Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport

Course information for

Duration
2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fees (first year)*

$23892 Fee-paying

Start dates
ACU Term 1, ACU Term 3

Overview

This double degree empowers physiotherapists to work with athletes and people of all ages, abilities and cultural contexts, in community, elite or high performance sport and exercise settings, in both the private and public sectors.

You will acquire advanced knowledge of normal and pathological human movement relating to sports, exercise, performance, injuries, pathology and disease. You will also better understand how wellbeing relates to performance, and critically analyse, synthesise and apply knowledge using an evidence-informed, person-centred approach to manage sports injuries or other health conditions.

Learn to integrate specialised technical skills with advanced principles and strategies of strength and conditioning, fatigue management and recovery to design, deliver and evaluate meaningful interventions to enhance athlete and team performance and reduce the likelihood and/or duration of injury and illness. This course emphasises the application of knowledge and skills in an ethical manner that promotes the dignity of the individual, athlete or performer. Read about Jasmine Collier's rationale to pursue a Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport in order to gain a better understanding of human movement as she transitioned from luge into skeleton.

This double degree is suitable for graduate physiotherapists eligible for registration in their own country, with a minimum two years’ experience post-graduation.

Professional experience

The Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport is designed as a program of relevant professional practice-experience related learning that includes a minimum 190 hours of clinical practice, including supervised practice, mentoring, case reflections, and self-directed field-of-play and side-line practice. The course also includes a program of independent research, as well as the opportunity for an industry-based internship in high performance sport.

Volunteer experience

You will be required to be working or be in a volunteer position in the sports environment for a minimum of 80 hours as part of a Term 3 unit.

Professional recognition

Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport Graduates who are Australian registered physiotherapists and members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association are eligible to apply for Australian Physiotherapy Association Titled membership in the relevant stream.

Supervision arrangements

As a registered physiotherapy practitioners, you can undertake clinical practice activities related to this coursework without direct supervision by a clinical educator. ACU will provide mentoring and peer support during these clinical practicums which will include mentoring or virtual supervision provided by ACU staff, and/or external mentors/supervisors assigned and supported by ACU staff. The School of Allied Health at ACU will provide an appropriate supervisor for each independent research project.

Accreditation

Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport graduates who are Australian registered physiotherapists and members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association are able to apply for Australian Physiotherapy Association Titled membership in the relevant stream.

Careers

You will be able to apply the theory and practice you've learned to a range of health provider settings including but not limited to:

  • professional and semi-professional sporting organisations
  • community sport settings
  • national and state institutes of sport
  • academies of sport
  • government and non-government funded sporting programs (e.g. university, school or post-school sporting clubs)
  • government prevention and management of chronic disease through exercise programs
  • international high performance sport organisations
  • sport, health and disease-based research


Examples of potential employment roles include:

  • sports and exercise physiotherapist for a club, a team or a sports event at national or international levels for visiting or host nation programs
  • E.g. Australian Olympic Team, Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Australian University Games
  • sports medicine manager for a team, an event
  • venue medical manager for major games
  • performance analyst
  • high performance manager
  • fitness coach
  • government advisor on exercise
  • sports science manager

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - 2 year option

  • Specified Physiotherapy UnitsPHTY614Advanced Principles of Human Movement for Exercise and Sports Performance10 cp
  • Specified High Performance Sport UnitsEXSC510Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation10 cp
  • Specified High Performance Sport UnitsEXSC651Sports Injury Prevention10 cp
  • Research UnitsHLSC640 Interpreting Health Research ORResearch UnitsHLSC641 Introduction to Health Sciences Research 10 cp
  • Specified Physiotherapy UnitsPHTY616Sports Medicine and Musculoskeletal Clinical Practice for Physiotherapists10 cp
  • Specified Physiotherapy UnitsPHTY617Physiotherapists Working in Sport10 cp
  • Specified Physiotherapy UnitsPHTY615Clinical Exercise for Health and Performance Across the Lifespan10 cp
  • Research UnitsHLSC642 Biostatistics for Health Sciences Also offered in ACU Term 2ORHLSC646 Qualitative Research Methods

    For HLSC642 - (Inc: PUBH620, HLSC647)

    For HLSC646 - (Pre: HLSC640 OR HLSC641)

    10 cp

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - 4 year option

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 3 - 2 year option

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Graduate statement

Insight

As an ACU graduate you have personal insight founded on an understanding of who you are as a professional, a citizen and a scholar. You embrace change and growth through critical self-awareness and learning autonomy. You are empowered to seek truth and meaning, drawing on the principles of justice, equity, and the dignity of all human beings.

