and remote health. You will graduate with skills and knowledge to be a physiotherapist who is culturally responsive and well-equipped to meet the needs of communities across northern Australia.

Study on campus and gain practical, job-ready experience through four 5-week blocks of full-time clinical placements. There are unique placement opportunities in the Northern Territory's regional, rural and remote areas and all placements are supported by CDU academics and registered Physiotherapy professionals.

Our Bachelor of Health Science/ Master of Physiotherapy offers international study opportunities and welcomes both First Nations and international students with dedicated support services on hand to support you through your degree.



Practical experience

You will complete a minimum of 750 hours for clinical education.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Health Science/ Master of Physiotherapy offered at Charles Darwin University has been approved by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, and accredited by the Physiotherapy Board of Australia for the purpose of registration of graduates. 

Credit transfers and advanced standing

Pathways

Pathways for VET to Higher Education

Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:


Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education

For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education

Credit transfer

For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU

Credit transfers and advanced standing

Credit transfer

For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU

Fees

Commonwealth supported places

Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:

(a) be an Australian citizen, who will complete some of your course of study while resident in Australia; or

(b) a New Zealand citizen; or an Australian permanent visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; who studies the entire course while living in Australia.

Further information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.

International tuition fees

The annual tuition fee for full time study in 2024 is AUD $32,352.00. This equates to $ $4,044.00 per 10 credit point unit (0.125 EFTSL).
These fees are subject to increases annually, effective at the start of each calendar year.

You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.

CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.

Engineering student Johanna Luck

Why study a health course at CDU?

As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community. 

  • Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
  • Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
  • Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous health, tropical medicine and other issues of regional and national importance
Stephen Kho - Public Health Research

Why study a health course at CDU?

As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.

  • Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
  • Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous and Asia-Pacific health, tropical medicine and other issues of international importance
Engineering student Johanna Luck

Why study a health course at CDU?

As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community. 

  • Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
  • Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
  • Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous health, tropical medicine and other issues of regional and national importance
Stephen Kho - Public Health Research

Why study a health course at CDU?

As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.

  • Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
  • Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous and Asia-Pacific health, tropical medicine and other issues of international importance

What will I study?

In the first two years of this double degree students are introduced to health concepts and constructs within the Bachelor of Health Science units that will lay a foundation for their clinical practice. In the third year students are introduced to physiotherapy focused teaching and learning and students will engage in some clinical placements. In the final year students will further develop their physiotherapy skills and knowledge applying these to theoretical and clinical units.

Course structure


A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 330 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.

Unit typeCredit PointsSpecific requirements
 Bachelor of Health Science Core Units 
 (14 units)
 140cp

Compulsory Core units totalling 140 credit points as detailed below.

SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 
SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 
HSC111 Ethics in Health Care 
HSC112 Basics of Epidemiology   
HSC121 Australia's Healthcare System and Policies 
HSC132 Introduction to Health Promotion 
HSC133 Perspectives of Indigenous Health (previously HSC203) 
PSY150 Introduction to Psychology A 
SWK102 Communication Skills 
HSC204 Chronic Conditions Management 
HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A Sociological Introduction 
NUR256 Research and Evidence Based Practice 
HSC318 Rural and Remote Health 
PHM301 Exploring Public Health 
 

Bachelor of Health Science Specialist Elective Units 
 (5 units) 
  50cp

Specialist Elective units totalling 50 credit points as detailed below.

SPE111 Physical Assessment, Exercise Prescription and Delivery 
PSY228 Neuroscience and Biological Bases of Behaviour 
SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare 
SPE261 Functional Anatomy 
PTY300 Clinically Applied Anatomy (available from 2025)
 

 Master of Physiotherapy Core Units 
 (13 units)
140cp

Compulsory Core units totalling 140 credit points as detailed below.

