Push the boundaries of traditional practice with an extensive education in exercise science, physiotherapy and exercise physiology. This unique degree combination will prepare you to provide more comprehensive care for patients across three areas of practice. Prepare yourself for an exciting career in clinical settings such as hospitals or private practices, as well as non-clinical roles such as working with sporting teams or leading advocacy in healthcare management and policy.
Exercise scientists are specialists in the human body both at rest and in response to exercise. Exercise scientists gain knowledge in a broad array of subdisciplines such as biomechanics, motor control and exercise prescription – they use this knowledge to better prescribe exercise for the maintenance of health and improvement of performance.
Physiotherapists are experts in the structure and movement of the human body. Physiotherapists use hands-on physical therapy, tailored exercises, rehabilitation technologies and lifestyle modifications to help people affected by injuries, musculoskeletal conditions, and neurological and cardiovascular disorders. Along with improving mobility and function, physiotherapists provide health education to prevent further injury or illness.
Exercise physiologists use physical activity as a rehabilitative and preventative therapy. Exercise prescriptions are used to manage a wide range of conditions including cancers, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, respiratory, neurologic and mental health conditions.
In just five years, you’ll gain both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, which will accelerate your career in health. When studied separately, this set of qualifications would normally take a minimum of six to seven years to complete. This degree has an embedded professional practice stream, where you’ll learn alongside students from our dietetics and food innovation, clinical exercise physiology and pharmacy programs. You’ll develop key interprofessional skills such as effective communication, cultural safety and competence, leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship and business management. The stream provides an opportunity to start building connections with your future health colleagues and mirrors real-world practice, where professionals work in integrated healthcare teams. You’ll gain an understanding of how different teams work together to improve patient outcomes, such as how and when to refer a client to another health professional.
This degree will prepare you to work as an exercise scientist, physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, workplace rehabilitation consultant, wellness coordinator or clinical research assistant.
If you're passionate about helping people improve their quality of life, this degree will set you on the path to a fulfilling career.
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As one of the world's top medical schools*, we're creating the health leaders of tomorrow. Our diverse community of students, educators, clinicians and researchers are working together to tackle the world's most pressing health challenges.
Our internationally recognised research centres and institutes are translating ground-breaking research into cures, treatment strategies and therapies. This degree offers research opportunities to develop your investigative skills and provide a pathway if you want to pursue a career in research. You’ll gain a strong understanding of research methods and the application of research to practice. You’ll learn how to apply the principles of evidence-based practice and value-based care to inform your clinical decisions.
*Ranked 54th globally according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
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The combination of three complementary disciplines enhances and diversifies your career prospects. You'll be able to care for healthy as well as chronic disease populations across three areas of practice.
For the client, this leads to improved continuity of care. As the practitioner, you'll benefit from being able to provide multiple services, generate an extended income stream and have more time to build rapport with your clients. For example, a client may present to a physiotherapist with an injury that requires diagnosis and treatment. Following this initial treatment, the client may then work with an exercise physiologist to continue their ongoing rehabilitation. Exercise physiologists develop exercise prescriptions that may then be delivered by an exercise scientist. This example demonstrates how your breadth of skills will enable you to care for clients across all phases of the injury cycle, rather than referring to another practitioner.
This unique degree provides you with the breadth of knowledge, skills and experience that employers are looking for.
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Significant industry consultation was undertaken to ensure our programs align with industry needs, both in contemporary and future practice. This degree has a strong focus on evidence-based and reflective practice, interprofessional education and healthcare ethics. It also supports the development of high-level clinical reasoning and professional communication skills.
The professional practice stream supports the development of management and entrepreneurial skills, which provides a pathway to leadership positions in health. These skills build resilience and provide you with career security as you'll be able to draw upon your interdisciplinary skills to adapt to changes in the industry.
We're building a community of effective and empathetic healthcare practitioners. Our professional practice stream provides training in mental health, cultural safety and advocacy to ensure you can provide all people with the care they need.
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UNSW Medicine & Health offers a diverse range of facilities across our Kensington campus, rural and metropolitan teaching hospitals and our world-class research centres and institutes. You’ll be learning in our exercise physiology laboratories and purpose-built research spaces. Once complete, our transformed Village Green will provide a brand-new world-class sport and leisure environment.
The UNSW Health Translation Hub (UNSW HTH), which will soon form part of the wider Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct, reflects our commitment to transforming healthcare. The UNSW HTH will integrate health education, training and research with healthcare services to drive improvements in patient care and health outcomes. Through the UNSW HTH, you’ll have opportunities to work in interprofessional clinics and pursue research interests.
Our UNSW Lifestyle Clinic brings together some of Australia’s most innovative teams of healthcare professionals and researchers. The Clinic provides a practical learning environment where you can gain hands-on training, complete clinical placements and engage with the community.