Course information for - 2027 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 4 locations
- Blacktown
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- Strathfield
- Blacktown
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- Strathfield
- Duration
-
Pathway A: 1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time.
Pathway B: 2 year full-time or equivalent part time
- ATAR
- N/A
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2027
Applications open August 2026
Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2027
Applications open April 2027
Overview
The Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology provides advanced academic study in the discipline of clinical exercise physiology. The postgraduate course delivers a sequence of units in the context of clinical assessment and exercise as a preventative, prescriptive and rehabilitative process for acute, sub-acute and chronic injuries as well as non-communicable diseases and concomitant multimorbidities. This specialisation will provide professional training, skills, competencies and clinical experience needed for accreditation by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).
Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this course. See the Courses costs section below, under Fees.
Professional experience
Students are required to complete a minimum of 360 hours of clinical practicum across three categories including;
- Category 1: at least 200 hours spread across the areas of cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and metabolic domains to allow students to demonstrate capability as an entry level practitioner in these areas;
- Category 2: at least 100 hours in any of the other AEP pathology domains as specified in the AEP professional standards i.e. cancer, kidney, mental health, neurological, respiratory/pulmonary;
- Category 3: 60 hours in any of the AEP pathology domains or in any other activities relevant to the AEP professional standards, if a total of 360 hours of practicum has not been completed in categories 1 and 2.
Professional recognition
Graduate of our Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology program at the Brisbane, Melbourne or Strathfield campus can apply to ESSA to become an accredited Exercise Physiologist. This degree is fully accredited for graduates in the program until 2026. Please note that ESSA requires all individuals seeking initial accreditation to meet ESSA's English Language requirements
Careers
Our graduates have pursued careers in:
- chronic disease management
- musculoskeletal rehabilitation
- return-to-work conditioning
- primary prevention/wellness
- health and fitness
- strength and conditioning
- workplace wellness
- community health
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology, a student must complete 120 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Exit Points
A student who has completed 40cp from Specified units may exit from the course with the following qualification:
- Graduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation.
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Pathway A
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
A. have completed a bachelor degree that is accredited by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) at Exercise Science level, with one of the following:
1. a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.4 on the ACU 7 point scale;
OR
2(a). have completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Exercise Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.4 on the ACU 7 point scale;
OR
2(b). have evidence of sufficient relevant industry experience for at least one year post-Bachelor graduation through submission of:
- a curriculum vitae outlining relevant industry experience for this course of study;
AND
- professional referee(s) providing information relevant to industry experience.
OR
B. have met the requirements of ESSA Graduate assessment for postgraduate study, and have completed a Bachelor degree or higher in exercise science or related field with one of the following:
1. a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.4 on the ACU 7 point scale;
OR
2(a). have completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Exercise Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.4 on the ACU 7 point scale;
OR
2(b). have evidence of sufficient relevant industry experience for at least one year post-Bachelor graduation through submission of:
- a curriculum vitae outlining relevant industry experience for this course of study;
AND
- professional referee(s) providing information relevant to industry experience.
OR
C. have completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation.
Pathway B
To be eligible for Pathway B (Thesis stream), a student must have completed at least 80 cp of Specified and/or Professional Experience units in ACU's Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology program, with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.0, and if the student's proposed area of study aligns with a demonstrated capacity for research and supervision within the School.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission.
Applicants with higher education study
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.
If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.
You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Further study
Graduates from the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology may be eligible to progress to another postgraduate health program at Australian Catholic University ( e.g. Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport) and be awarded 10cps in recognition of prior learning.
Graduates from the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Thesis stream) may be eligible to progress to a Research Higher Degree.
Graduates from the Graduate Certificate for Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation at Australian Catholic University with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.4 on the ACU 7 point scale, are eligible to enter the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology program and be awarded 40cps in recognition of prior learning.
Fees
Course costs
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
A 10% rebate on fees will be offered to domestic ACU graduates (from any faculty) enrolling in full fee-paying postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Conditions apply.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support. Students enrolled in this course may be eligible to receive Youth Allowance (student), or Austudy and/or the Pensioner Education Supplement
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
When To Apply
For most courses, applications for Semester 1 open in August, and applications for the midyear intake (Semester 2) open in April.
Please note that not all courses are available to start midyear. Check the course browser in April to see which options are open for Semester 2.
Some courses also accept applications for other study periods. For example, a selection of our online courses offer four intakes each year.
When applications are open for a course, you’ll see a link on the course page explaining how to apply. Ensure you select you preferred campus from the available locations at the top of the page.
For more information, visit our how to apply guide and check out our study periods.
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year for Fee-Paying places only. Deferment is not available for CSP offers. Find out more about deferment.