Doctor of Physiotherapy

University of Melbourne

Australia, Melbourne

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University of Melbourne

Australia , Melbourne

Key Facts

Program Level

Professional Doctorate

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

071302J

Application Fee

AUD 154

Campuses

Parkville

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 3 year(s)

Tuition Fee

AUD 64,000 / year

Doctor of Physiotherapy

About

Overview

The Department of Physiotherapy recently celebrated 25 years of excellence in physiotherapy education. The Doctor of Physiotherapy draws on the University of Melbourne's reputation for excellence in teaching and research to inspire and enable students to become outstanding physiotherapists ready to excel as world-class leaders in their chosen field.

Graduates will be work-ready and immediately employable following registration having gained diverse clinical experience in major hospitals and knowledge of primary healthcare and community engagement.

Led by highly credentialed and networked lecturers and mentors, as well as connections with leading hospitals, research institutes and the private sector, the Doctor of Physiotherapy is designed to meet the current and future needs of students, patients and the changing nature of the health workforce.

Graduates have the opportunity to pursue careers in a range of health settings including hospitals, private practice, sporting and rehabilitation facilities, community organisations, in public health advocacy or industry bodies.

The course prepares students for the current needs and changing roles of the physiotherapist in areas such as chronic disease management, health promotion and prevention, as well as acute care, rehabilitation, and sports and private practice. The clinical program builds progressively to independent practice, with approximately 37 weeks of clinical practice.

The program also features include advanced theoretical knowledge in areas such as pharmacology, leadership and management, and including a student conference.

The program includes:

Clinical placements in major metropolitan teaching hospitals, primary care, rural and international settings
Innovative teaching methods and an extensive clinical program that offers advanced skills that will create work-ready and highly employable graduates
Being part of one of the largest health sciences faculties in Australia
Being part of Australia's strongest research university

Course description

The Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) at University of Melbourne is a three-year, full-time (300 credit point) entry to practice graduate degree.

Building on prior learning at an undergraduate level, the Doctor of Physiotherapy provides students with a comprehensive, integrated course in the theory and practice of physiotherapy.

With a mix of individual and group work assessments, written and oral presentations and skills-based assessments. Desired graduate attributes have been carefully defined, developed and mapped to every component of the course. The 67 attributes, listed in the Course and Subject Handbook, have been collated into six domains:

Self
Knowledge
Patient
Physiotherapy profession
Systems of health care
Society

In addition, students will complete a ‘Critical perspectives in physiotherapy’ portfolio that will explicitly and cumulatively build on students’ ability to reflect on their learning experiences and their understanding of the physiotherapy graduate attributes.

Please see the Course and Subject Handbook for more information about the subjects.

The program will be delivered outside the standard university semester. The semesters are 17 weeks in duration. This allows us to incorporate the clinical component of the course within the subjects.

Upcoming information session

Doctor of Physiotherapy Information Session: 2026 Intake

When: To be confirmed - May 2025

Hear current students and the Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) Course Coordinator discuss how we prepare students for the changing roles of the physiotherapist in areas such as interprofessional practice, chronic disease management across the lifespan, health promotion, acute care, community care and private practice.

Booking link coming soon

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Admission criteria

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

Don't meet the prerequisite subject requirements?

You may have the option to enrol in specific single subjects through the University's Community Access Program, even if you are not enrolled in a course. Completing these prerequisite subjects may qualify you for entry into this course. This option is not available to student visa holders or applicants. Learn more about single subject study.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

English language test score requirements
If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

IELTS

7.0

with written 7.0 and no band less than 6.0
TOEFL

94+

with writing 27; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13
PEARSON

72+

with written communicative skill of 75 and no other communicative skill below 60
CAMBRIDGE

185+

with no less than 185 in writing and no less than 169 in each other skill
*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

About selection

When assessing applications, the Selection Committee will consider your previous studies and academic performance.

The Selection Committee may request additional information to clarify any aspect of an application, according to the University’s Academic Board rules regarding selection instruments.

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

Standard pathway

When assessing your prior academic performance, your most recent bachelor's degree results (including honours) will be used for the purposes of calculating your Grade Point Average (GPA) regardless of any subsequent graduate studies completed. Your GPA will be measured by considering the last three years of your undergraduate coursework studies (including honours when available).

Weightings will be applied by weighting the first of the final three years by 1, the second year by 2 and the final year by 2.

The GPA will be used to shortlist applicants for the Multi Mini Interview (MMI).

