Course Overview

About This Course

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy is for people who want to prevent injury and disability in others as well as rehabilitate those already injured, and it teaches you to identify, assess and treat a wide range of conditions. You will graduate with the skills to work with everyone from children to the elderly and to deal with gender-specific issues, optimising movement and function for people with problems in their cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal or neurological systems. Clinical placements run through the program under the supervision of a clinical educator, letting you apply practical skills to the everyday needs of people in hospitals, private practice, aged care facilities and rehabilitation units. Placement begins in first year with observation days of up to 30 hours, and in fourth year you undertake five clinical placement blocks of five weeks each across the year. On each placement you develop and integrate knowledge, skills and professional behaviours in accordance with the requirements of the Australian Physiotherapy Council. Completing the degree takes 320 credit points, made up of specified units, inter-professional units, physiotherapy practice units and University Core Curriculum units. High-achieving students can undertake honours in the third and fourth years, provided they meet the admission requirements, and there are opportunities to study health sciences units at ACU's Rome Campus or to take a clinical placement overseas in destinations such as Chile, Denmark, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Vanuatu. Eligible graduates can apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and are eligible for membership of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. The course runs over four years full-time at ACU's Ballarat, Brisbane and North Sydney campuses.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

1200 Mair St, Ballarat, VIC 3350

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

AUD $10,898

Duration

4 years full-time

Intakes

Semester 1 intake: Beginning March 2027 (Applications open August 2026) | Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not offered this intake

Study Mode

Full-time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students

To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Physiotherapy, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent:
- New South Wales: English Standard, or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (Band 4 for all), plus at least one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (Band 2 for all)
- Queensland: English (Units 3 & 4, C); one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (Units 3 & 4, C)
- Victoria: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any other English, and a study score of 25 in one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics
Indicative ATAR: 88.25 (Ballarat), 94.00 (Brisbane), 95.00 (North Sydney)
An applicant must also comply with ACU's Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Applicants with higher education study: if you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, ACU will assign you a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration and grade point average. Where prior study or relevant work experience aligns with the learning outcomes of units in the course, you may be eligible for credit or recognition of prior learning, which can shorten the time it takes to finish.
Admission to the embedded Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) program requires completion of 160 credit points from years 1 and 2 of the pass degree with a grade point average of at least 5.50.
ACU also assesses applicants on recent secondary education, prior VET study, and work and life experience.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

International students

Applicants require the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate, including studies in science, or a recognised international high school qualification. Applicants must also comply with ACU's Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
IELTS: 7.0 minimum overall score, with a minimum score of 7.0 in all bands, or an equivalent acceptable test score as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Our graduates have careers in:
• Rehabilitation
• Paediatrics
• Women's health
• Sports physiotherapy
• Cardiorespiratory
• Orthopaedics
• Gerontology and ergonomics
• Hospitals and rehabilitation units
• Community health centres
• Private practice
• Research
• Educational, government and industrial institutions

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Australian Physiotherapy Council

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

Australian Physiotherapy Council

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units41 units

ANAT101

Physiotherapy Anatomy 1

ANAT102

Physiotherapy Anatomy 2

BIOL125

Human Biology 1

BIOL126

Human Biology 2

PHTY203

Physical Activity and Exercise in Physiotherapy

PHTY208

Pathophysiology for Physiotherapy

ALHT210

Neuroscience for Allied Health

ALHT106

Psychology for Allied Health

HLSC220

Health Care Ethics

PHTY102

Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 1

PHTY103

Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 2

PHTY205

Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Practice 1

PHTY206

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice 1

PHTY207

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice 2

PHTY210

Movement Science for Physiotherapy

PHTY211

Research and Evidence-Based Practice for Physiotherapy

PHTY300

Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Practice 2

PHTY301

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice 3

PHTY302

Neurological Physiotherapy Practice 1

PHTY303

Neurological Physiotherapy Practice 2

PHTY304

Paediatric Physiotherapy Practice

PHTY306

Integrated Physiotherapy Practice in Selected Populations

PHTY400

Preparation for Physiotherapy Practice

PHTY402

Physiotherapy Clinical Practice 1

PHTY403

Physiotherapy Clinical Practice 2

PHTY404

Physiotherapy Clinical Practice 3

PHTY405

Physiotherapy Clinical Practice 4

PHTY406

Physiotherapy Clinical Practice 5

PHTY417

Professional Physiotherapy Practice

PHTY418

Perspectives for Future Physiotherapy Practice

PHCC102

Being Human

PHCC104

Ethics and the Good Life

PHCC106

Making Sense: Practical Reasoning for Life and Career

THCC100

Revolutionary Values: Christianity in History

THCC101

People Matter: Catholic Social Thought

TPCC100

Life and Meaning: Imagining Ourselves through Art and Cinema

PHCC201

The Origins of the Sciences and Contemporary Challenges

THCC200

Justice in the World: Catholic Social Ethics in Global Perspective

THCC202

Sacred Land: Australian Indigenous Spiritualities and Catholic Thought

TPCC201

Ecology and Justice

TPCC202

Conflict, Violence and Peace-making

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Bachelor of Physiotherapy take to complete at Australian Catholic University?

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Australian Catholic University has a duration of 208 weeks.

Does the Bachelor of Physiotherapy include a work component?

Yes. ACU states that industry placements start in first year with observation days of up to 30 hours, and that in fourth year you complete five clinical placement blocks of five weeks each, undertaken full-time at approximately 35 hours per week.

At which campuses can I study the Bachelor of Physiotherapy?

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy is available at three campuses: the North Sydney Campus in NSW, the Brisbane Campus in QLD, and the Ballarat Campus in VIC.

What is the estimated total cost of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy for international students?

ACU's indicative estimated total course cost for international students is AU$216,480, based on a rate of AU$6,765 per 10 credit point unit (about AU$54,120 for the first year), with no additional non-tuition fees listed.

Is the Bachelor of Physiotherapy eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights?

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy may be eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights as it is a Skills Level 1 qualification (Bachelor Degree), has a duration of 208 weeks (greater than 92 weeks), and falls under the Rehabilitation Therapies narrow field of education. Eligibility is reviewed yearly and requires at least one active enrolment at the time of review.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $67,000 to $82,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $82,000 to $100,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $100,000 to $120,000 per year

Career Paths

Graduate PhysiotherapistMusculoskeletal PhysiotherapistNeurological PhysiotherapistCardiorespiratory PhysiotherapistSports Physiotherapist

Key Skills

Clinical assessment and physical examination of patientsDiagnosis and differential diagnosis of movement disordersManual therapy and joint mobilisation techniquesDevelopment and implementation of individualised treatment plansExercise prescription and rehabilitation program design

Full Course Overview

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