Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)
Transform lives through freedom of movement
Physiotherapists help us recover, maintain and enhance our ability to move freely and without pain. They help us overcome injury, preserve physical condition during and after illness, and improve athletic performance.
But the psychological impact of that is far from purely technical; it’s a critical component of positive mental health and an enabler of a rewarding quality of life.
What will you study?
Our Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) equips you to assess and manage a range of health conditions.
With many courses taught by registered practising physiotherapists, the degree places an emphasis on real-world experience. In over 750 hours of work-based training, you’ll work with children and adults of all ages in multiple settings which may include: public and private health organisations; schools; rehabilitation centres; sporting organisations; aged care and more.
You’ll gain high-level knowledge and skills in:
- human anatomy, biomechanics and physiology
- clinical assessment and management of patients with cardiothoracic, musculoskeletal and neurological dysfunction, and developmental disorders
- safe patient handling practices and patient education
- broad public health issues
- evidence-based, patient-centred care.
You’ll regularly access our purpose-built training facilities and state-of-the-art simulation suites—among Australasia’s most advanced. In addition, you’ll benefit from collaborative learning with key complementary disciplines, speech pathology and occupational therapy.
From third year, you’ll choose one of two streams—research* or industry—and undertake a major project. Research will hone your skills in developing new knowledge; industry focuses on integrating research into practice.
Where could a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) take you?
You’ll graduate eligible to pursue a wide range of career opportunities. You could help cancer patients improve their condition—and spirit—during treatment. You could help a range of people better manage a variety of health conditions. You might help a child take their first steps, or you could help someone get back to work, sport or other activities. Those in the research stream may change the way we assess and manage a range of conditions, leading to better health outcomes for the population.
The Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) is accredited with the Australian Physiotherapy Council.
*Entry into the research stream will be based on academic merit.
Note:
This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required. If you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice.
Explore your career in Physiotherapy
Aaron shares how hands-on practical learning, cutting-edge facilities, and early clinical placements have helped him discover the dynamic field of physiotherapy, leading towards a rewarding career in promoting well-being and recovery.
*Australian Government, Labour Market Insights, 2023.
Entry Requirements
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions
information for this program.
I am a:
Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.
Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.
Domestic applicants
| SATAC Code | 354251 |
|---|---|
| 2023 CSP ATAR | 89.3 |
| 2023 CSP IB | 34.25 |
| Deferment | Yes - 2 year |
| Intake | February |
| Additional Entry Requirements | Rural Background Entry Pathway: If you have as of 31 December in the year prior to degree commencement, spent at least five 5 consecutive years, or 10 years cumulatively, in an Australian Standard Geographic Classification - Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) RA 2-5 area, from birth, you are eligible to apply under the Rural Background entry pathway. The time frame is based on the location of your primary residence. Please refer to Remote Area locations (RA) for further guidance. Rural Background Entry (RBE) pathway applicants are required to sign and submit a statutory declaration with your SATAC application as the only acceptable proof of rural background. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway: The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who participate in its programs and makes particular effort to encourage Indigenous students to participate in health education. This degree has allocated a number of places just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Please contact the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Student Support Officer via email at fhms.sso@adelaide.edu.au to discuss your interest in applying. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander application process:
|
Selection Criteria
| Recent Secondary Education | Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors). |
|---|---|
| Higher Education Study | You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). There are places in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) reserved for University of Adelaide students however students with study from other institutions are also considered. A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. |
| Work and life experience | To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as a pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2024. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2024 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2023 or 2022), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2022). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. |
| Other Entry Pathways | |
2023 Admissions Data for school leavers
| ATAR (raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors) |
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer | 73.85 |
|---|---|---|
| Median ATAR to receive an offer | 94.18 | |
| Highest ATAR to receive an offer | 99.95 | |
| Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 89.3 |
| Median Selection Rank to receive an offer | 97.1 | |
| Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 99.95 | |
| Minimum eligibility score | 70 | |
| Additional criteria considered | Selection rank only | |
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Admissions Transparency Data
Student Profile
Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023 Number of students Percentage of all students (A) Higher Education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)24 22.6% (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/A N/A (C) Work and life experience
(admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)<5 N/A (D) Recent secondary education: - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
67 63.2% - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
N/A N/A - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
N/A N/A International students 14 13.2% All students 106 100.0% - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
Ready to Apply?
Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.
Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.
ApplyFees and Scholarships
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.
I am a:
Domestic applicants
| Indicative annual tuition fees |
Commonwealth-supported place: $8,945
|
Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.
More information on Student Contribution Amounts.
