Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology
Course information for - 2023 entry
Offered at 3 locations
- Study mode
- Attendance
- Duration
-
Pathway A: 1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time.
Pathway B: 2 year full-time or equivalent part time
- Fees (first year)*
$8296 CSP
$21798 Fee-paying- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Not availableMidyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2023Applications open April 2023
Applications for Semester 1 2023 entry into the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology will close on 31 December 2022
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 requirement 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
From 2019, any 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 from 2019-2023. 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).
Sample program map
| Year - Study period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 Semester 1 | EXSC634 Clinical Assessment and Exercise for Musculoskeletal Conditions of the Lower Limb | EXSC635 Clinical Assessment and Exercise for Cardiopulmonary Conditions | EXSC633 Lifestyle and Exercise Counselling | EXSC632 Clinical Assessment and Exercise for Neurological Conditions | |
Year 1 Semester 2 | EXSC639 Clinical Assessment and Exercise for Musculoskeletal Conditions of the Trunk and Upper Limb | EXSC679 Clinical Assessment and Exercise for Chronic and Complex Conditions | EXSC611 Occupational Assessment and Rehabilitation | EXSC636 Responsible Clinical Practice | |
Year 2 | *Elective | ||||
Year 2 Professional Term 1 | EXSC637 Clinical Experience 1 | ||||
Year 2 Professional Term 2 | EXSC684 Clinical Experience 2 data-versionlabel=2 > | ||||
Year 2 Professional Term 4 | EXSC680 Clinical Experience 3 |
This is a sample program only and units will vary depending on your campus and mode of study. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
*See elective list on Course Enrolment Guide for units and scheduling.
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:
- a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.6 on the ACU 7 point scale; or
- evidence of substantial relevant industry experience for at least one year post-Bachelor graduation; or
- have completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Exercise Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.6 on the ACU 7 point scale.
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:
- a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.6 on the ACU 7 scale; or
- evidence of substantial relevant industry experience for at least one year post-Bachelor graduation; or
- have completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Exercise Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.6 on the ACU 7 point scale.
OR
c. have completed ACU's Graduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation;
AND
d. submit a curriculum vitae outlining relevant industry experience for this course of study;
AND
e. submit professional referee/s information relevant to industry experience.
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, with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.50, 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 2023 Admission.
English language requirements
Applicants must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy and require an academic IELTS minimum overall score of 7.0 (with a minimum score of 6.5 in all bands), or an equivalent acceptable test score as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy (Schedule 3).
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 Master of Rehabilitation) 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 are eligible to enter the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology program and be awarded 40cps in recognition of prior learning.
Fees
Course costs
$8296 CSP
$21798 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.
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.
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
Domestic applicants
We have some additional information to help you with the application and assessment process for the Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiology. Read more
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year for Fee-Paying places only. Deferment is not available for CSP offers. Find out more about deferment.