PTY311 Fundamentals of Physiotherapy Practice (available from 2025) 
HEA506 Health Workforce
PTY512 Physiotherapy Practice 1 (acute) (available from 2025) 
PTY513 Physiotherapy Practice 2 (rehabilitation) (available from 2025) 
PTY521 Clinical Education I (available from 2025) 
PTY531 Physiotherapy Practice 3 (community) (available from 2026) 
PTY532 Clinical Education II (available from 2026) 
PTY533 Physiotherapy Practice 4 (lifespan) (available from 2026) 
PTY534 Physiotherapy Practice 5 (special populations) (available from 2026) 
PTY541 Physiotherapy Practice 6 (health care models and service delivery) (available from 2026) 
PTY551 Clinical Education III (available from 2026) 
PTY622 Advanced physiotherapy practice (available from 2026) 
PTY624 Clinical Education IV (capstone) (20cp) (available from 2026)
 

 330cpTotal Credit Points


 

 

Study plan


The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student enrolling in a standard full-time load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.

When designing an individual study plan:

  • maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
  • check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
Legend:CO = Core Unit
Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1COSBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2CO
HSC132 Introduction to Health PromotionCOSWK102 Communication SkillsCO
PSY150 Introduction to Psychology ACOHSC111 Ethics in Health CareCO
HSC121 Australia's Healthcare System and PoliciesCOHSC133 Perspectives of Indigenous Health (previously HSC203)CO
Year 2
HSC112 Basics of Epidemiology   COSPE111 Physical Assessment, Exercise Prescription and DeliveryCO
HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A Sociological IntroductionCOHSC204 Chronic Conditions ManagementCO
PSY228 Neuroscience and Biological Bases of BehaviourCONUR256 Research and Evidence Based PracticeCO
SBI241 Pathophysiology for HealthcareCOSPE261 Functional AnatomyCO
Year 3
PTY300 Clinically Applied Anatomy (avail from 2025)COHSC318 Rural and Remote Health CO
PHM301 Exploring Public HealthCOHEA506 Health WorkforceCO
PTY311 Fundamentals of Physiotherapy PracticeCOPTY513 Physiotherapy Practice 2 (rehabilitation)CO
PTY512 Physiotherapy Practice 1 (acute)COPTY521 Clinical Education 1CO
Year 4
PTY531 Physiotherapy Practice 3 (community)COPTY541 Physiotherapy Practice 6 (health care models and service delivery)CO
PTY532 Clinical Education IICOPTY551 Clinical Education IIICO
PTY533 Physiotherapy Practice 4 (lifespan)COPTY622 Advanced physiotherapy practiceCO
PTY534 Physiotherapy Practice 5 (special populations)COPTY624 Clinical Education IV (20cp) (capstone)CO

 

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Entry requirements

Quota

The Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Physiotherapy is a highly competitive course with a limited number of places. This means that although you may meet the minimum entry requirement for the course, you may not be ranked high enough to receive an offer. Subquotas are in place for First Nations and NT Resident applicants.

Admission criteria

Admission requirements are met by one of the following:

  • Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 70*.
  • Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate IV level or higher.
  • Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma with a GPA of at least 5.
  • Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
  • Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 147.
  • Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program or the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses or other recognised tertiary preparation course.

* After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.

 

Additional admission requirements

Physiotherapy students must meet a specific level of English language proficiency prior to an offer. 

You can show English language proficiency by:

1.      completing a declaration that English is your primary language, or

2.      sitting an English language proficiency test.

Applicants will be required to submit the following via their SATAC application to demonstrate they meet the above standard prior to being included in offer rounds in one of the following ways:

1. PRIMARY LANGUAGE PATHWAY:

A signed English Language Declaration indicating the following:

1.      English is their primary language; and

2.      They have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.

*Recognised countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and USA.

OR

2. ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST PATHWAY

 Applicants have achieved and can supply evidence of the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests:

·        IELTS (Academic) Minimum Scores

Band score of 7.0 in all bands

(IELTS Indicator test is not accepted)

·        TOEFL Minimum Scores

Internet-based: total score of 94 with a minimum of 27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Reading and Listening

(TOEFL Home edition test is not accepted)

·        Pearson Test of English (Academic) Minimum Scores

Overall score of 65 AND Skills profile of 65 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening

·        Occupational English Test (OET)

A minimum result of B/score of 350 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

TOEFL Home edition and IELTS Indicator tests are not accepted for entry.

* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.

* Results can be combined from a maximum of two tests undertaken within six months.

* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.

Essential requirements

Pre-clinical Requirements

Students must provide proof that they have met all university and State/Territory pre-clinical requirements before they can undertake those units that include clinical placements. These requirements include, but are not limited to, immunisation requirements, Senior First Aid qualification, annual criminal record checks and/or working with children clearances and/or fitness-to-practice requirements.

Working with Children Check

A Working with Children Check is required before you can undertake your practical placements. If your Working with Children Check is not cleared, you will not be able to undertake practice teaching placements and therefore, will not meet the requirements of the course.

National Police Check

You must have cleared a Police Check before you can undertake your practical placements. If your Police Check is not cleared, you will not be able to undertake placements and therefore, will not meet the requirements of the course.

Senior First Aid

A current senior first aid certificate is required before you can undertake practical placements.

Fitness to Practice

A fitness to practice check is required for placements in the course.

Immunisation Schedule

A current immunisation schedule is required before you can undertake practical placements.

English language requirements

To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency requirements for their chosen course of study. From 2025 ALL applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application. For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.

DOMESTIC STUDENTS   
English language proficiency requirements - Domestic students

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS   
English language proficiency requirements - International students   
Course specific English language proficiency requirements for International students are included below.

The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either:

  • providing a declaration that English is your primary language and you have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six (6) years of continuous education that is equivalent to secondary education taught and assessed in English from one of the recognised countries*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12. 
    (*recognised countries include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America)
  • undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
IELTS Academic ModuleA minimum overall score of 7.0 with no band less than 7.0.
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)Test not accepted for this course.
Common European Framework Certificate of English ProficiencyTest not accepted for this course.
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic moduleA minimum overall pass of 65 and 65 across all modules (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT)A minimum overall score of 94 and a minimum 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking.

* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Results can be combined from a maximum of two tests undertaken within six months.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.

Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.

 

ATAR profile


There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.

I've had the unique opportunity to explore tropical and rural health, which I may not have had the exposure to had I studied elsewhere.

Katie

CDU student

Nursing student on campus with laptop

My advice for anyone who is considering studying a health or science degree at CDU is if you are thinking about it, just do it.

Nishat

CDU student

Nishat studying

I've had the unique opportunity to explore tropical and rural health, which I may not have had the exposure to had I studied elsewhere.

Katie

CDU student

Nursing student on campus with laptop

My advice for anyone who is considering studying a health or science degree at CDU is if you are thinking about it, just do it.

Nishat

CDU student

Nishat studying

Course details

Inherent Requirements

There are inherent requirements for this course. Students must read and understand the requirements for this course.

Australian qualification framework

This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.

Student profile


There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.

Additional information

Can offers be deferred?
No
Award
Bachelor of Health Science:Master of Physiotherapy
Faculty/College
Faculty of Health
Sector
HE
Area of study
Health, Allied Health Sciences

Contact details

For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:

Email:Student.Central@cdu.edu.auPhone:1800 061 963 (free call)

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

You make CDU

Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

You make CDU

Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.

How to apply

There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.

Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.

SATAC

SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.

International applications

Applications must be submitted online through our application portal, Studylink. You'll need a valid email address to create your online account. Once you have started your application, you will be able to save it and resume it later. There is no application fee when you apply online.

You may be able to lodge a direct application; however, there may be restrictions on your geographic location. If you cannot submit a direct application via the application portal, please apply through one of our registered agents.

Apply through StudyLink or through an Agent.

International applicants currently studying year 12 in Australia should apply via SATAC.

If you do not meet any of the criteria above please visit Pathways to study to view the options available to you.

SATAC codes

Location
SATAC Code
Casuarina campus (CSP)
113251
* CSP = Commonwealth supported place
FF = Full fee

CRICOS codes

Location
CRICOS Code
Casuarina campus
113895E

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