Final selection into the course will be made on the basis of a combined rank list where GPA and performance at interview are given equal weighting.

The Selection Committee may re-rank up to 3 applicants in any given intake with a high level of performance in postgraduate studies in a cognate area subject to the following:

Postgraduate study must have been completed within ten years of commencement of the Doctor of Physiotherapy;
Postgraduate study must be the equivalent of at least a one-year full time program;
Postgraduate study must be in a discipline that builds upon studies completed at the undergraduate level;
Postgraduate study must be in a health related or biological sciences discipline.

The Selection Committee is not required to fill the quotas and any unused places will be allocated as normal.

Guaranteed pathway (Domestic applicants)

As a Chancellors Scholar applicant, you will be offered a Commonwealth Supported Place in the course if you:

Submit their application by the deadline, AND
Have completed the subject prerequisites on the first attempt, AND
Perform satisfactorily in the Multi-Mini Interview (MMI).

As a Guaranteed Full Fee applicant, you will be offered an Australian fee place if you:

Submit your application by the deadline, AND
Have completed an undergraduate course at the University of Melbourne with a weighted average mark of 75% or higher, AND
Have completed the subject prerequisites on the first attempt, AND
Perform satisfactorily in the Multi-Mini Interview (MMI).

Please note that for both guaranteed pathways, the guarantee is only applicable if the Doctor of Physiotherapy is commenced within 18 months of completing your Bachelor degree at the University of Melbourne noting that no further study can be undertaken in this time (except for Honours at the University of Melbourne).

Guaranteed pathway (International applicants)

As a Chancellors Scholar applicant, you will be offered an international full fee place in the course if you:

Submit you application by the deadline, AND
Have completed the subject prerequisites on the first attempt, AND
Perform satisfactorily in the Multi-Mini Interview (MMI).

As a Guaranteed Full Fee applicant, you will be offered an international fee place in the course if you:

Submit your application by the deadline, AND
Have completed an undergraduate course at the University of Melbourne with a weighted average mark of 75% or higher, AND
Have completed the subject prerequisites on the first attempt, AND

Perform satisfactorily in the Multi-Mini Interview (MMI).

Indigenous pathway (Domestic applicants only)

Weightings will be applied by weighting the first of the final three years by 1, the second year by 2 and the final year by 2.

Applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent are given priority access to the Doctor of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne under the Indigenous DPT Pathway.

All eligible Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants must submit a Confirmation of Identity to the Indigenous Student Support Officer at [email protected] for verification.

Indigenous applicants who meet the requirements and pass the MMI may be invited for a second interview with a panel of key Indigenous staff members and course staff.

English Program Requirements

English language test score requirements

If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

IELTS

7.0

with written 7.0 and no band less than 6.0

TOEFL

94+

with writing 27; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13

PEARSON

72+

with written communicative skill of 75 and no other communicative skill below 60

CAMBRIDGE

185+

with no less than 185 in writing and no less than 169 in each other skill

*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

Career

Taught by leading researchers and academics, and clinical practitioners from prestigious clinical schools, the Doctor of Physiotherapy is the perfect pathway to becoming an industry-leading practitioner to provide world-class care to every patient you encounter.

Exciting clinical practice opportunities

As a student in the Doctor of Physiotherapy, there will be many opportunities to explore clinical practice, research and advocacy.

The opportunities for students range from private and sporting facility practice, through to community health and major hospitals.

Our close relationships with our clinical partners such as Melbourne Health, Austin Health, Western Health, St. Vincent’s and Royal Children’s Hospital allows students to experience exclusive clinical experience in the country’s leading institutions.

Throughout the program, you will witness the power of health care in action. As a student, you may have the opportunity to work with a variety of community groups. Your ability to analyse health problems in context and build outcomes that work will have tangible effects on people’s lives.

Through contact with established physiotherapists, you can develop your leadership and management skills. You will witness how successful physiotherapists structure and run their own businesses. You will also learn how to future-proof your work with a greater understanding of new and innovative practices, which will equip you to better serve patients now and beyond.

Our Graduates

Graduates from the Doctor of Physiotherapy emerge as strong leaders in their field.

Graduates from the program are also able to register with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Authority (AHPRA) and work as a physiotherapist in Australia and New Zealand. Previous graduates have ventured around the world with their practice, including the UK, Canada, and the United States. Doctor of Physiotherapy graduates who wish to practice overseas should check with their local physiotherapy registration board to confirm registration requirements.