Graduate-entry Physiotherapy Schools in Australia

University of Melbourne Physiotherapy School

Program Overview - Doctor of Physiotherapy

University and Faculty:	The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Program:	Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT)
University Location:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
City Population:	3.7 million
Student Population:	40,000
Campus Location:	Parkville (downtown Melbourne)
Program Duration:	Three years
Semester Intake:	late February/early March each year
Next Intake:	February 2013
Est. Annual Tuition:	$37,440 AUD (2012)
Est. Total Tuition:	approx. $113,490 AUD

The University of Melbourne Physiotherapy School offers a Doctor of Physiotherapy which will provide an evidence-based physiotherapy degree that combines theoretical principles, clinical practice and high-level abilities in knowledge transfer and professional leadership. Melbourne Doctor of Physiotherapy graduates will be professional leaders who are able to apply their discipline-specific knowledge to a wide range of health care settings.

The program will combine theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to assess, diagnose and treat disorders of human movement. The curriculum will include integrated theory and evidence-based clinical practice in affiliated clinical teaching hospitals. Students will be exposed to a broad range of clinical experiences and will draw on the strengths of a world-renowned research faculty.

Key defining features of the Melbourne Doctor of Physiotherapy will be the availability of advanced skills subjects, inclusion of business and leadership subjects, participation in group research projects and an explicit focus on interprofessional learning opportunities. The vision of this program is to ensure that its graduates will become leaders in physiotherapy clinical practice, clinical research and knowledge exchange. These features of the course will enable graduates to have high-level knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to practice ethically, safely and effectively in both national and international environments.

Why Canadians Will Like the Program

The Melbourne Physiotherapy School is based in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences, a vibrant multi-disciplinary school that incorporates nursing, social work and physiotherapy. The Melbourne School of Health Sciences is one of four schools in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne. The faculty is internationally renowned for its global leadership in health research, policy and practice. The university educates more health professionals, graduates more research and higher degrees students, produces more peer-reviewed papers and attracts more nationally competitive funding than any other Australian university.

In addition, the new Doctor of Physiotherapy program at Melbourne will offer a focus on professional commitment, responsibility and clinical leadership through

• clinical placements in the largest 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;
• an international focus to develop skills and attitudes enabling practice in both national and international environments;
• being part of Australia's strongest research University; and
• opportunities to explore advanced practice (e.g., emergency medicine, sports physiotherapy).

Eligible candidates for admission will have completed undergraduate studies in human anatomy and human physiology at the university level. Other subjects which may be helpful for physiotherapy applicants include psychology, physics, biomechanics, research methods, evidence-based practice, statistics, biochemistry, and additional units of anatomy.

Professional Certification/Accreditation Information

Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration in any state within Australia and may be eligible to study and work overseas. Canadian students, who wish to practice as a physiotherapist upon their return to Canada, should visit the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators' website for accreditation and certification information: http://www.alliancept.org/

Scholarships

Every student who applies (and accepts) via OzTREKK and commences his/her studies at an OzTREKK Australian university will receive a $500 scholarship from OzTREKK. Click here for more information about the OzTREKK Scholarship!

Admissions Criteria/Entry Requirements for Canadians

The Doctor of Physiotherapy program at the University of Melbourne is available only to those applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in the last 10 years or are in the final year of completing an undergraduate degree.

To be considered for admission into this program, a Canadian applicant must

• have completed an undergraduate degree and prerequisite subjects. Pre-requisite subjects include one semester of human anatomy and one semester of human physiology.

• participate in a multi-mini interview. Selected applicants will be shortlisted to participate in a multi-mini interview (MMI) to assess interest in and motivation for undertaking the program, likely capacity for establishing and maintaining rapport with patients in a clinical setting, communication skills, and aptitude for collaboration and decision making. The University of Melbourne has advised that international applicants will likely complete a MMI via video conferencing or phone.

Selection will be based on academic record (grade point average--GPA) from a completed three- or four-year university degree. The Selection Committee will also conduct interviews. To be competitive, it is anticipated that applicants will have achieved a standard of at least 70% or higher GPA in their undergraduate degree.

An applicant's GPA results will be measured by considering the last three years of the applicant's undergraduate coursework studies (including Honours). Weightings will be applied according to the approved Melbourne Adjusted Grade Point Average (MAGPA) calculations in force in any given year, or in the absence of any defined MAGPA, by weighting the first of the final three full-time years by 1, the second year by 2, and the final year by 3.

Offers of admission will be made from a combined ranking list where a candidate's GPA and interview results are given equal weightings.

As an international applicant, a Canadian student must also meet the university's English language proficiency requirements. If you have recently completed your undergraduate degree in Canada and the institution's language of instruction is English, the university will refer to your official academic transcript to assess your English language proficiency. For further information on English language admission requirements, please refer to the University of Melbourne's website at www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/entry-requirements/language-requirements.html

Admission Timelines

Melbourne DPT First Round Applications for the 2013 Intake

Early round applications open: April 2012
Closing date for early round applications: June 8, 2012
Offers for Multi Mini Interview (MMI) to be issued: June 20, 2012
Early round MMI to be held: July 2 - 6, 2012
Early round offers to be issued: Late July 2012

Melbourne DPT Second Round Applications for the 2013 Intake

Second round application deadline: August 1, 2012
Offers for MMI to be issued: August 16, 2012
Second round MMI to be held: August 21 - 27, 2012
Second round offers to be issued: Week beginning October 15, 2012
Deadline for final results and other offer conditions: December 4, 2012

Total Number of Places in the Program: 80

Number of Places Available for International Students: approx. 10

Application Deadline for the February 2013 intake: First round June 8, 2012; second round August 1, 2012

OzTREKK Admissions Officer: Shannon Tilston