Why Master of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy?
There are well over 1000 bones, muscles and nerves in the human body – and studying musculoskeletal physiotherapy means getting familiar with almost all of them.
Enhance your physiotherapy expertise with advanced skills in pain and injury assessment and management. Refine your hands-on techniques while sharpening your clinical reasoning, empowering you to make confident, informed decisions for better patient outcomes. Integrate the latest pain science and evidence within your clinical practice, continue your lifelong learning journey, and gain a competitive advantage for senior roles and advanced clinical positions.
Overview
This one-year degree is for qualified physiotherapists looking to gain advanced clinical knowledge and skills in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
Our curriculum is informed by world-class research in physiotherapy, with patient-centred care at its heart. You’ll learn to think carefully and reflect on current theories, helping you make better clinical decisions for accurate diagnoses, effective treatment plans and safer patient care.
Enhance your ability to operate effectively across biopsychosocial domains with advanced biomedical and psychosocial knowledge and reasoning. Build high-level communication skills for better patient education and collaboration.
Apply your knowledge through real-world placements and on-campus practice. Receive supervised clinical education from expert musculoskeletal physiotherapists. Connect with guest speakers in the field, building professional networks for your future career.
On graduation, you can seek formal recognition for titling as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with the Australian Physiotherapy Association and be eligible for the Specialisation Training Program through the Australian College of Physiotherapists. You’ll unlock new career opportunities in public and private practice, and in advanced scope roles in education.
Key features
Develop advanced musculoskeletal skills to treat a wide range of disorders and conditions that cause pain and limit movement. - Learn from internationally renowned teachers and clinicians.
- Gain hands-on experience through placements and supervised practice in on and off-campus physiotherapy clinics.
- Build professional connections through our strong industry partnerships.
- Study a curriculum informed by world-class physiotherapy research.
- Benefit from a course that is focussed on interactive and hands-on learning in a primarily face-to-face setting.
What you'll learn
Our Master of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy specialising in Musculoskeletal is hands-on and evidence based.
You’ll develop the skills to thoroughly assess, problem-solve, and manage treatment plans for a wide range of acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain and injury cases. By understanding the core contributors to pain and injury, you will gain the tools to handle complex situations. You’ll also sharpen your clinical reasoning by practicing the thought processes that help to navigate complex pain and injury presentations, all within a biopsychosocial framework.
Your study topics will cover:
- Evidence based practice
- Integrated pain sciences and pain science-informed management
- Advanced musculoskeletal examination and management
- Strength and conditioning
- Advanced scope practice
- Clinical reasoning
- Management techniques covering exercise, manual therapy, psychologically-informed physiotherapy, education.
Clinical practice is a significant component of this degree. You’ll apply your new knowledge in real-world settings under the guidance of postgraduate-qualified physiotherapists.
This degree involves working with patients and the public through fieldwork, clinical placements and on-campus sessions. Because of this, you are required to meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements, including a criminal history clearance, child related employment clearance and immunisations.
On completion of this degree, you'll need to register with the relevant national board to practice professionally. When you enrol, we'll work with you to notify the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and they'll assist you with the process of student registration.
Majors
The Master of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy is also available with majors in the following:
What courses you'll study
Complete 48 units comprising:
- 36 units from Core courses, and
- 12 units for one Specialisation from Specialisations
Complete exactly 36 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Allied Health Research Evidence Translation
|
Course code
REHB5003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 1
|
Course code
REHB5004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 2
|
Course code
REHB5005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Integrated Pain Sciences
|
Course code
REHB5006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Strength and Conditioning
|
Course code
HLTH5006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Scope Physiotherapy
|
Course code
REHB5011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sports Physiotherapy
|
Course code
REHB5002
|
Units
6
|
Notes
1. The program requires participation in practical classes where manual skills are practised. Essential learning activities in some classes may require that students partially remove their clothing to a level that is appropriate to the learning activity. Students may also be asked to act as subjects for their peer group members. If a student is unable to meet these requirements, they may be at risk of being unable to successfully complete course objectives and assessments and progress through the program.
2. To undertake field/clinical placements, students are required to have current criminal history and screening checks. These checks will list disclosable court outcomes that may prevent field / clinical placement involvement and subsequently may prevent completion of the program.
3. Before commencing any clinical courses, students are required to be registered to practice physiotherapy in Australia. International students are required to obtain a 'Limited Registration' under supervision from the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
4. Students will be required to undertake Child Safe Environments training before commencing their clinical placement.
5. Students will be required to satisfy the standard of dress and behaviour prescribed by institutions in which the clinical placements are undertaken. Failure to satisfy such requirements may prevent them from satisfying the requirements for the completion of the program.
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Allied Health Research Evidence Translation
|
Course code
REHB5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 1
|
Course code
REHB5004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 2
|
Course code
REHB5005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Advanced Physiotherapy Practice 1
|
Course code
REHB5001
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Strength and Conditioning
|
Course code
HLTH5006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Integrated Pain Sciences
|
Course code
REHB5006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Advanced Scope Physiotherapy
|
Course code
REHB5011
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Advanced Physiotherapy Practice 2 (Musculoskeletal)
|
Course code
REHB5008
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Physiotherapy Practice 1
|
Course code
REHB5001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Physiotherapy Practice 2 (Musculoskeletal)
|
Course code
REHB5008
|
Units
6
|
Notes
1. Students must hold a 'Provide First Aid' Certificate, including expired air resuscitation (EAR) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), therapeutic oxygen techniques and automatic defibrillation training, asthma management and emergency trauma management certification before undertaking this Advanced Physiotherapy Practice 1 - REHB5001. The University will organise a combined workshop to cover all of these components, for which you receive national certification.
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Allied Health Research Evidence Translation
|
Course code
REHB5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 1
|
Course code
REHB5004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 2
|
Course code
REHB5005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Advanced Physiotherapy Practice 1
|
Course code
REHB5001
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Strength and Conditioning
|
Course code
HLTH5006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Integrated Pain Sciences
|
Course code
REHB5006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Advanced Scope Physiotherapy
|
Course code
REHB5011
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Advanced Physiotherapy Practice 2 (Musculoskeletal)
|
Course code
REHB5008
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
A master’s degree in musculoskeletal physiotherapy will elevate your confidence as a musculoskeletal practitioner and launch your career to new heights. You may work/continue to work within the private practice setting, open your own practice, or compete for senior or advanced scope roles. You might find your niche in corporate or sports-related settings. Perhaps you’ll lead ergonomics assessments and injury prevention programs in corporate institutions.
You’ll be equipped to pursue rewarding roles in a wide range of settings, including:
- Private practice
- Clinics
- Sport and exercise services
- Rehabilitation centres
- Hospitals
- Home and community services
- Disability services
- Aged care facilities.
Industry trends
With strong demand for musculoskeletal expertise, this advanced training, and qualification can really make a difference.
Musculoskeletal conditions are extremely common, affecting people of all ages. There is a notable demand for musculoskeletal expertise, driven by an ageing population and an increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (Australian Physiotherapy Association, 2022). This creates a consistent need for specialists in this area.
Musculoskeletal specialisation demands a critical, reflective, patient-centred and evidence-based approach. Studying at Adelaide University builds these competencies and more, paving the way for higher paid career opportunities and a deeper impact on the lives of your patients.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA). Graduates are eligible to apply for titling as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with the APA. This accreditation is also recognised by the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists for reciprocal recognition.
Ready to apply?
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