Empathy

As an ACU graduate you value human dignity and diversity. This appreciation is founded on deep reflection, and empathy. You have experience of Indigenous Knowings and perspectives and can engage respectfully when working alongside Australia's First Peoples. You can connect with people and cultures and work with community in ways that recognise the dignity of the human person and all cultures

Imagination

As an ACU graduate you utilise imagination and innovation to solve problems. You critically analyse information from a range of sources to creatively solve practical problems and use critical thinking to make decisions and advance the common good. You appreciate the role of innovation and creative thinking in developing a better future for each person and community.

Impact

As an ACU graduate you recognise your responsibility to work for social justice and a sustainable world founded on a commitment to human dignity and the common good. You lead change through respectful collaboration and effective communication of ideas to diverse peoples, groups and communities in local and global contexts. You are empowered to positively impact your profession and the community.

AQF framework

Double Masters - Masters/Masters - AQF Level 9

Exit Points

  • A student who has completed 80 cp from the Schedule of Specified Unit Offerings, including a minimum 40 cp from Specified Physiotherapy Units, may exit with the Graduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy.
  •  A student who has completed 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including a minimum 30 cp from Specified Physiotherapy Units, may exit with the Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy.
  •  A student who has completed 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including a minimum 30 cp from Specified and Elective High Performance Sport Units, may exit with the Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport.

Additional course information

The Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport double degree can be completed in 2 years (full-time), or part-time equivalent. It is delivered predominantly online with short, intensive on-campus block/s. The course is suitable for graduate physiotherapists eligible for registration in their own country, with a minimum two years’ experience post-graduation.

ACU Term 1 and Term 3 intakes will be offered. The majority of the units will be delivered in online mode with some units deliverd in multi-mode incorporating online, intensive residential workshops, practicums and a research project. All residential workshops and assessments will be scheduled for 1-2 weeks in the same ACU Term.

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

International applicants must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites: 

a. Bachelor degree or higher in Physiotherapy and:

  1. hold current registration with the required Authority in Australia, or Registration Authority in country of current practice; and
  2. have a minimum of 2 years clinical experience as a physiotherapist post-graduation (including minimum 1 year in musculoskeletal or sports areas);

OR

b. ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 40 credit points.

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 80 credit points

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.

English language requirements

Academic IELTS; or IELTS indicator online test

Overall score: 7.0. Individual score of 6.5 in all tests

PTE Academic

65 with a minimum of 58 in all four communicative skills

TOEFL

Internet based total of 94: minimum 24 writing, 20 speaking and listening and 19 in reading

C1 Advanced

Overall score 185, Minimum score of 176 in all tests

ACU English Language test; or ACU EAP

A (75-100%)

Or

Demonstrated current registration with an accredited body that has an English language requirement equivalent to, or higher than, the standards required by the University. Recognised registrations include:

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration other than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Health Practice registration;

Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) Teacher registration;

Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Teacher registration; and

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Teacher registration.

Or

At least one full-time year of study of an Australian secondary or tertiary qualification at AQF Diploma level or higher, and completed no earlier than five years prior to the commencement of the course of study to which the student seeks admission;

Or

Demonstrated successful completion of at least one full-time year of study of an overseas qualification equivalent to an Australian secondary or tertiary qualification at AQF Diploma level or higher, where the medium of study was English, and completed no earlier than five years prior to the commencement of the course of study to which the student seeks admission. 

Adjustment factors

If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.

Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.

Learn more about adjustment factors

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

Pathways into course for applicants with previous study and/or life experience

People who have completed a Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy program at Australian Catholic University or a  Graduate Certificate in Sports Physiotherapy at an Australian university may be eligible to enter the Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport program and be awarded up to 40 credit points in recognition of prior learning

Further study

Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport is designed with research training as a pathway to higher degree research, for example, PhD and Masters by research.

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$23892 Fee-paying

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per semester.

A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:

  • the number of units studied per semester;
  • the choice of major or specialisation; and
  • elective units.

The University reviews fees annually.

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.

Explore your options

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.

Search our scholarships

Apply for this course

ACU Online Applicants

Staff Profile

Shreya McLeod

Course Coordinator, Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health

Shreya McLeod is a physiotherapy researcher and academic, and is course coordinator of the Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy program. She is also an APA Titled Musculoskeletal and Sports/ Exercise Physiotherapist and has worked in international sport for over two decades, travelling with the Women’s Tennis Association, Pro Tennis players (Venus and Serena Williams), Cricket Australia’s athletes, Women’s Big Bash League, Wicked the Musical and has been the Headquarters Physiotherapist for Team Singapore at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Her clinical interests lie in the management of neck and spinal pain, headaches, and concussion. She is an advisor to the APA’s National Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy group’s Concussion sub-committee. Based at our Brisbane campus and currently completing her PhD at the University of Newcastle in sport-related concussion, Shreya has a research interest in injury risk reduction and concussion identification and management in women’s contact and collision codes.

 

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