Bachelor of Physiotherapy
The Bachelor of Physiotherapy is for those who want to prevent injury and disability in others, as well as rehabilitate those already injured. With a focus on the physiotherapist-client relationship, this course is highly practical and provides graduates with job-ready skills to ensure they're highly employable on graduation from our accredited program.
Limited availability
Places in this course are limited and entry is competitive. Apply early for the best chance of securing your place.
Course essentials
ATAR
If you receive an ATAR equal to or above the guaranteed ATAR, and meet the course prerequisites and any extra requirements, you're guaranteed a place.
A lowest adjusted ATAR shows the lowest selection rank (ATAR plus adjustments) offered a place last year. It's not a guaranteed entry score and changes annually.
This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.
Entry requirements
Credit
A full-time study load is 120 credits a year (usually four 15-credit units each semester). 120 credits equal one equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL). Each credit point equals about 10 hours of learning, so a 15-credit unit means roughly 150 hours.
Study mode
Study modes tell you how teaching and learning will be delivered for your course and include where and when classes can be scheduled, what you'll do and the tech you'll use.
Duration
Start dates
Locations
Course overview
The Bachelor of Physiotherapy is a four-year course that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills development. The curriculum is structured into a series of units, allowing students to gain a broad understanding of key principles across a range of physiotherapy areas.
As part of this course, students partake in clinical placements, providing hands-on experience in various healthcare settings. These placements allow students to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world situations and develop essential clinical skills. A team of experienced physiotherapy educators and clinicians are involved in the design, delivery, and assessment of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy course. The staff members possess a deep understanding of physiotherapy principles and practice, and are committed to providing students with a high-quality education.
The Bachelor of Physiotherapy course is accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC), ensuring that it meets the national standards for physiotherapy education. Accreditation signifies that graduates of the course are eligible to apply for registration as physiotherapists in Australia.
Current Year 12 students whose primary residence is in a regional or remote area may be eligible to apply for this course through the Regional and Remote Entry Scheme. Eligible students can apply using the reduced Guaranteed ATAR and specific VTAC codes.
https://www.federation.edu.au/study/information/high-school-students/early-offer-program/guaranteed…
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Physiotherapy
Course co-ordinator
Gippsland (on campus) - Paul Kemel
Career paths
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
Commonwealth Supported Places are subsidised by the Australian Government. The tuition fee is called the student contribution amount. The indicative fee above is based on a typical first-year enrolment for this course and should be used as a guide only. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Your fee will depend on the units you chose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
How it's calculated
The government sets the fee each year. The amount depends on the discipline area and band of each unit. 2026 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range from $4,738 (Band 1) to $17,399 (Band 4). The sample course structure below link to the EFTSL, Band and fee for each unit or you can use our unit search to find these details.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your student contribution fee. If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 1, 2027
1 March 2027
Locations
Gippsland (on campus)
Contact hours
You’d be looking at about 25-30 hours per week (if you’re full time), but this includes on-campus classes and self-directed study (i.e. homework).
Work integrated learning
Placement
This course requires students to complete 124 days (1,000 hours) as part of the placement requirements.
Sample course structure
Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.
- Introduction to Physiotherapy15 credit pointsNHPPS1001
- Anatomy and Physiology for Physiotherapy15 credit pointsNHPPS1111
- Communication Skills for Health Professionals15 credit pointsNHPRH1002
- Foundations of Allied Health Professional Practice15 credit pointsNHPRH1004
- Life Span Development for Health A15 credit pointsNHPHS1003
- Health and Healthcare in Australia15 credit pointsNHPHS1401
- Introduction to Physiotherapy Applications15 credit pointsNHPPS1002
- Anatomy and Physiology for Physiotherapy 215 credit pointsNHPPS1122
- Health Professional Research 115 credit pointsNHPHS2101
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Focused Physiotherapy15 credit pointsNHPPS2024
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology15 credit pointsNHPPS2124
- Clinical Medicine for Therapy15 credit pointsNHPRH2002
- Health Professional Research 215 credit pointsNHPHS2102
- Neurological Focused Physiotherapy15 credit pointsNHPPS2013
- Neurological Anatomy and Physiology15 credit pointsNHPPS2113
- Complex Cases in Rural, Remote and Indigenous Communities15 credit pointsNHPPS2224
- Advanced Communication Skills for Health ProfessionalsNHPHS3015
- Physiotherapy Applications Across the Lifespan15 credit pointsNHPPS3015
- Acute Care Physiotherapy15 credit pointsNHPPS3415
Elective List A
- Physiotherapy Theory and Application 1 (Part 1 of 2)45 credit pointsNHPPS3008
Elective List B
- Physiotherapy Theory and Application 2 (Part 2 of 2)45 credit pointsNHPPS4001
Elective List C
- Complex Spine and Pain Presentations15 credit pointsNHPPS3115
- Physiotherapy Health Law and Ethics15 credit pointsNHPPS4003
- Advanced Topics in Physiotherapy15 credit pointsNHPPS4004
Elective List D
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (year 12)
This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.
