Master of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal)

This Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia-accredited master degree is for qualified physiotherapists who want to gain advanced clinical skills and knowledge in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

You will develop advanced competencies in musculoskeletal physiotherapy through student-centred, critical, reflective engagement with contemporary theory and supervision by clinical experts in practical and clinical sessions.

Graduates from our program work in clinical practice, advanced practice roles in settings such as screening clinics and emergency departments, and academia.

What you'll need Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements.

These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements.

Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.

All students enrolled in a program leading to professional registration must be registered with the relevant National Board.

The registration process is undertaken by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with the University providing notification to AHPRA following enrolment in the program.

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to have:

• completed a Bachelor degree level, or equivalent professional entry level qualification, from a recognised higher education institution, in Physiotherapy; AND
• a minimum 10 months full-time, or equivalent, physiotherapy practice in a relevant field following completion of the professional entry level qualification; AND
• met the requirements for eligibility for registration as a physiotherapist or limited registration under supervision with the Australian Health Practitioner Registering Authority. Students must apply for limited registration after acceptance into the program.

Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements. Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.

All students enrolled in a program leading to professional registration must be registered with the relevant National Board. The registration process is undertaken by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with the University providing notification to AHPRA following enrolment in the program.

Musculoskeletal physiotherapists need to be able to assess and manage a wide range of patient problems within a biopsychosocial framework. This requires advanced biomedical and psychosocial knowledge, advanced physical and psychosocial examination skills, advanced clinical reasoning, and advanced communication, education and procedural management skills. Through a variety of theoretical classes and practical experiences you will develop advanced skills and knowledge in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. You will study topics such as:

• allied health evidence translation
• pain theory and science
• pain assessment and management
• advanced musculoskeletal examination and management
• facilitating change in cognition, behaviours and lifestyle.

You will also receive supervision from postgraduate qualified physiotherapists to facilitate application of your new knowledge to clinical practice.

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums. So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

You will benefit from our strong industry links and have opportunities to build important industry networks as you meet influential invited speakers and receive supervised clinical education from expert musculoskeletal physiotherapists.

We host regular University-wide employee master classes and employment expos, and alumni events in Australia and overseas.

Your career

Contemporary healthcare and clinical practice require therapists’ reasoning and practice to be critical, reflective, patient-centred and evidence based. Postgraduate clinical education is the optimal way to develop the advanced clinical knowledge and skills essential to expert physiotherapy practice.

As a graduate, you may further your physiotherapy career across a variety of settings, including:

• private practice
• clinics
• sport and exercise services
• rehabilitation centres
• hospitals
• home and community services
• disability services
• aged care facilities.

Applying to study with us:

• check you meet the full entry requirements for this program
• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services can make your life at university easier. We provide a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling. You can also access a range of services through our students association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.

As a physiotherapy student you will have access to:

• state-of-the-art, on-campus Physiotherapy Clinics
• on-campus Health and Fitness Centre