Physiotherapy

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1.  Course codes

2.  Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time with a potential to attend the final year part-time, subject to approval by the Program Director and the Head of Discipline.

3.  Masters type

This masters degree is a professional master's course, as defined by the Coursework Policy.

4.  Embedded courses in this sequence

There are no embedded courses in this sequence

5. Streams

Streams are not available in the Doctor of Physiotherapy.

6.  Admission to candidature

(1) Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit and competitive ranking, according to the following admissions criteria.

(2) Admission to the Doctor of Physiotherapy requires:

(a) completion of a bachelor's degree comprising at least three full-time equivalent years of study which will be either:

(i) a bachelor's degree (pass) accredited at Level 7 under the Australian Qualifications Framework or a bachelor's degree (with honours) accredited at Level 8 under the Australian Qualifications Framework) from an Australian university or self-accrediting higher education institution; or

(ii) a bachelor's degree from an overseas university listed in Australia's National Information Centre in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, provided that the degree is equivalent to an Australian bachelor's degree (pass or with honours); and

(b) a demonstrated sustained academic performance to a standard considered satisfactory by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean with minimum WAM of 70 or equivalent. In assessing sustained academic performance, the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean may, at their discretion, consider performance in any of bachelor's degree(s), graduate diploma, master, or doctoral degree (or equivalent); and

(c) and where applicable, English proficiency at IELTS (academic module) 7.0 overall and a minimum result of 7.0 in each band.

(3) An applicant will not be admitted to candidature for the Doctor of Physiotherapy unless they have completed a bachelor's degree before 1 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the Doctor of Physiotherapy.

(4) The bachelor's degree should have been completed within the past 10 years, before 1 January of the year the applicant intends to commence the Doctor of Physiotherapy.

(5) If the bachelor's degree was completed more than 10 years before 1 January of the year for which the applicant is seeking enrolment, the applicant must, in addition, have completed either:

(a) a postgraduate degree or postgraduate diploma accredited at Level 8, 9, or 10 under the Australian Qualifications Framework from an Australian university or self-accrediting higher education institution; or

(b) a postgraduate qualification at an overseas university listed in Australia's National Information Centre in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and equivalent to an Australian postgraduate degree or postgraduate diploma accredited at Level 8, 9 or 10 under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

(6) The postgraduate qualification should have been completed within the 10-year period before 1 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the Doctor of Physiotherapy.

(7) The official results listed on an applicant's transcript, and their admission test results, will be taken as the awarding and testing authorities' assessment of the academic standards reached by the applicant, taking due account of illness and misadventure according to the relevant authorities' policies.

(8) A person who has commenced the Doctor of Physiotherapy in a fee-paying place at the University may not be admitted or transfer to a Commonwealth supported place in the Doctor of Physiotherapy.

(9) The relevant delegate may admit to the Doctor of Physiotherapy an applicant who has commenced studies in postgraduate physiotherapy at another University with a similar curriculum structure, provided that the applicant:

(a) has not previously applied unsuccessfully for admission to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy), Master of Physiotherapy, or Doctor of Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney within the past two-years; and

(b) would have met the requirements for admission to the Doctor of Physiotherapy that were in place at the time the applicant was admitted to their previous course in Physiotherapy.

(10) Prior to admitting an applicant to the Doctor of Physiotherapy in accordance with subclause 9, the relevant delegate will consider:

(a) the circumstances leading to the applicant's request for admission;

(b) whether the curriculum undertaken by the applicant in their previous course in physiotherapy is comparable to the Doctor of Physiotherapy;

(c) the academic performance of the applicant in their previous course in physiotherapy; and

(d) the availability of places in the physiotherapy in the relevant year.

(11) The relevant delegate may, prior to admitting an applicant to the Doctor of Physiotherapy in accordance with subclause 9, require the applicant to undertake a written and/or clinical examination that permits entry into the relevant year.

(12) The Faculty of Medicine and Health will publish details of any special admission schemes approved by the Academic Board.

(13) A group consisting of the Head of School and Dean, Associate Dean Education of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Academic Coordinator Doctor of Physiotherapy Admissions and Doctor of Physiotherapy Program Director may confirm or withdraw an offer which has been made to an applicant, but which is not in accordance with the admission criteria.

(14) Applicants for admission under the Indigenous Facilitated Entry Scheme must be able to demonstrate that they

(a) are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders as required by the current Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015, and may be admitted on the basis of:

(b) a bachelor's degree approved by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean, or

(c) a postgraduate degree approved by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean, and

i. a demonstrated sustained academic performance to a standard considered satisfactory by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean with minimum WAM of 60 or equivalent; and

ii. performance in an interview, if required, to an adjusted standard considered satisfactory by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean.

(15) If an applicant is admitted through the Indigenous Facilitated Entry Scheme on the basis of a postgraduate degree, that degree must:

(a) have been completed within ten years before 1 January of the year in which the applicant is seeking admission; and

(b) be either:

i. a postgraduate degree accredited at level 8, 9, or 10 under the Australian Qualifications Framework, from an Australian university or self-accrediting higher education institution; or

ii. a postgraduate degree at an overseas university listed in Australia's National Information Centre for qualifications recognition in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment', equivalent to an Australian postgraduate degree accredited at Level 8, 9, or 10.