- Units 3 and 4: A study score of at least 25 in any English
- Units 1 to 4: satisfactory completion in one of Biology, Chemistry, Health and Human Development, Physical Education, Physics
Entry requirements (non year 12)
Admission criteria for applicants with a Higher Education Study
Previous higher education studies with results at a pass level or above, including any 'single subjects of study', or successful completion of a tertiary preparatory course such as Federation Access Studies (FAST).
Pre-requisities are:
- Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English
- Units 1 to 4: satisfactory completion in one of Biology, Chemistry, Health and Human Development, Physical Education, Physics
Study level requirements:
- Successful completion of a Bachelor's degree at AQF Level 7 in a cognate discipline in Exercise and Sport Science, Bionmedical Science with a GPA 5.0 and above; or
- Successful completion of a Bachelor's degree at AQF Level 7 with a GPA 5.5 and above; or
- Successful completion of a minimum of 8 units in a Bachelor's degree at AQF Level 7 in a cognate discipline in Exercise and Sport Science, Bionmedical Science with a GPA 6.0 and above; or
- Successful completion of Federation Access Studies (FAST) with a GPA 5.5 and above.
Applicants using the Federation Access Studies (FAST). course for entry must also complete Anatomy and Physiology for Physiotherapy 1 (NHPPS1111) and Anatomy and Physiology for Physiotherapy 2 (NHPPS1122) with a GPA of 5.5 or above in both units in order to be eligible.
Admission criteria for applications with a Vocational Education and Training study
- Successful completion of a relevant VET qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
- Successful completion of a Certificate IV in a cognate discipline in Allied Health Assistance and relevant work experience of at least 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Work experience must be as a grade II allied health assistant. Applicants seeking entry via VET study also need to meet the VCE English and maths and/or science requirement or equivalent.
English language requirements
IELTS score of 7.0 or greater will be required with no band less than 7, or equivalent.
Extra requirements
Supplementary admission requirements
Applicants are requested to provide supplementary information to support their application as listed below:
- Supplementary form: A form used to collect additional application material that cannot be captured as part of the standard application process.
- Applicants must complete and submit a supplementary application form.
Requirements for enrolment and graduation
Students are required to complete these requirements as part of the enrolment or graduation requisites.
- Immunisation: You’ll be expected to provide evidence of your current immunisation status prior to clinical placement.
- Working with Children Check: You must hold a valid Working with Children Check before starting professional placements in this course. For more information see Federation University Australia WWCC information and Working with Children in Victoria.
- Police check: You must hold a valid National Police Check for professional placements as part of this course. For more information see Federation University Australia police check information and Victoria Police national police record checks
How you apply will depend on your current situation – school leaver, tertiary background or life experience – and whether you’re also applying for courses at other institutions. Visit our how to apply page to find out more.
Ready to fill out your application? You might need these codes:
- VTAC application
- Yes
- VTAC code
- 3700711311 - Gippsland (on campus)
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- PY5
Hear from our staff
Hello, my name is Dr Anne Baker and I'm a lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Federation Uni on the Gippsland campus in Churchill. One thing I really love about teaching here is that we have small class sizes so that I get to really know my students and it means I can work with them to work on their personal learning goals and to help support them to become occupational therapists. An interesting thing about studying here is that we have brand new facilities that were developed in 2020 when the program first started, and we have a great teaching space which includes up-to-date equipment and assessment. So students are really getting the most relevant skills. And as they work to become occupational therapists, we also have excellent relationships with our clinical partners. So students get a great range of placement experiences and develop their skills in a range of different areas. A fun fact about me is that I'm also an occupational therapy driver assessor, which means that I can assess, make recommendations about people's fitness to drive. This is typically not an area that people think about when they think about occupational therapy, but occupation is more than just your job, so it includes things like self-care, so things like sharing and dressing, productive occupations, which does include work, and also things like driving, as well as leisure occupations, which are things that people do to occupy their time and their space. So this means as occupational therapists, we work from early on in people's lives, so pretty soon after birth, all the way through to advanced age and conditions that involve dying. We'd love you to come and study occupational therapy with us. We have a really great teaching team here, fantastic resources and I think you'll enjoy the student experience.