Incidental fees
There will be additional costs, over and above tuition fees for all Honours Degree of Bachelor of Physiotherapy students, these include (but are not limited to) textbooks, equipment, required immunisations, clearance renewals, first aid certificates, student amenities fees etc. For further information visit: adelaide.edu.au/student/finance/other-fees/
Scholarships
Scholarships are not only for high achievers—they are also available to provide students with an equal opportunity to study at university, no matter where they live or what their financial situation might be.
Scholarships are available to both new and continuing students. We encourage students to apply for any scholarships for which they may be eligible.
To browse scholarships offered by the University, visit: University Scholarships
To explore scholarships offered by organisations external to the University, visit: External Scholarships
Careers
Career Readiness
Please see the inherent requirements for physiotherapy programs for further information.
The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.
Industry Placement
Professional Accreditation
Potential careers
Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:
Physiotherapist
Degree Structure
In the first year of study, you will be introduced to anatomy, physiology, public health and health research courses, with a focus on physiotherapy principles and body movement combined with an introduction to professional practice.
The second year includes detailed applied anatomy, the principles behind physiotherapy management, and incorporates pathophysiology and pharmacology.
The final two years of the program include specialised practice principles including gender- and age-specific needs relative to women’s health and paediatrics; while developing your knowledge of specialty content relating to the clinical assessment and management of clients with cardiothoracic, musculoskeletal and neurological dysfunction.
Clinical placement courses within the third and fourth year of the program provide you with an opportunity to apply learning in professional practice settings, under the supervision of qualified and registered clinical professionals.
From late third year, you’ll choose one of two streams—research* or industry— and undertake a major project. Research will hone your skills in developing new knowledge; industry focuses on integrating research into practice.
* Eligibility for entry to the Research Stream will be determined by a student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for the courses which comprise the first and second years of the program, and the availability of a suitable research project and supervisor within the School. Students with a cumulative GPA of 5 or greater will be notified of their eligibility for entry to the “Research Stream” at the commencement of the third year of the program. Eligible students who wish to undertake the Research Stream will be required to contact the School of Allied Health Science and Practice Honours Coordinator to discuss their area of interest and project the availability of a suitable research project and supervisor.
Example Study Plan
| Level I | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | HLTH SC 1400 Biosciences for Human Health A |
HLTH SC 1401 Communication in Professional Practice |
HLTH SC 1404 Evidence Based Practice in Allied Health 1 |
PHYSIOTH 1000 Introduction to Physiotherapy Practice |
|
| S2 | HLTH SC 1403 Biosciences for Human Health B |
HLTH SC 1402 Foundations of Health and Wellbeing |
PHYSIOTH 1001 Physiotherapy Exercise Prescription and Activity |
PHYSIOTH 1002 Clinical Biomechanics of Human Movement |
|
| Level II | |||||
| S1 |
HLTH SC 2400 |
ANAT SC 2400 |
PHYSIOTH 2000 |
PHYSIOTH 2001 |
|
| S2 |
PATHOL 2400 |
ANAT SC 2402 |
PHARM 2400 |
PHYSIOTH 2002 |
|
| Level III – Industry Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
Paediatric, Pelvic & Women's Health Physiotherapy |
PHYSIOTH 3001 |
PHYSIOTH 3002 |
PHYSIOTH 3003 |
|
| S2 |
Person Centred Physiotherapy Practice |
PHYSIOTH 3005 |
PHYSIOTH 3006 |
PHYSIOTH 4000 |
|
| Level IV – Industry Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
PHYSIOTH 4001 |
PHYSIOTH 4002 |
PHYSIOTH 4003 |
Advanced EBP in Physiotherapy |
|
| S2 |
Physiotherapy Clinical Practice D |
PHYSIOTH 4006 |
PHYSIOTH 4007 |
||
| Level III – Research Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
Paediatric, Pelvic & Women's Health Physiotherapy |
PHYSIOTH 3001 |
PHYSIOTH 3002 |
PHYSIOTH 3003 |
|
| S2 |
Person Centred Physiotherapy Practice |
PHYSIOTH 3005 |
PHYSIOTH 3006 |
HLTH SC 4400 |
|
| Level IV – Research Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
PHYSIOTH 4001 |
Physiotherapy Clinical Practice B |
Physiotherapy Clinical Practice C |
Allied Health Honours Research Project |
|
| S2 |
Physiotherapy Clinical Practice D |
Physiotherapy Clinical Practice E |
Allied Health Honours Research Project (6 units) |
||
Further information
All courses are compulsory. The Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) does not contain elective courses.
Assessment
Related Degrees
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
Last updated: Thursday, 6 Jun 2024