(16) Applicants for admission under the Rural Applicants Facilitated Entry Scheme:

(a) must be able to demonstrate that they are of Australian rural origin as specified in Australian Statistical Geography Standard - Remoteness Areas (2016);

(b) a bachelor's degree approved by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean, or

(c) a postgraduate degree approved by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean, and

i. a demonstrated sustained academic performance to a standard considered satisfactory by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean with minimum WAM of 60 or equivalent; and

ii. performance in an interview, if required, to an adjusted standard considered satisfactory by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean.

7.  Requirements for award

(1) All core units in the Doctor of Physiotherapy are prescribed and must be taken in the year of enrolment to which they correspond.

(2) To quality for the award of the Doctor of Physiotherapy, a candidate must successfully complete 144 credit points from Table A for the Doctor of Physiotherapy, including:

(a) 132 credit points of core units of study; and

(b) 12 credit points of elective units of study.

8.  Deferral

Applications for deferral of enrolment following an offer of a place in the Doctor of Physiotherapy:

(a) will only be considered under exceptional circumstances; and

(b) require the approval of the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean.

9.  Recognition of prior learning

(1) Waivers may be granted, or the volume of learning may be reduced in recognition of prior learning in accordance with the Coursework Policy (Note: a waiver on its own waives a requirement but does not reduce the volume of learning for the degree as a whole).

(2) Advanced standing and credit for previous study is not available for the Doctor of Physiotherapy, except:

(а) under exceptional circumstances; and

(b) with the approval of by the Executive Dean or Deputy Executive Dean

10.  Progression rules

(1) These progression requirements should be read in conjunction with the relevant Unit of Study Outlines, Faculty Local Provisions, Faculty Resolutions, and Coursework Policy.

(2) Details of assessment requirements in each year, including the structure, content and expected standards, are available for enrolled students in the Unit of Study Outlines, the Handbook and on the Learning Management System. Assessments are integrated across themes and across the units of study each year.

(3) In each year there will be an integrated portfolio-based assessment, involving a range of assessments using the following formats:

(а) Examinations and in-class assessments

(b) Skills-based assessments

(c) Clinical assessments

(d) Submitted works of capabilities as approved by the Doctor of Physiotherapy Program Advisory Group.

(4) Candidates must pass all academic units of study in one calendar year, before proceeding to the next year (or graduating in the final year).

(a) During the first two years, failure in any units will result in a failure of the year and requires the candidate to retake the entire year without credit or exemption for work previously completed.

(b) This clause may be waived in exceptional circumstances, as determined by the relevant delegate

(5) Candidates must meet the attendance requirements specified in the Faculty of Medicine and Health - Sydney School of Health Science - Attendance Provisions 2020.

(a) The Doctor of Physiotherapy Program Director or the relevant Portfolio Advisory Group will consider the case of each student who does not meet these attendance requirements and,

(b) if appropriate, refer them to the Associate Dean as not meeting the academic progression requirements.

(6) In addition to the common triggers used to identify students not meeting academic progression requirements (as set out in the provisions relating to progression in the Coursework Policy, 2021), students must pass the following barrier units of study which are critical to progression through the course:

(a) PHTY6501 Physiotherapy Clinical Practicum I

(b) PHTY6503 Physiotherapy Clinical Practicum II

(c) PHTY7501 Physiotherapy Clinical Practicum III

(d) PHTY7504 Physiotherapy Clinical Practicum IV

(7) Students must meet all requirements of clinical placement components of any unit of study undertaken. Performance in clinical placements will be monitored in accordance with the requirements specified in the unit of study outline, and any relevant University policy or provision.

(8) Students whose conduct or work towards their award is unsatisfactory, may be refused permission by the Faculty to undertake or continue the clinical educational fieldwork professional experience component of their award. The Faculty reserves the right not to place a student in any clinical placement or other professional experience setting in any instance where the performance, personal, or professional conduct of the student does not meet the required standard of the professional organisation, regardless of the fact that the student may be enrolled in the unit of study.

(9) Students must comply with the requirements of the current Faculty of Medicine and Health - Professionalism Provisions and Faculty of Medicine and Health - Professionalism Requirements Provisions.

(a) Students who demonstrate serious or repeated breaches of these requirements may be required to show cause as to why their enrolment should be continued.

(b) Failure to show cause may result in exclusion from the course.

(10) In accordance with Coursework Policy, the Associate Dean may require a student who has not met the progression requirements to show good cause why they should be allowed to re-enrol in their award course.

(11) Candidates who withdraw at any point in time of any semester will be required to repeat all the applicable semesters.

11. Cross-institutional study

Cross-institutional study is not available in this course.

12. International exchange

International exchange is not allowed in this course.

13. Award of the master's degree, graduate diploma and graduate certificate

The Doctor of Physiotherapy degree will be awarded in the pass grade

14. Course transfer

Course transfer is not available for this course.

15. Commencement of these resolutions

These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2024.